Beppu
Steam rising from a whole town of hot springs.
Why Japanese travelers love itIt is the classic onsen town, with a different kind of bath for every mood.
Beppu has an enormous amount of hot-spring water, and you can see steam rising across town. The 'hells' are colorful hot pools for looking, not bathing. Old public bathhouses like Takegawara offer sand baths. In Kannawa, you can steam your own lunch over hot-spring vents. Yufuin, a calmer, prettier onsen town, is nearby. It is easy to reach from Fukuoka.
Best time: Autumn to spring, when a hot soak feels best. Summer is hot.
Weather
Average temperature, °C. JMA 1991–2020 normals (Oita (JMA), nearest observatory).
Top 5
- Hells of BeppuBoiling ponds in red, blue and white; for viewing only.
- Takegawara OnsenA historic bathhouse with a sand bath; closed the third Wednesday.
- Kannawa steam cookingSteam your own vegetables and seafood.
- Kannawa streetsSteam vents and old inns along small lanes.
- YufuinA quieter onsen town with Mt. Yufu behind it.
A simple day
- Walk the hells in Kannawa.
- Steam-cooked lunch.
- Afternoon soak at a public bath.
- Takegawara's sand bath.
- Toriten fried chicken for dinner.
Where to stay
- KannawaSteamy old onsen area with ryokan.
- Beppu StationEasy transport and bathhouses nearby.
Places we’ve checked
- Hells of Beppu (Jigoku Meguri)spot site ↗
- Takegawara Onsenexperience site ↗
- ANA InterContinental Beppu Resort & Spastay site ↗
- Beppu-yuya Sanso Kannawaenstay site ↗
- J-Hoppers Beppu Guesthousestay site ↗
- Jigokumushi Kobo Kannawaexperience site ↗
- Restaurant Toyokenrestaurant
From the psst directory. Opening days and prices change — check the official site before you go.
Getting there
Hakata → Beppu: about 2h by Limited Express Sonic.
psst — skip this mistake: Expecting to bathe in the hells. They are too hot and for viewing only.