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Beppu Onsen (Oita): “Hells,” Steamy Streets, Sand Baths & Best Ways to Enjoy Japan’s Hot Spring City

Beppu Onsen (Oita): “Hells,” Steamy Streets, Sand Baths & Best Ways to Enjoy Japan’s Hot Spring City
Beppu is Japan’s iconic hot spring city, famous for its constant steam and huge variety of baths. This guide covers the Beppu “Hells” highlights, day-use onsen and local bathhouses, unique experiences like sand baths and steam baths, plus easy itineraries and access tips.

Highlights

Beppu Onsen Highlights

Beppu Onsen is a hot-spring city where steam rises throughout town, letting you enjoy the famous “hells,” hands-on onsen experiences, and hot-spring street strolls all in one visit.

Onsen Hopping in Beppu Hatto

In Beppu Hatto (Beppu, Kannawa, Myoban, Kankaiji, Horita, Shibaseki, Hamawaki, and Kamegawa), you can enjoy each area’s character and differences in spring quality.

Beppu Hells (Jigoku Meguri) Highlights

A signature route where you “view” vividly colored hot springs such as Umi Jigoku, Chinoike Jigoku, Tatsumaki Jigoku, Shiraike Jigoku, Oniishibozu Jigoku, Kamado Jigoku, and Oniyama Jigoku.

Unique Onsen Experiences

Beppu offers distinctive ways to bathe, such as sand baths (warming up wrapped in sand), mud baths (Myoban Onsen), and steam baths (Kannawa Onsen).

Access

About 2 hr 10 min from JR Hakata Station by limited express “Sonic” / about 10 min from JR Oita Station by local train; by car, about 2 hr from Fukuoka and about 50 min from Oita Airport.

How to Plan Your Visit

Combining Jigoku Meguri, day-use bathing (including public bathhouses), and street food in the onsen town makes it easier to feel satisfied even with limited time.

Local Food After the Onsen

From “jigoku-mushi” steamed dishes and toriten (chicken tempura) to Beppu cold noodles and onsen pudding, there are plenty of local specialties that pair well with Beppu sightseeing.

For the latest information, please refer to official announcements or check on site.

What Is Beppu Onsen? Japan’s No. 1 Hot Spring City for Volume and Sources

Beppu Onsen (別府温泉, Beppu Onsen) is one of Japan’s largest hot spring destinations, located in Beppu City, Oita Prefecture.

It is often said to be No. 1 in Japan for both hot spring water volume and number of sources, with more than 2,800 springs and over 100,000 liters of hot water flowing per minute.

It’s also famous for unique experiences you won’t find elsewhere—like the “Beppu Hell Tour (地獄めぐり, Jigoku Meguri),” sand baths, and mud baths.

✅ Explore eight distinct hot spring areas (別府八湯, Beppu Hatto)

✅ See otherworldly geothermal sights on the “Beppu Hell Tour”

✅ Enjoy sightseeing and street food in a retro hot spring town

Beppu Onsen is one of Japan’s great hot spring resorts—full of relaxation and surprise.


Top Things to Do in Beppu Onsen

1. Soak your way around Beppu Hatto | eight hot spring areas with distinct character

Beppu Onsen is made up of eight hot spring areas, each with its own atmosphere and different spring qualities.

Of the 10 “display categories” used for onsen water types, seven have been confirmed within Beppu City—earning it the nickname “a department store of hot springs.”

Beppu Hatto highlights

  • Beppu Onsen (around JR Beppu Station; the most convenient area with many hotels and public baths)
  • Kannawa Onsen (a traditional town of rising steam; great for the Hell Tour and steam baths)
  • Myōban Onsen (a mountain onsen with a sulfur scent; famous for thatched “yunohana” huts)
  • Kankaiji Onsen (a hillside resort area with sweeping views over Beppu Bay)
  • Horita Onsen (near Beppu IC; a quieter area with hidden-gem hot springs)
  • Shibaseki Onsen (a historic onsen said to have been visited for therapeutic bathing by Emperor Daigo in 895)
  • Hamawaki Onsen (known as Beppu’s birthplace; retro public baths loved by locals)
  • Kamegawa Onsen (a seaside onsen area where you can enjoy natural sand bathing)

Being able to enjoy different spring qualities and unique vibes in each area is a big part of Beppu’s appeal.

There’s also a stamp rally called “Beppu Hatto Onsen Dō,” where visiting 88 baths can earn you recognition as an “Onsen Master.”

2. The must-do Beppu Hell Tour | visit seven famous “hells”

When it comes to Beppu Onsen, the Beppu Hell Tour is essential.

These are geothermal hot spring vents and pools meant for viewing rather than bathing—where you can observe vividly colored boiling water and rising steam.

Seven famous hells

  • Umi Jigoku (Sea Hell) (a stunning cobalt-blue hot spring around 98°C; a nationally designated scenic spot)
  • Chinoike Jigoku (Blood Pond Hell) (Japan’s oldest natural “hell,” with bright red hot mud rich in iron oxide; a nationally designated scenic spot)
  • Shiraike Jigoku (White Pond Hell) (a milky blue-white pond; a nationally designated scenic spot)
  • Oniishi Bōzu Jigoku (gray hot mud bubbles up like shaved heads)
  • Tatsumaki Jigoku (a geyser that erupts at intervals of about 30–40 minutes; a nationally designated scenic spot)
  • Oniyama Jigoku (uses geothermal heat to raise about 70 crocodiles; also called “Crocodile Hell”)
  • Kamado Jigoku (six different “hell” areas from 1-chōme to 6-chōme, plus footbaths and drinking hot spring water)

A common admission ticket for the seven hells is 2,400 yen for adults and 1,200 yen for elementary/junior-high students, valid for two days.

