Is Beppu Worth Visiting? [2024]
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View of steam rising from Beppu’s many hot springs
The lively Onsen town of Beppu is located in Japan’s Kyushu Island, and has been drawing tourists in for hundreds of years. In fact, Beppu is widely regarded as Japan’s most well-known hot spring tourist destination and is touted as Japan’s ‘Onsen Capital’. With that being said, is Beppu Worth Visiting? Let’s discuss!
RELATED: 7 Hells of Beppu Guide, 10-Day Kyushu Island Itinerary, and Nobeoka Things To Do: Guide to Nobeoka
Where to stay in Beppu
There are so many Onsens in Beppu, and it can be overwhelming choosing where to stay in Beppu.
Where we stayed: Yamada Bessou
We stayed at the Yamada Bessou, and we absolutely loved it! In our opinion, this is the best value-for-money place to stay in Beppu as it offers a beautiful onsen and room, but comes at only a fraction of the cost of a luxury Onsen.
You can take a closer look at Yamada Bessou by clicking here.
Budget: J-Hoppers Beppu Guesthouse
This hotel excels in sheer affordability and convenience. A great budget option for travelers looking to save money.
Take a closer look at J-Hoppers Beppu Guesthouse by clicking here.
Mid-Range: Seaside Hotel Mimatsu Ooetei
Travelers usually come to Beppu to stay at a Ryokan, and the Seaside Hotel Mimatsu Ooetei is a fantastic choice. Featuring gorgeous seaside views and traditional Japanese rooms, you will love staying here.
Take a closer look at Seaside Hotel Mimatsu Ooetei by clicking here.
Luxury: ANA InterContinental Beppu Resort & Spa, an IHG Hotel
This resort is absolutely gorgeous, and will please any luxury traveler. Featuring lavishly decorated rooms, amazing restaurants and views that will take your breath away, the ANA InterContinental Beppu Resort & Spa is one of Beppu’s best luxury hotels.
Take a closer look at the ANA InterContinental Beppu Resort & Spa, an IHG Hotel by clicking here.
Brief History about Beppu
Umi Jigoku – one of Beppu’s ‘7 Hells’
Beppu first made a real splash in the late 1800s, when sea travel became much easier between major Japanese destinations. Since then, Beppu has only grown in popularity and demand.
Shiraike Jigoku, Beppu
With almost 3,000 hot spring vents within the city, Beppu accounts for more than 10% of all the hot springs in Japan! An even crazier statistic? More than 130,000 tons of hot spring water rises from the ground every day – making it the second largest amount of hot spring water discharge on the planet – second only to Yellowstone National Park in America.
Kifune Castle, Beppu
Divided into many hot spring areas, the most popular places to stay in Beppu are Beppu Onsen, Kannawa Onsen, Kankaji Onsen and Shibaseki Onsen.
Chinoike Jigoku, Beppu
Beppu is extremely famous for its “viewing hot springs” – that is, hot springs that are only made for viewing. Named the 7 Hells of Beppu, these ‘hells’ are a major drawcard for visitors. I reviewed all 7 Hells of Beppu in my other blog post, so you should go check that out if you’re thinking about visiting Beppu.
Why Should I Visit Beppu?
You should visit Beppu if you’re a hot springs enthusiast. Onsens are a deeply ingrained part of Japanese culture, so I find them really interesting – that’s why I was able to sustain my excitement and interest when visiting Beppu. You should keep in mind that Beppu is very onsen-focused, so most of its attractions revolve around hot springs.
Kamado Jigoku, Beppu
My hot tip would be to find a nice onsen resort/’ryokan’ and use that as a base in Beppu. Beppu is home to some of the finest onsen resorts in the world, so you’ll be spoilt for shoice.
We stayed at the ‘Yamada Bessou’ Onsen in Beppu and had a beautiful stay
If you’re already visiting Kyushu Island, then visiting Beppu is easy by public transport. Simply board a train to Beppu Station – there are always trains from different cities in Kyushu Island departing to Beppu. Beppu is considered one of the highlights of a Kyushu Island trip, so I wouldn’t miss it if you’re already on the island.
Ralph at Yamada Bessou, Beeps
Shiraike Jigoku, Beppu
Once you’re done soaking in the baths, there are some other things to do in Beppu. Beppu is conveniently located in Oita Prefecture, so you can take a day trip to the enchanting town of Yufuin – an eclectic and quirky town with a beautiful, peaceful lake.
