Beppu: Getting there and around

How to travel between Beppu and Tokyo

By train

Take the Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kokura Station and transfer to the Sonic limited express train for Beppu. The entire one way trip takes about 6 hours and costs around 25,000 yen. Japan Rail Pass holders will require an additional hour, because they cannot use Nozomi trains along the Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen, and should instead travel by Hikari and Sakura trains with an additional transfer at Shin-Osaka Station.

By air

JAL, ANA, Solaseed, Peach Aviation and Jetstar Japan operate frequent flights between Tokyo (mostly Haneda Airport, except Peach and Jetstar which use Narita Airport) and Oita Airport near Beppu. Flight duration is 90 minutes. The regular one way fare by JAL and ANA is about 40,000 yen, but discount tickets are usually available for around 11,500 to 27,000 yen. Fares by Solaseed Air are typically 20 percent lower than those by JAL and ANA, while the fares by Peach and Jetstar start from around 6,000 yen.

The one way bus journey between Oita Airport and Beppu takes 40 minutes and costs 1500 yen. All buses stop at Beppu Kitahama, and a few buses also serve JR Beppu Station. Several rental car companies have an outlet at Oita Airport.

How to travel between Beppu and Fukuoka

By train

The one way journey by Sonic limited express train between Fukuoka's Hakata Station and Beppu takes two hours, costs around 6,000 yen and is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass and Kyushu Rail Pass. A set of two tickets (2–‡‚«‚Á‚Õ, nimaikippu) for use by one or two persons in either direction within a one month period is available for only 6,600 yen.

By bus

Nishitetsu Bus operates numerous highway buses per day between Fukuoka and Beppu. The one way journey takes 2.5 hours and costs 3,250 yen. In Fukuoka, all buses stop at Hakata Station and Tenjin Station, and a few also stop at Fukuoka Airport. In Beppu, buses stop at the Beppu Kitahama bus stop.

How to travel between Beppu and Kyoto

By train

Take the Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen from Kyoto to Kokura Station and transfer to the Sonic limited express train for Beppu. The entire one way trip takes about 4 hours and costs around 17,500 yen. Japan Rail Pass holders will require an additional 30 minutes, because they cannot use Nozomi trains along the Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen, but should travel by Hikari (or Kodama) and Sakura trains instead.

By air

JAL and ANA operate several flights per day between Itami Airport near Kyoto and Oita Airport near Beppu. Flight duration is around one hour. The regular one way fare is about 21,500 yen, but discount tickets are usually available for around 16,000 yen.

The one way bus journey between Oita Airport and Beppu takes 40 minutes and costs 1500 yen. All buses stop at Beppu Kitahama, and a few buses also serve JR Beppu Station. Several rental car companies have an outlet at Oita Airport.

By ferry

Ferry Sunflower operates daily ferries between Osaka's South Port and Beppu Port. The one way journey takes about 12 hours and costs around 8,500 yen in the cheapest class. Osaka's South Port can be reached from Kyoto in about one hour and for around 1000 yen by train.

How to travel between Beppu and Osaka

By train

Take the Sanyo Shinkansen from Osaka (Shin-Osaka Station) to Kokura Station and transfer to the Sonic limited express train for Beppu. The entire one way trip takes about 3.5 hours and costs around 17,000 yen. The Japan Rail Pass is valid on Sakura trains, but it is not valid on the slightly faster Nozomi and Mizuho trains.

By air

JAL and ANA operate several flights per day between Osaka's Itami Airport and Oita Airport near Beppu. Flight duration is around one hour. The regular one way fare by JAL and ANA is about 21,500 yen, but discount tickets are usually available for around 16,000 yen.

The one way bus journey between Oita Airport and Beppu takes 40 minutes and costs 1500 yen. All buses stop at Beppu Kitahama, and a few buses also serve JR Beppu Station. Several rental car companies have an outlet at Oita Airport.

By ferry

Ferry Sunflower operates daily ferries between Osaka's South Port and Beppu Port. The one way journey takes about 12 hours and costs around 8,500 yen in the cheapest class.

