//
City in Kyushu, Japan
Photo: Miya.m, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Beppu (別府 Beppu) is a city in Oita prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan. Famous for its visually stunning hot springs (the Hells of Beppu), Beppu is one of Japan's Three Great Hot Springs.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
海地獄 Sea Hell
Blue-green fuming pond
鬼石坊主地獄 Shaven Monk's Head Hell
山地獄 Mountain Hell
かまど地獄 Boiling Hell
鬼山地獄 Demon Mountain Hell
白池地獄 White Pond Hell
血の池地獄 Blood Pond Hell
龍巻地獄 Geyser Hell
竹細工伝統産業会館
Has displays on bamboo craftsmanship and offers courses on making your own. Buses run from JR Beppu Station.
別府ロープウェイ
When the weather is clear this ropeway will take you 800 m up to the top of Mt. Tsurumi (1375 m) which has a full view of the city and Beppu Bay. Hours vary by season but mostly closes around dusk. Evening views are only available during Golden Week and August. From the upper station there is a ten-minute uphill walk to the top, with several small temples and shrines along the way.
グローバルタワー
An observatory 100 m up in Beppu City that gives a full 360 degree view of the city. It's part of the Beppu International Convention Plaza (B-Con Plaza) and about 15 minutes on foot from the west exit of Beppu Station, just across from the western side of Beppu Park. Another similar option is the older Beppu Tower.
竹瓦温泉
A Meiji-era classic. The hot bath is extraordinarily hot, and signs gently remind you that the regulars like it that way. If you're not in a hurry, take a dip after you've been buried up to your neck in hot sand on the other side of the building. Tickets come with a yukata. Step into the changing room to stash your valuables, change into your yukata, head through the curtain, and then lay down in the sand pit (with the yukata on); an attendant will be along to shovel hot sand on you shortly. (Cameras are welcome — they're happy to take photos of you while you're buried.) After ten minutes or so, you'll emerge from the earth and shower back in the changing area. It's between Ekimae-dori and Nagarekawa-dori, one block before the intersection with Route 10.
To see hot springs steam against mountains.
ひょうたん温泉
A large complex with indoor and outdoor baths using several types of wood and stones, sauna and steam rooms, a waterfall bath, and a dry sand bath. There is a restaurant inside the complex.
夢たまて筥
A good place to start when you've never been to an Onsen before, as it's more like a public bath than a traditional Onsen. Features six types of indoor and outdoor baths, including an electric bath and a Japanese-style sauna.
Such as Mushiyu (historical steam bath), Shibunoyu, Shoninyu, Jigokubaruyu, Netsunoyu, Sujiyu and Taninoyu.
With a mixed-bathing mud bath.
柴石温泉
棚湯温泉
Many different baths and a sauna with stunning view of the city.
Water park.
堀田温泉
とよ常
A small but cozy outlet. The place's friendly okami-san has an English menu (inquire inside). The place serves a good tendon (2 big prawns!) for ¥680, and it comes with a miso soup which is also the shop's specialty, with a stronger taste than the normal ones. For the adventurous, they do fugu as well for around ¥2200.
花時計珈琲館
Hanatokei is run by Mrs. Matsumoto, a devoted student of coffee beans and baking. The menu includes Japanese and Western style dishes.
胡月
Cold noodles called reimen.
海鮮いづつ
Good sashimi sets at low prices.
焼肉一力
Grilled meat.
ヒットパレードクラブ
A uniquely Japanese experience, Hit Parade is an all you can eat buffet and all you can drink (alcoholic or not) American 1950s Dance Hall. A live band performs songs from 1950s America while locals perform coordinated dance moves in front of the stage. It's more of a show than a modern dance club, think of a theater with food and drinks, but well worth the scene.
別府ゲストハウス
Great location, nice staff, free laundry.
Budget accommodation in traditional Japanese style. There are many restaurants and onsens in the neighborhood. Free parking. They speak Japanese, English and Czech.
Clean and cozy. English-speaking desk staff. Has own public natural hot spring (free for guests).
陽光荘
A traditional Japanese-style hotel equipped with hot springs baths and steam-powered ovens.
オモロソウ ホステル
Fantastically decorated rooms in a traditional Japanese-style home. Toshi-san speaks English well and gives invaluable tips about the surrounding area. Features a well-equipped kitchen and a common room to meet and greet. Opened July 2023.
国際民宿こかげ
Has its own hot bath.
野上本館
New, spacious and well-appointed rooms, with meals and 3 private and 2 public onsen available. There is a fluent English speaker on staff during the day-time hours.
別府温泉 杉乃井ホテル
A luxury hotel with multiple wings and a connected game center and aqua-fun park. In true Beppu style, it has its own onsen on the premises.
ゆめタウン別府
Shopping complex on Route 10 near Beppu Tower. There's a large grocery, pharmacy, and beauty shop on the ground level.
By train
Beppu Station is on the JR Nippō Main Line.
By car
The Oita Expressway runs from the south, passing a few miles to the west of the city. Exit at the Beppu Interchange.
By boat
Uwajima-un'yu ferry company operates frequent service from Yawatahama, with about 6 crossings per day, going to Beppu port.
Information office
The Foreign Tourist Information Office has three branches in the city center. Two of them (except Beppu Station) offer free internet access.
By bus
The Hells and other sites can be easily reached via the tourist-centered bus system. Departures are outside JR Beppu Station.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Oita · Regional · OIT
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Beppu and Japan.
Travel tipsCheck if you need a visa for Japan in 2026. Discover visa-exempt nationalities, eVisa eligibility, stay durations, and how to use Visit Japan Web QR codes.
7 min read
Travel tipsPlan for Japan's new travel costs in 2026. Learn about the ¥3,000 international departure tax, tiered hotel taxes in Kyoto, and Mt Fuji trail fees.
7 min read
Travel tipsComplete 2026 guide to global tourist taxes and access fees. Compare entry fees in Venice, Bali, Bhutan, Kyoto, and Edinburgh, and learn how to pay them.
8 min read
ItinerariesPlan a trip to Japan with kids in 2026. Discover a family-tested 10-day itinerary with theme parks, bullet trains, and practical parenting tips.
8 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.