Top 17 Things To Do In Beppu, Japan

things to do in beppu
Victor
Victor 
Updated
| 7 min read

Beppu is a place worth visiting to experience its many “hells.” The town has a total of eight springs, each with a different experience, and visitors come from far and wide to steam bathe, sunbathe, mud bathe, and sand bathe on these unique natural wonders. Though the hot springs may be the popular attraction in this town, there are lots of interesting things that make a visit worthwhile. Hotels and ryokans are also available if you’re wondering where to stay in Beppu. Be sure to check out some tourist-friendly onsen ryokans as well. If you have had the town on your travel bucket list, but are not certain of what exactly to do upon arrival, here is a look at the top things to do in Beppu, Japan.

1. Beppu Traditional Bamboo Crafts Center

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Beppu Traditional Bamboo Crafts is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in traditional Japanese craftsmanship. Beppu’s bamboo art is so renowned that it was designated a traditional craft by the Ministry of Economics, Trade, and Industry in 1979.

The center showcases a variety of bamboo products, including baskets, furniture, and home decor, all made by skilled artisans using traditional techniques that have been passed down for generations. Visitors can watch the artisans at work and even attend workshops and events to craft their own bamboo products to take home.

Beppu Traditional Bamboo Crafts Center

Address: 市東荘園8丁目3, Beppu, 〒874-0836 Oita, Japan

Website: Beppu Traditional Bamboo Crafts Center

Opening hours: 8.30am - 5pm (closed on Mon)

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2. Beppu Ropeway

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

The Beppu Ropeway takes visitors on a scenic journey up Mount Tsurumi, one of the most famous peaks in the area. During the 10-minute ride, visitors can take in panoramic views of Beppu Bay and the surrounding mountains, and during the autumn months, the changing colors of the leaves provide a beautiful backdrop.

Once at the top, visitors can explore the observation deck, which offers breathtaking views of the city. There are also several hiking trails that visitors can take to explore the mountain further.

Beppu Ropeway

Address: 10-7 Aza-Kanbara, Oaza-Minami-Tateishi, Beppu-city, 〒874-0000 Oita, Japan

Website: Beppu Ropeway

Opening hours: 9am - 4.30pm (daily)

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3. Bathe in the Hells of Beppu, the famous hot springs

Hells of Beppu
Source: Pixabay

As noted earlier, the hot springs are some of the major attractions in Beppu. Also known as onsen, the hot springs provides “natural swimming pools” where visitors can simply go and dip themselves and enjoy as they soak in the heat. Most of the hotels have their own hot springs which are open for their guests’ use but there are also a lot of bathhouses within the town and the surrounding regions which are always open to the public. Some people believe that the hot springs have medicinal and therapeutic benefits, but whether or not you believe such, this is an experience you must not miss when you are in Beppu.

Hells of Beppu

Address: 559-1 Kannawa, 大字 Beppu, Oita 874-0000, Japan

Website: Hells of Beppu

Opening hours: 8am - 5pm (daily)

Price: 11.1 USD

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4. Shop for bath salt souvenirs at Myoban Yunosato Hot Spring

これが家族風呂とは驚き
Source: Shinkurou

If you happen to visit Beppu, it will be a tragedy if you will fail to make your way to Myoban Yunosato. This place is a little further up, and it is where you will find particularly milky baths. They are ideal if you are visiting with the family and you would love to take a bath together, or you can also enjoy the private baths with your partner. Hot springs, after all, are one of the things Beppu is famous for. In addition to the exquisite private baths, you can shop for bath salts from this place and carry them back home as souvenirs. Myoban Yunosato its own salt baths and you will find a variety of the salts being sold on-site.

Myoban Yunosato Hot Spring

Address:Japan, 〒874-0843 Oita, Beppu, 明礬6組

Website: Myoban Yunosato Hot Spring

Opening hours: 10am - 9pm (daily)

Price: 6 USD

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5. Enjoy hell steamed pudding and hell steamed egg sandwich

地獄蒸しプリン&地獄蒸したまごサンドイッチ
Source: 堀内 京子

For first time visitors, the best way to utilize the “hells” in Beppu is to take baths. However, it will not be long before you realize that this is not the only applications of the hot springs. You will be surprised to learn that the steam produced by the hot springs are hot enough that they could be actually used for steaming or cooking certain foods. And to this effect, you must not fail to sample a few of the hell steamed pudding and hell steamed egg sandwiches that are sold by the various vendors. In some places, you may have the chance to not just try the foods, but also get ingredients and cook your own meals with the heat from the hot steams.

Okamotoya Ryokan

Address: Japan, 〒874-0843 Oita, Beppu, 明礬4

Website: Okamotoya Ryokan

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6. View the hot steam rising from Yukumeri Observatory

Posted by Go Unique Japan on Thursday, 7 September 2017

You may not be able to fully appreciate the volume as well as the power of the Beppu hot springs from the ground. The best way to get a glance and fully appreciate this great phenomenon is to get up in the sky and marvel at the steams as they majestically rise from the ground. If you are lucky to visit on a clear day, you will see very beautiful scenes you may have never imagined.