How to travel between Beppu and Yufuin

By bus

Kamenoi Bus operates 1-2 buses per hour between Beppu and Yufuin Stations. The one way trip takes 50 minutes and costs 940 yen.

By train

Train travel between Beppu and Yufuin requires a transfer of trains at Oita Station. By local trains, the one way journey takes about 80 minutes, costs 1130 yen and is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass and Kyushu Rail Pass.

By Kyusanko Kyushu Odan Bus

The Kyushu Odan Bus operates between Beppu and Kumamoto, stopping at Yufuin along the way. The one way journey between Beppu and Yufuin takes one hour, costs 1000 yen and is covered by the Sun Q Pass. Click here for timetables and online reservations.

How to travel between Beppu and Kumamoto

By train via Kokura (or Hakata)

Take the shinkansen from Kumamoto to Kokura (one hour) and transfer to a limited express train to Beppu (75 minutes). The entire one way trip takes about 2.5 hours, costs around 11,000 yen and is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass if using a Sakura train between Kumamoto and Kokura.

Note that Kyushu Rail Pass holders will have to transfer from the shinkansen to the limited express at Hakata Station instead of Kokura Station because their pass does not cover the shinkansen between Hakata and Kokura. This increases travel time by about half an hour.

By train via the JR Hohi Line

There are infrequent direct limited express trains between Kumamoto and Beppu via the JR Hohi Line. The one way journey takes a little over three hours, costs around 5500 yen, and is covered by the Japan Rail Pass and the Kyushu Rail Pass (All Kyushu and Northern Kyushu versions). It is also possible to make the trip by local trains for only 3300 yen; however, the journey will take about five hours and involve multiple transfers along the way.

By bus

Kyushu Sanko operates Kyushu Odan Buses ("Trans Kyushu Buses") between Kumamoto and Beppu via Aso, Kurokawa Onsen and Yufuin. The one way journey takes six hours, costs 4500 yen and is covered by the Sun Q Pass. Click here for timetables and online reservations.

How to travel between Beppu and Aso

By Kyusanko Kyushu Odan Bus

The Kyushu Odan Bus by Kyusanko travels from Beppu to Aso Station before continuing to Kumamoto. The one way journey between Beppu and Aso Station takes about 3.5 hours, cost 3500 yen and is covered by the Sun Q Pass. Click here for timetables and online reservations.

By train

The one way journey between Beppu and Aso via the JR Hohi Line takes around two hours and costs about 4000 yen by limited express train or takes about 3.5 hours and costs 2170 yen by local trains. All the trains are covered by the Japan Rail Pass and Kyushu Rail Pass.

How to travel between Beppu and Matsuyama

By ferry

By far the fastest way to travel between Matsuyama and Beppu is by ferry.

Uwajima Unyu operates multiple ferries per day in both directions between Beppu Sightseeing Port and Yawatahama Port on Shikoku (165 minutes, around 3500 yen one way). The cost for a regular sized car is around 12,000 yen one way. Yawatahama Port is a five minute bus or taxi ride from Yawatahama Station, which can be reached from Matsuyama by limited express (45 minutes, about 2500 yen) or by local trains (100-120 minutes, 1300 yen). Online reservations can be made through Direct Ferries.

By train

Traveling between Matsuyama and Beppu by train involves a big detour via Okayama and is only recommended to Japan Rail Pass holders and travelers prone to seasickness.

Take a JR Shiokaze limited express train from Matsuyama to Okayama (2.5 hours), transfer to the JR Sanyo Shinkansen to Kokura (90 minutes) and finally take the JR Sonic limited express to Beppu (75 minutes). The entire one way trip takes around six hours and costs about 18,000 yen. Because the Japan Rail Pass is not valid on Nozomi and Mizuho trains, pass holders have to use Sakura trains between Okayama and Kokura, which might add some time to the journey. Otherwise, the pass fully covers the trip.