You can find Beppu Onsen in the city of Beppu, Oita, in Japan. Beppu Onsen actually refers to a group of hot springs with water flow only second to the Yellowstone National Park in the US. While there are eight main hot spring areas, there are nearly three thousand different hot spring vents within this region, and some were even formed by volcanoes that were active long ago. And, these hot springs aren’t just for gazing at–you can enjoy these hot springs each with different attractions. Some are known for their medicinal effects, their amazing views, open-air sand bathing, and even steam baths. There are also tourist-friendly ryokans or traditional Japanese inns where you can stay while exploring these amazing springs. Here’s a quick guide to some of the hot springs in Beppu Onsen, Japan that you shouldn’t miss.
1. Takegawara Onsen (from 36 USD)
Takegawara Onsen is probably one of the most famous Beppu hot springs. The bathhouse (around the spring) was first built in 1879 but has since been reconstructed in 1938. The present structure is actually symbolic of the Beppu Hot Springs. This particular spring is known for its sand baths, where you lie facing upwards on the sand wearing a Yukata while an attendant covers you from neck to toe in warm sand that was heated by the natural thermal springs. The building also has a lobby area where visitors can relax before and after their bath.
Takegawara Hot Spring: Sand Bath
Admissions: ¥100; Sand bath ¥1030
Hours: 6:30 - 22:30; Sand Bath: 8:00 - 22:30
Website: Takegawara Hot Spring
Beppu Station Hotel
Address: 874-0395 Oita, Beppu, Ekimae-cho 13-4, Japan
Price: from 36 USD
Travelers Review: 7.0 (from 254 reviews)
2. Hoyoland (from 255 USD)
The next hot spring that should be on your list is Beppu Onsen Hoyoland. Hoyoland is famous for its creamy, detoxing mud baths. They offer both open air (unisex pools) and gender specific baths indoors. Hoyoland better be on your list because these mineral mud baths are hard to find. In addition to the indoor and outdoor pools, Hoyoland also has a waterfall bath and rare steam bath.
Hoyoland
Address: 5 Myoban, Beppu City, Oita Prefecture
Hours: 9:00 - 19:30
Admission: ¥350, 5 or younger, ¥ 600 for elementary age, ¥1100 all else
Website: Hoyoland
Okamotoya Ryokan
Address: 874-0843 Oita, Beppu, Myoban 4, Japan
Price: from 255 USD
Travelers Review: 8.5 (from 23 reviews)
3. Kankaiji Onsen (from 197 USD)
Kanjaiji is another natural hot spring in the area and also one of the most popular, having nearly one million visitors a year. It is located in the southwest area of Beppu and gives all its visitors an exquisite view of Beppu since it sits atop the highest point in the city. So while you are relaxing and enjoying the medicinal properties of the hot spring (it’s thought to actually provide treatments for incurable conditions like Rheumatism, neuralgia, and dermatopathia) you can also enjoy your dip with a view.
Kankaiji Onsen
Address: 〒874-0822 Kankaiji, Beppu-shi, Oita district (see map)
Beppu Kankaiji Onsen Ryotei Matsubaya
Address: 874-0822 Oita, Beppu, Kankaiji 3, Japan (see map)
Price: from 197 USD
Travelers Review: 8.6 (from 38 reviews)
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4. Hamawaki Onsen (from 197 USD)
Hamawaki Onsen is the oldest hot spring in Beppu. The water for the hot spring actually comes from the beach, which is how it got its name as Hamawaki Onsen (“hama” is beach is Japanese). Hamawaki gets over 500 visitors a day and is also one of the most convenient springs to visit because it is open until 1:00 AM every day. The hot spring is designed in the European Kurhaus model and features a health promotion facility that uses bathing and exercise along with spa medicine and exercise physiology to promote healthy and wellbeing. Hamawaki facility also has a sleeping hot water zone, pressure bath, exercise bath, and even a Japanese style break room.
Hamawaki
Address: 1 Chome-8-20 Hamawaki, Beppu, Ōita
Hours: 6:30 AM - 1:00 AM
Admisison: Adult, ¥510; Child, ¥250
Website: Hamawaki Onsen
Bettei Haruki
Address: 874-0834 Oita, Beppu, Shin-Beppu 4, Japan
Price: from 197 USD
Travelers Review: 8.4 (from 17 reviews)
5. Horita (from 162 USD)
Next we have the Horita Onsen. Horita is a bit smaller than some of the other Onsens in the area but that definitely does not mean you should skip it. Horita gets its name not from beach but rathe from a beautiful waterfall that flows down a nearby rock face (and you will even get views of this natural wonder during your bath). There are only three private baths here, but they are each carved of large granite rocks and can fit two adults at a time. The baths here are not just hot spring water but actually consist of white hot spring mineral deposits that are great for your health and body!
Horita Onsen
Address: 2 Kumi, Horita, Beppu 874-0831, Oita Prefecture
Hours: 6:30 - 22:30
Admission: ¥1000 for 1 hour private bath
Website: Horita Onsen
Resorpia Beppu
Address: 871-0831 Oita, Beppu, Hotta 7 kumi 1, Japan
Price: from 162 USD
Travelers Review: 7.8 (from 99 reviews)
6. Kannawaen Onsen (from 442 USD (hotel + hot spring bath))
Kannawa is another famous hot spring best known for the puffs of white steam that come out of the spring and create a “mystical” atmosphere for all. But, Kannawa is not just a hot spring bathing house but actually a small town. It was first founded by a Buddhist monk in the Kamakura Era and since then has grown to be an onsen health resort as we know today. Along with the steam baths, you can can walk around and tour the eight “jigoku” (boiling pools of hot spring water) or try one of the local vegetables and seafood cooked using the geothermal heat from the springs.