Yukemuri Observatory

Address: Japan, 〒874-0042 Oita, Beppu, Kannawahigashi, 8組

Website: Yukemuri Observatory

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

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7. Soak in the waterfall springs of Hyotan Onsen

Posted by 葫蘆温泉 on Saturday, 13 January 2018

A visit to Beppu will never be complete without a visit to Hyotan Onsen, Japan’s only three-Michelin-starred springs. Whether you are a solo traveler, traveling with your partner, or with the entire family, this will be one of the most memorable hot spring baths you will ever encounter. You will find a variety of baths where you can soak your skin and make all the stress disappear, and with sections dedicated for both men and women, you will have all the time you want to spend bathing.

Hyotan Onsen

Address: 159-2 Kannawa, Beppu, Oita 874-0000, Japan

Website: Springs of Hyotan Onsen

Opening hours: 9am - 1am (daily)

Price: from 7 USD

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8. Dine on onsen-steamed dishes at Hell Steaming Workshop Kannawa

自然のほどよい塩分で素材の味がひきたつ。

Earlier on, we mentioned that you should sample a few of the hell-steamed pudding and egg sandwiches. However, if you want to sample a full range of hell-steamed delicacies, then you have every reason to check out Hell Steaming Workshops in Kannawa. The heat used to prepare every meal is the heat from the onsen, and you will be amazed at just how good the food is, despite there being no fire in the cooking process. You will be presented with a unique chance to sample various traditional dishes from the Edo period.

Jigoku Mushi Kobo Kannawa

Address: 〒874-0044 Furomoto 5-kumi, Beppu-shi (along Ideyu-zaka slope)

Website: Jigoku Mushi Kobo Kannawa

Opening hours: 10am - 7pm (daily)

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9. Make your own unique scent at Oita Fragrance Museum

Oita Fragrance Museum 大分香りの博物館 (Beppu City) The theme of this museum is "scent". You can experience different aspects...

Posted by Onsen Oita on Wednesday, 20 November 2013

Japan is one of the few places where you will find unique museums such as the Oita Fragrance Museum, and this is another place you must not miss when you visit Beppu. If you have been putting on perfumes, then you may have been fascinated by how all the scents come together, and this is the kind of experience you will have when you visit this museum. It also has a rich history behind it which I know you will love to learn about.

Make your own unique scent at Oita Fragrance Museum

Address: 48-1 Kitaishigaki, Beppu, Oita 874-0915, Japan

Website: Oita Fragrance Museum

Opening hours: 10am - 6pm (daily)

Price: 2.79 USD

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10. Visit the spectacular illuminated displays at Suginoi Hotel

最下部の最初から必見!
Source: 藤田 聡

During the day, you will mistake the Suginoi Hotel for any other hotel in Beppu, but come nighttime, it comes alive with wonderful displays of beautiful illuminations. Bright colors cover the entire arcade with nice displays of colors of the rainbow. There are also displays of illuminated Japanese lamps, and the scene will be nothing but great beauty for you to witness.

Suginoi Hotel

Address: Japan, 〒874-0822 Oita, Beppu, 観海寺1

Website: Suginoi Hotel

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11. Enjoy a warm bath at Takegewara Onsen

竹瓦温泉には駐車場がないのでご注意を!

When you are in Beppu, there will be no escaping the different kinds of baths you will be exposed to, and it won’t hurt to try another one at Takegewara Onsen. This particular onsen has a charm you will never understand unless you experience it.

Warm Bathe at Takegewara Onsen

Address: Japan, 〒874-0000 Oita, Beppu, Motomachi, 16番23号

Website: Takegewara Onsen

Opening hours: 6:30am - 10:30pm (daily)

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12. See the dolphins at Umitamago Aquarium

生き生きと泳ぐ「バンドウイルカ」
Source: Shinkurou

Dolphins are some of the most gracious mammals in the world. They may be living in the water, but they are intelligent and extremely friendly to human beings. It is always a pleasure to watch the dolphins perform, and if you are in Beppu, then you need to make your way to Umitamago Aquarium for some thrilling dolphin performances. This is one of the most beautiful aquariums in Japan, not just because of its architecture, but also the species of sea life kept in it. In addition to watching the dolphins, you will also be treated to spectacular views of seals, penguins, otters, and a variety of fish species.

