Beppu
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Only have a day? See 3 ready-made day plans ↓Show on the map
Tips
8 places on the map
Instagrammable
- 1
Cobalt blue Sea Hell, one of Beppus famed boiling hot spring ponds.
4 tips
- Hells are in Kannawa, bus from Beppu
- Buy a combined ticket for several hells
- Try the onsen egg and pudding
- Foot bath on site
📷 Photos
- 2
Blood Pond Hell with striking red water.
3 tips
- Located in Shibaseki
- Combined ticket with Tatsumaki
- Sold red clay ointment
📷 Photos
- 3
Misty Yufuin lake famed for morning fog.
3 tips
- Visit at dawn for mist
- Walk the shoreline
- Cafes nearby
📷 Photos
- 4
Fairy-tale style shopping village in Yufuin.
3 tips
- Try local sweets
- Crowded on weekends
- Short bus from Beppu
📷 Photos
- 5
Twin-peaked mountain overlooking Yufuin.
- Tip: Go early
2 tips
- Hike takes about 4 hours
- Great views from the summit
📷 Photos
- 6
Retro tower and symbol of the waterfront district.
- Tip: At night
3 tips
- Observation deck views
- Lit up at night
- Nostalgic Showa feel
📷 Photos
- 7
Cable car up Mount Tsurumi with views across Beppu Bay.
- Tip: Sunset
3 tips
- Best on clear days
- Sunset views
- Frost in winter
📷 Photos
- 8
Open-air sand bath on the beach by Beppu Bay.
3 tips
- Wear a yukata provided
- Allow 15 minutes
- Close to Kitahama
📷 Photos
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Before you go: Beppu tips
Transportation
- Use the local buses: Kamenoi buses connect Beppu Station with the Hells and onsen districts; a day pass is handy if you plan several stops.
- Pay with an IC card: Suica, ICOCA and other IC cards work on many trains and some buses in the area, saving fiddling with coins.
- Fly into Oita Airport: The airport bus runs to Beppu in under an hour, and Beppu is also an easy train ride from Fukuoka on the Sonic express.
Security
- Stay back from hot springs: The Hells (jigoku) and steam vents are scalding, so keep to paths and keep children away from barriers.
- Watch for hot water: Some onsen and sand baths are very hot; test the water, drink plenty and get out if you feel dizzy.
- Know earthquake basics: Japan is quake-prone, so learn your hotel exits and follow staff instructions if an alert sounds.
Saving
- Bathe at public onsen: Small neighborhood bathhouses like Takegawara and many local onsen charge far less than resort spas.
- Buy a Hells combo ticket: A common ticket covering the main Hells of Kannawa costs less than paying for each one separately.
- Eat at convenience stores: Konbini meals and supermarket bento are cheap, tasty and perfect for a quick breakfast or picnic.
Weather/Clothing
- Pack for humid summers: July and August are hot and humid with rainy spells, so bring light clothes and a compact umbrella.
- Enjoy winter onsen: Winters are cool but rarely harsh, making it the best season to soak; bring a warm jacket for walking between baths.
- Prepare for rainy season: June usually brings the rainy season, so pack waterproof shoes and a rain jacket if visiting then.
Cultural
- Follow onsen etiquette: Wash thoroughly before entering the bath, keep towels out of the water and bathe without swimwear.
- Check tattoo rules: Some onsen still restrict tattoos, so look for tattoo-friendly baths or cover small tattoos with patches.
- Try jigoku-mushi: In Kannawa, food is steamed using hot spring vapor; steam your own vegetables, eggs and seafood at a jigoku-mushi kitchen.
Local Hacks
- Try a sand bath: At places like Takegawara or the beach sand baths you are buried in warm sand, a unique Beppu experience.
- Collect onsen stamps: The Beppu Hatto onsen stamp book rewards bathing at many different springs, a fun way to explore the town.
- Stay in Kannawa: Ryokan in the Kannawa district put you among steam vents and onsen, with the Hells within walking distance.
1-day itineraries in Beppu
Only have a day? Each one keeps you in one area, from morning to late afternoon, with lunch nearby.
Day 1 of 3
Takasakiyama Monkey Park and around
🕘 9:30–17:30📍 6 stops
- 1Takasakiyama Monkey Park
- 2Beppu Beach Sand Bath
- 3Kitahama Park
- 4Beppu Tower
- 5Takegawara Onsen
- and 1 more
Day 2 of 3
Chinoike Jigoku and around
🕘 9:30–16:15📍 5 stops
- 1Chinoike Jigoku
- 2Tatsumaki Jigoku
- 3Oniishibozu Jigoku
- 4Umi Jigoku
- 5Kamado Jigoku
Day 3 of 3
Mount Yufu and around
🕘 9:30–11:45📍 3 stops
- 1Mount Yufu
- 2Kinrin Lake
- 3Yufuin Floral Village