After walking around the town, you can indulge yourself in a relaxing steam bath–but you won’t just jump into the bath. First, you will wash yourself off in a nearby bathhouse, then don a yukata or t-shirt and shorts and go to the stone hut for your steam bath. While you’re steaming your body in the pool, you will inhale the aroma of medicinal herbs that are placed all around the ground. After this steam bath, you’ll wash off in another bath and leave feeling rejuvenated and relaxed.
Kannawa
Hours: 9:00 - 18:00
Website: Kannawa Onsen
Kannawaen
Address: 874-0045 Oita, Beppu, Kannawa 345, Japan
Price: from 442 USD (hotel + hot spring bath)
Travelers Review: 9.5 (from 195 reviews)
7. Hamada Onsen (from 151 USD)
The Hamada onsen was first discovered in the Meiji period, but the Onsen spa was not built until 1951 with the hot spring on the first floor and a public meeting space on the second. In 2002, the spa was renovated to a Japanese style building. This onsen is a hot water drier sink type onsen and is best known to be elderly friendly. There are wide, stairless passages throughout making it easy for wheelchairs to navigate through. Additionally there are handrails installed within the bathing pools and all along the dressing rooms as well.
Hamada Onsen
Address: 991, Kamekawahama-cho, Beppu City, 874-0014 6
Hours: 6:30 - 22:30
Admission: ¥100
Website: Hamada Onsen
Solest Takachiho Hotel
Address: 882-1101 Miyazaki, Takachiho, Mitai 1261-1, Japan
Price: from 151 USD
Travelers Review: 8.8 (from 125 reviews)
8. Shibaseki Onsen (from 55 USD)
The Shibaseki Onsen in best known as a “wound healing” hot spring, likely due to its history of high recuperative effects. To get to Shibaseki you would climb up a slope and at the top, through the white pillars and trees, you can glimpse the Onsen. There are two types of baths here “Atsuyu” and “Nuruyu” both open-air baths filled with steaming hot spring water. Lounging in one of these baths is like the epitome of relaxation since you are laying amongst nature with just the blue sky above you and nature’s sound filling your ears. And if you have any ailments like stiff joints, sprains, poor circulation, chronic gastrointestinal diseases, and a slew of others then check out this spring, you might just leave feeling like a whole new person.
Shibaseki Onsen
Address: Beppu City Noda 4 Oita Prefecture 874-0016 4
Hours: 7:00 - 20:00
Admission: Adult, ¥201; Child, ¥100, Family (up to four) ¥1620
Website: Shibaseki Onsen
Onsenkaku
Address: 874-0044 Oita, Beppu, Furomoto 1-kumi, Japan
Price: from 55 USD
Travelers Review: 8.2 (from 120 reviews)
9. Beppu Beach Sand Bath (from 218 USD)
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
The Beppu Beach Sand Bath is a little different than your typical onsen visit. It is located in the Shoningahama and instead of lounging in a pool of spring water you will bury your body in sand that is geothermal-ly heated from a nearby hot spring (or rather helpful attendants will do that for you).The sand baths can only fit 12 guests at once and each session starts at 10 minutes and even boasts healing properties for chills, exhaustion, muscle and joint pain, and cuts and bruises. And don’t forget to bring your camera, because the attendants are more than happy to take a photo of you in the sand bath for your memories!
Beppu Beach Sand Bath
Address: Shoningahamacho, Beppu-shi, Oita
Hours: 9:00 - 17:00
Admission: ¥1030 per person
Website: Beppu Beach Sand Bath
Iyashi no Sato GI
Address: 874-0023 Oita, Beppu, Shoningahamacho 5-21, Japan
Price: from 218 USD
10. Hells of Beppu (from 147 USD)
Last but certainly not least, is the ~Hells of Beppu~ duh, duh, duuuuhhh (said very dramatically). But don’t worry, the Hells of Beppu is not something to be afraid of, instead of like the other thousands of visitors that visit here, you will be running towards it instead of away! The reason it is called the Hells of Beppu is because of all the hot steam and hot springs bubbling around you and was actually first created by volcanic activity over 30,000 years ago.
There are eight “hells” in all that you can walk all around. Each of them is vibrant with a variety of colors all around and fun names; like “Sea Hell”, “Blood Pond Hell”, “Spout Hell”, etc. Sea Hell is a hot spring with dissolved iron sulfate giving it a bright, cobalt blue color. Oniishi Shaven Head Hell is an ash-colored and resembles a bald head, hence its name. The Mountain Hell exists within the mountain and also has cute animals like hippos and flamingos.
The Cooking Pot Hell is where you can grab a meal while touring all the hells ;) and the Monster Mountain Hell or Alligator Hell was named after the area and has over 100 alligators occupying it. The White Pond Hell actually starts out clear but once it enters the pond it turns into a creamy white color. The Blood Pond Hell contains heated mud with iron oxide giving it a bloody red color, and finally, the Spout Hell has a 50 m high geyser. Each of the eight “hells” are definitely worth seeing, so make sure to include this exciting adventure on your itinerary.
Hells of Beppu
Address: 559-1 Kannawa Beppu-shi, Oita
Hours: 8:00 - 17:00
Admission: Adult, ¥2100; Child, ¥900
Website: Hells of Beppu
Beppu Kannawa Onsen Oniyama Hotel
Address: 874-0045 Oita, Beppu, Kannawa 335-1, Japan
Price: from 147 USD
Travelers Review: 8.3 (from 24 reviews)
Did this list make you ~spring~ into action?
I’m sure it did, so start packing and enjoy these beautiful natural wonders!
Frequently asked questions about hot springs in Beppu Onsen, Japan
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