Umitamagno Aquarium

Address: 3078番地22 Kanzaki, 大字 Oita, 870-0100, Japan

Website: Umitamagno Aquarium

Opening hours: 9am - 6pm (daily)

Price: 20 USD

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13. Hike down to the lush Yufugawa Valley

由布川渓谷では緑豊かな渓谷美を
Source: 岡本 大樹

The best way to experience the beautiful outdoors of Beppu is to go for a hike down the lush Yufugawa Valley. If you are lucky enough to take the hike when the sun is out, you will know how it feels to take a walk in paradise. One of the best places to visit near Beppu, this valley exudes nothing but peaceful nature, with the sounds of the wild, including the soft sounds of the streams as they make their way down the slopes. The peace and tranquility you will experience during this hike will be more than therapeutic.

Yufugawa Valley

Address: Higashiyama2ku, Beppu, Oita 874-0804, Japan

Website: Yufugawa Valley

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14. Go on thrilling rides at Kijima Kogen Park

森のリゾート「城島高原パーク」

If you are visiting with young ones or if you are feeling playful enough to get some thrill on rides, then Kijima Kogen Park would be the right place for you. What you find here is a series of slides and swings with varying heights that may or may not scare you depending on your tolerance for heights. It is a great place to visit on a sunny Saturday afternoon with the entire family.

Kijima Kogen Park

Address: Japan, 〒874-8666 Oita, Beppu, 城島高原123

Website: Kijima Kogen Park

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 10am - 5pm; Sat - Sun: 9am - 5pm

Price: 39 USD USD

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15. Ride the ropeway to the top of scenic Mount Tsurumi

標高は1375m
Source: 嶋長 幸浩

Mount Tsurumi stands at 1,375 m (4,511 feet) above sea level, and as such, it is one of the highest points in the region. There are rope rides which you can use to take you straight to the top of the mountain. The ride will not just bring to life your spirit of adventure, but while you increase in the altitude, you will appreciate the beauty that the valley below has to offer. If it is during winter, the snow on the ground will form something like a blanket of white cotton, and during the other times, you will marvel at the greenery that resides in the valley. It is a ride worth experiencing irrespective of the time or season of your visit.

Ride to Mount Tsurumi

Address: Beppu, Ōita, Japan

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16. Snack on delicious chicken tempura at Restaurant Toyoken

大分名物 とり天もオススメ
Source: 堀内 京子

Oita Prefecture is where toriten originated–it is not often that you find yourself visiting a region known to have been the origin of a particularly popular and tasty delicacy like the toriten. This is simply a Japanese-style fried chicken, and a very popular snack among the Japanese, both back at home and in Japanese communities abroad. When you are in Beppu, the best place to check out this legendary snack is at Restaurant Toyoken. While you are at it, be sure to ask for the Kabosu-based sauce so that you appreciate the full flavors of the snack.

Snack at Restaurant Toyoken

Address: 7 Chome-8-22 Ishigakihigashi, Beppu, Oita 874-0919, Japan

Website: Restaurant Toyoken

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 11am - 3:30pm, 5pm - 10pm; Sat - Sun: 11am - 9:30pm

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17. Experience traditional, Japanese-style comfort at the Hotel Ryotei Matsubaya (from USD 261)

ここならではの絶景と温泉を独り占めできる!お勧めな「薬師の湯」
Source: sachie

Whether you are traveling for business or leisure, you have every reason to experience the Japanese-style comfort as demonstrated at Ryotei Matsubaya Hotel. The location of the hotel is about 1 km (0.62miles) from the city center, and it is one of the best places in the region where you can still get the authentic traditional Japanese accommodation. The hotel has been described as a haven of relaxation because irrespective of the load you will walk in with, you will leave as a greatly relieved man with a rejuvenated spirit.

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Beppu Kankaiji Onsen Ryotei Matsubaya

Address: Kankaiji 3
3.89 km (2.5 mi) from Kamado Jigoku

Heating Massage Daily housekeeping Newspapers Parking Internet services Free WiFi Special diet menus (on request)

Make your trip to Beppu a memorable one

With this list of the top things to do in Beppu, Japan, you should have more than enough options for your visit. It is a new place, and this comes with a chance for you to experience a new culture as displayed in the attractions and the food. Sample as many of the experiences as you can, and may your trip to Beppu be a memorable one.

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Frequently asked questions about things to do in Beppu, Japan


  • What are some cheap things to do in Beppu?

    Keep your budget intact by enjoying cheap things to do in Beppu such as bathing in Myoban Yunosato Hot Spring, soaking in the waterfall springs of Hyotan Onsen, making your own unique scent at Oita Fragrance Museum, and seeing the dolphins at Umitamago Aquarium.

  • What are the top attractions to visit in Beppu?

    The top places of interest in Beppu include the Beppu Traditional Bamboo Crafts Center, the Yukumeri Observatory, Kijima Kogen Park, and Hell Steaming Workshop Kannawa. Some of these attractions allow you to enjoy activities for less than 20 USD.

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Victor firmly believes that writing is a skill anyone can develop, and he is a living testament to that philosophy. With a genuine love for writing, he finds it to be a powerful means of sharing...Read more

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