Beppu Onsen

Onsen town with abundant spring resources and various types of spring water

Surrounded by the ocean and mountains, Beppu City, Oita Prefecture is an onsen town with the greatest number of spring resources and the largest amount of spring water in Japan. It consists of eight onsen areas, called “Beppu Hatto,” and you can see steam rising from here and there in the town.

Beppu Hatto includes attractive onsen areas with different characteristics.
Said to be the birthplace of Beppu Onsen, Hamawaki Onsen is reportedly named because of the hot spring gushing out on the beach. The hot spring water containing low levels of minerals is mild and suitable for everyone.
Located in the entertainment area around JR Beppu Station, Beppu Onsen has many retro public bathhouses, including the symbolic “Takegawara Onsen.”

Takegawara Onsen

The free handbath in front of JR Beppu Station

Kannawa Onsen has long been known as an onsen place attracting many visitors for spa treatments. You can enjoy a variety of “mushi” (steaming) by a high-temperature boiling spring, such as a natural sauna “mushi-yu” and “jigoku-mushi” dishes in which ingredients are steamed by onsen steam. The landscape with steam coming up here and there is typical scenery of Beppu.

Free foot sauna

jigoku-mushi

Located at about 200 meters above sea level, “Kankaiji Onsen” has the best outlook among Beppu Hatto, offering a panoramic view of the Beppu Bay and the city. The mild spring water containing low levels of sodium bicarbonate and sodium chloride is said to be effective against nerve pain and other symptoms.

If you are interested in a unique onsen experience, the beach sand bath of “Kamegawa Onsen” is recommended. Lie down in the sand pool next to the beach and get buried in warm sand. While listening to the sound of waves and smelling the salty air, your body will get warm and you can sweat out comfortably.

Beppu Beach Sand Bath

Beppu Hatto attracts people by offering various other ways to enjoy onsen, such as “doro-yu” (mud bath) and “insen” (drinking spring water). There are also many tourist spots, including “Jigoku Meguri” (hell tour), a tour to visit seven hot spring vents. Enjoy the variety of spring sources and various kinds of spring water.

One of the destinations of “Jigoku Meguri” tour, “Umi-Jigoku” with bright cobalt blue water

※ The information herein is as of April 2021