Beppu is one of the most famous hot spring resorts in Japan. The city is blessed by as many as eight different springs, named Beppu Onsen, Kannawa Onsen, Myoban Onsen, Kankaiji Onsen, Hamawaki Onsen, Kamegawa Onsen, Horita Onsen and Shibaseki Onsen, each featuring public baths and ryokan with bathing facilities. Together they produce more hot spring water than any other onsen resort in the country.

What sets Beppu apart from other onsen resorts is not only its abundance of thermal waters, but also the wide range of bath types that can be enjoyed there. Aside from conventional hot water baths, Beppu offers sand baths where bathers are buried in naturally heated sand, steam baths that are heated by the steam of a hot spring, and mud baths which are basically muddy hot water baths.

The tourist desk at Beppu Station provides foreign tourists with lists of public baths, while below you will find our own list of a few of the city's best. More baths can be found in nearby Yufuin.

Tanayu•••

Daytime visitor hours: 9:00 to 23:00 (entry until 22:00)
Daytime Admission: 1200-1500 yen (weekdays), 1800-2000 yen (weekends)
Check hotel rates at booking.com, agoda.com, japanican.com

Tanayu is the main hot spring facility of the Suginoi Hotel, a leading ryokan in town. The massive complex offers elegant outdoor pools on the building's roof with spectacular, unobstructed views over the city. Visitors can also use the mixed-gender Aqua Garden hot spring facility next door which is enjoyed in bathing suits.

Onsen Hoyo Land•

Hours: 9:00 to 20:00
Admission: 1100 yen
Overnight stay: 7750 yen including two meals

This run down, yet atmospheric public bath complex is an onsen enthusiasts' favorite and offers rare mud baths and steam baths in addition to conventional hot water baths. While the indoor baths are gender separated, the outdoor zone is partly mixed.

Takegawara•

Hours: 6:30 to 22:30 (sand bath from 8:00, entry until 21:30)
Closed: Third Wednesday in December (regular bath)
Third Wednesday each month (sand bath)
Admission: 1050 yen (sand bath) 110 yen (regular bath only)

First constructed in 1879, Takegawara Spa is Beppu's most famous bath house, offering sand and regular baths in an atmosphere of the past. Note that the building is partially surrounded by a red light district.

Hyotan Onsen•

Hours: 9:00 to 1:00am
Closed: Some irregular closing days
Admission: 780 yen (580 yen after 20:00)

This public bath house offers regular indoor and outdoor hot water baths, an entire row of "waterfalls" for massaging one's shoulders, steam baths and sand baths. Private baths and meals are also available.

Ebisuya Onsen•

Hours: 10:00 to 23:00 (entry until 22:00)
Closed: Some irregular closures for maintenance
Admission: 1200 yen

Ebisuya is a recently renovated public bath house in the rural Myoban district of Beppu. It offers multiple bath tubs of different sizes and styles, including jacuzzi and aroma baths, as well as steam boxes.

Myoban Yunosato

Hours: 10:00 to 21:00 (entry until 20:00)
Admission: 600 yen

Located in the Myoban district on the slopes above the city, Yunosato offers indoor and outdoor baths with nice sulfuric waters. Despite a promising location, the outdoor baths have views mainly onto a fence. The complex also features shops and huts for the production of yunohana (sulfuric powder).

Beppu Beach Sand Bath

Hours: 8:30 to 18:00 (Mar to Nov), 9:00 to 17:00 (Dec to Feb)
Entry ends one hour before closing
Closed: 4th Wed of every month (or next day if Wed is a holiday)
Admission: 1050 yen

The second most famous place to enjoy sand baths in Beppu after the Takegawara Spa, the Beppu Beach Sand Bath offers sand baths along the coast of Beppu Bay.

Ratings:    best of the best    best of Japan    outstanding