Plan for about 2–3 hours to visit them all.

3. Unique hot spring experiences you can only do here

Beppu Onsen offers plenty of experiences that go beyond a standard hot spring bath.

Recommended unique onsen experiences

  • Sand bath (Sand SPA (Beppu Seaside Sand Bath)): a relaxing sand bath experience wrapped in warm sand while looking out at the sea (fees: 2,500 yen for adults, 1,800 yen for children (ages 6–12))
  • Mud bath (Myōban Onsen / Beppu Onsen Hoyō Land, etc.): a distinctive soak in rich, thick mud
  • Steam bath (Kannawa Mushiyu): lie in a stone chamber lined with medicinal herbs (sekishō) and warm up with hot spring steam—said to have been founded in 1276

The sheer variety of baths is one of Beppu’s biggest strengths.

If you love hot springs, you’ll find countless spots to enjoy.

4. Don’t miss Beppu’s local food

Beppu isn’t just about hot springs—its food scene is packed with delicious local specialties.

Recommended foods

  • Jigoku-mushi (hell-steamed cuisine) (a local style of steaming ingredients using Kannawa’s geothermal steam; you can try it at “Jigoku Mushi Kōbō Kannawa”)
  • Tori-ten (Oita’s famous chicken tempura)
  • Beppu reimen (a local cold noodle dish with springy noodles and a light, refreshing broth)
  • Onsen pudding (pudding made using hot spring steam; popular to compare different shops)

After a soak, local food tastes even better.


Helpful Travel Info for Visitors

1. How to get to Beppu Onsen

By train

  • From JR Hakata Station to JR Beppu Station, around 2 hours on limited express trains (Sonic, etc.)
  • From JR Oita Station, about 10–15 minutes by local train

By car

  • About 2 hours from central Fukuoka via expressways
  • About 45–60 minutes from Oita Airport

By bus

  • From Fukuoka (Hakata Bus Terminal), about 2–2.5 hours by highway bus
  • Highway buses may also operate from places like Kumamoto, Nagasaki, and Kagoshima

For getting around Beppu, a Kamenoi Bus day pass is convenient.

Buses also run to the Hell Tour and the Kannawa Onsen area.

2. Recommended places to stay

Beppu onsen stays

  • Suginoi Hotel (a large resort overlooking Beppu Bay; famous for its multi-tier “Tanayu” baths and panoramic open-air baths)
  • Kai Beppu (a hot spring ryokan operated by Hoshino Resorts, ideal for enjoying Beppu’s waters)
  • Kamenoi Hotel Beppu (a popular, good-value hotel with hot springs)

In the Kannawa Onsen area, there are also long-stay “kashima” lodgings with kitchens, where you can try self-catering using hell-steaming—another uniquely Beppu way to travel.


Summary

✅ Beppu Onsen is often said to be Japan’s No. 1 hot spring destination for both water volume and number of sources

✅ Enjoy seven different spring-quality categories across Beppu Hatto

✅ The Beppu Hell Tour is an unforgettable sightseeing experience across seven “hells”

✅ Unique baths like sand, mud, and steam make Beppu special

✅ Local foods like jigoku-mushi and tori-ten are must-tries


Frequently Asked Questions

A. Beppu Onsen is a collective name for eight hot-spring areas known as Beppu Hatto (the eight hot spring areas of Beppu). Each area feels different, so visiting in a sequence like Kannawa first, then the central area, can make the contrasts easier to notice in a single day.
A. Beppu City is said to have 2,832 hot-spring sources, with a total discharge of 101,905 L/min. On a first visit, many people are struck less by the numbers and more by the strong steam scent and salty feel, so having extra towels can be reassuring.
A. The Beppu Jigoku Meguri shared ticket is 2,400 yen for adults and 1,200 yen for children (elementary school), and opening hours are 8:00-17:00. If you aim to see them all, you’ll walk a lot, so comfortable shoes and some coins help keep things moving smoothly.
A. Takegawara Onsen costs 300 yen for adults and 100 yen for children for the regular bath, and the sand bath is 1,500 yen. Hours are 6:30-22:30 for the regular bath and 8:00-22:30 for the sand bath (last entry 21:30), and it closes on the third Wednesday (or the next day if it’s a holiday). Since sand-bath reception may end earlier at times, it’s smart to check the notice at the counter as soon as you arrive.
A. Beppu has many day-use options, including municipal baths, and there’s also a coupon booklet usable across multiple facilities, including Takegawara Onsen. Many baths are hot, so starting with a short soak, taking a break, then moving to the next bath helps you avoid fatigue.
A. If you want to enjoy the variety of experiences across Beppu Hatto, at least one night gives you more breathing room after bathing. Buses are convenient, but you’ll likely walk a lot on onsen-hopping days, so staying closer to central Beppu can make returning to your lodging easier.
A. Bathing rules vary by facility, and tattoo policies aren’t unified. If you want a reliable option, choosing a private bath or a lodging with an in-room bath can help you avoid having to search around on site.
A. Beppu is known for steam-based food culture such as jigoku-mushi (hell-steaming). After bathing, many people crave both salt and hydration, so picking a place to buy drinks before or after your soak helps you manage your energy more easily.

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