Beppu produces more onsen water than any other city on earth — 2,800+ hot springs across eight distinct districts, with more daily volume than every other Japanese city combined. The headline draws are the turquoise Umi Jigoku (Sea Hell), the blood-red Chinoike Jigoku, the 1879 Edo-era public bathhouse Takegawara Bathhouse, the high-mountain milky-white Myōban Onsen, and the working-class everyday-bath district of Hamawaki Onsen.
Top Attractions
Umi Jigoku
Beppu's most famous Hell — turquoise-blue 98°C pool with vermillion torii beyond, named for its sea-like colour
Turquoise Sea Hell
- Cobalt-rich turquoise
- 98°C surface
- Torii viewpoint
Chinoike Jigoku
The Blood Pond Hell — iron-oxide-rich blood-red 78°C pool, with a foot bath outside the entrance
Blood-red Hell
- Iron-oxide red colour
- 78°C
- Foot bath outside
Takegawara Bathhouse
1879 Meiji-era public sento — dark wood interior, sand-baths where attendants bury you in hot black sand for 10 minutes
Edo-era sand baths
- 1879 Meiji bathhouse
- Sand bath ritual
- Dark wood interior
Myōban Onsen
Mountain village above Beppu — milky-white sulphur baths, thatched yunohana huts producing bath salts, and a panoramic view down to Beppu Bay
Milky-white mountain onsen
- Sulphur-rich water
- Yunohana bath salts
- Bay-view onsen
Hamawaki Onsen
Working-class onsen district at Beppu's edge — Edo-era public sento Hamawaki Onsen-yu (¥100) with locals bathing daily
Working-class sento district
- ¥100 public bath
- Edo-era sento
- Working-class district
Where to Eat
Beppu's distinctive cuisine — jigoku-mushi (steam-cooked food), toriten (chicken tempura), and reimen (cold ramen).
Where to Stay
How to Get There
Getting There
- 1JR Limited Express Sonic → Beppu Station
- 1Airport bus → Beppu Station
- 1Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen → Hakata
- 2JR Limited Express Sonic → Beppu Station
Tips for Visiting
- Beppu has 8 onsen districts: Beppu (station), Kannawa, Myōban, Hamawaki, Kamegawa, Horita, Shibaseki, Kankaiji.
- Bus #5 connects Beppu Station to Kannawa (15 min); a rental car is the easiest way to tour all eight districts.
- Year-round destination — winter is most atmospheric (steam most visible against cold air); avoid July–October typhoon risk for outdoor plans.
- Two days lets you tour Kannawa, Myōban, and Hamawaki and have a sand-bath at Takegawara; three days opens up Yufuin (40 min away).
How long to stay
One full day for the Hells circuit and one bathhouse. Two days lets you tour multiple districts (Kannawa, Myōban, Hamawaki) and have a sand-bath experience at Takegawara. Three days opens up Yufuin overnight (40 min away).
FAQ
Are the Hells safe to visit?
Yes — visitors view from designated boardwalks; no swimming. The water is 78-100°C. ¥2,200 combination ticket covers all eight Hells. Each takes 15-20 min; full circuit 3-4 hours.
Where do I bathe in Beppu?
Public sento (Hamawaki Onsen-yu, Takegawara Bathhouse — both ¥100-300), the new Beppu Hatto Onsen complex (¥300), or your ryokan. The Hells themselves are not for bathing.
What is Beppu best known for?
The world's biggest hot-spring volume, the eight Jigoku Meguri Hells, the sand-bath ritual at Takegawara, and the steam-cooked jigoku-mushi cuisine. Plus the working-class onsen culture across eight districts.
Should I do the sand bath at Takegawara?
Yes — the unique experience of being buried in volcanically-heated black sand for 10 minutes is worth the ¥1,500 fee. Strenuous (it's hot and heavy); not for those with heart conditions or claustrophobia.
Can I do Beppu as a day trip from Hakata?
Possible but tight (4 hours round-trip travel). Most travellers overnight to enjoy a ryokan dinner and morning onsen. Combining with Yufuin (40 min) makes a 2-day onsen weekend.
What are Beppu's hidden gems?
The mountain Myōban Onsen district with its thatched yunohana huts producing bath salts, the working-class Hamawaki Onsen-yu (¥100 public bath), and the panoramic baths at the Suginoi Hotel hilltop pool overlooking the bay.
What surrounds the headline spots?
Beyond the obvious draws, Takegawara Onsen, Mount Tsurumi, Beppu Rakutenchi, Ekimae Ichiba, Usuki Stone Buddhas reward travelers willing to step off the main route — local pace, fewer crowds, and a closer feel for the everyday rhythms of the region.