Quirky Yufuin – a short day trip away from Beppu
To take in some views, go up the Beppu Ropeway, which offers you panoramic vistas of the surrounding area. You can also try hiking up Mount Tsurumi or trekking around Shidadako Lake.
Peaceful Kinrin Lake in Yufuin
Of course, don’t miss the 7 Hells of Beppu. Our favourites were Umi Jigoku, Chinoike Jigoku and Shiraike Jigoku. Beppu is also home to a pretty nice castle, Kifune Castle, which easily noticeable from Beppu city.
Beautiful Shiraoke Jigoku, Beppu
Umi Jigoku, Beppu
Explanation of Umi Jigoku in Beppu
Kifune Castle – viewable from Beppu City
Why Shouldn’t I Visit Beppu?
Beppu has a bit of a reputation for being a little bit ‘tacky’ or ‘kitschy’, and with good reason. It is a tourist city first and foremost, so most things are very heavily geared towards the tourist experience. It’s been compared to a sort of Las Vegas experience of sorts.
Beppu is all about onsens – so keep this in mind when visiting!
Kamado Jigoku, Beppu
For example, in one of the hells – Oniyama Jigoku – there were caged crocodiles around the hot springs. We didn’t really understand why this was the case or what the connection was between crocodiles and hot springs.
Crocodiles at Oniyama Jigoku – what’s the point of all this?
Beppu also is home to a few interesting amusement parks, such as Kijima Kogen Park and Beppu Rakutenchi. I didn’t visit these, but I haven’t heard the best things about them online. Nothing too bad, but just they’re a little outdated and gimmicky. So if you’re hoping for a Disneyland-esque experience – I don’t think you’ll get that here.
Another look at Kifune Castle, Beeps
Oniishibozu Jigoku, Beppu
While there are pockets of peace and quiet in Beppu’s smaller onsen towns, if you’re looking for a tranquil, peaceful getaway, I don’t think Beppu would be the best choice – I would recommend Yufuin instead.
Yufuin – a quirky town!
Seeing that it’s located on Kyushu Island, it’s quite a distance away from major cities such as Kyoto, Osaka and Tokyo. If this is your first trip to Japan, you might want to explore these areas first before making it to Kyushu.
Quiet Yufuin Town
If you’re not all that interested in Japan’s onsen culture, then I would rethink visiting Beppu. It is an onsen town, after all!
Final Verdict – Is Beppu Worth Visiting?
Yes, Beppu is worth visiting. Although it does have a bit of a reputation for being ‘gimmicky’, it’s still a really fascinating place. It’s onsen madness! I had a truly unique experience, even after visiting Japan so many times.
Umi Jigoku, Beppu
Torii gates at Umi Jigoku
I think the best way to experience Beppu is to stay in a nice onsen resort. Use this time to relax, and when you’re ready to explore, check out some of Beppu’s main sights. This is what I did, and it was a really relaxing experience.
Asher at Yamada Bessou Onsen, Beppu
Panoramic views of Beppu City
While you’re in Kyushu Island, I would also highly recommend visiting other places such as the stunning Takachiho Gorge, as well as Kagoshima, Nagasaki, Nanzoin Temple and Itoshima. Kyushu Island is a bit underrated overall, so I think it definitely deserves more love!
Takachiho Gorge
View of Sakurajima in Kagoshima
Sunset in Kagoshima
Peace Statue, Nagasaki
Nanzoin Temple, Kyushu Island
Ralph at Keya no Oto, Itoshima
Sunset over Keya no Oto, Itoshima
Remember to check out my Kyushu Island Itinerary for more ideas on what to do around the area! If you’re visiting the 7 Hells of Beppu, you should also check out this guide.
Best Beppu Tours
If you’re interested to learn more about the history of Beppu and the 7 Hells, I would recommend a guided tour. Here are some I’ve picked out for you:
Private Sightseeing Tour of Beppu’s Hells - Visit Umi Jigoku, Kamado Jigoku and more on this half day private tour.
Beppu Onsen Sightseeing Tour with Kimono and Yukata - This is an awesome tour experience that allows you to walk slowly through Yu no Machi Beppu, where you’ll able to see the daily lives and history Beppu and its people. You’ll also get a chance to wear a kimono or yukata (traditional Japanese clothing) as you do this.
Have you visited Beppu in Japan? Was it worth visiting? Let me know in the comments below!
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