Travel Plans
Beppu

Plan an indulgent Beppu trip with guidance on the colorful 'hells' tour, baths of varied water qualities, and unique hot-spring culture such as sand baths and steam cooking, to fully enjoy this town of rising steam.

Beppu is among Japan's foremost hot-spring areas in both number of sources and volume of water, with a distinctive landscape of steam rising throughout the town. Its variety of water qualities lets you enjoy many types of baths in a single stay. Beyond bathing, there is plenty to experience: the 'hells' tour of vividly colored springs meant for viewing, sand baths where you are covered in warm sand, and jigoku-mushi dishes steamed using the hot-spring vapor. It is an ideal place for those who want to savor hot-spring culture deeply.

The hells tour is the classic Beppu experience, offering the fun of comparing springs of different colors and characters, from the cobalt-blue Umi Jigoku to the red Chinoike Jigoku. The Kannawa onsen area is especially striking for its rising steam, and you can try jigoku-mushi steaming there. Sand baths are popular as a unique way to warm the body from the core. A short trip away, the calm onsen town of neighboring Yufuin offers a different mood to combine with Beppu's livelier energy.

Because Beppu's hells are scattered, using a combined ticket and touring efficiently by bus or car works best. The Kannawa area has many slopes and you walk amid steam, so comfortable shoes that can get damp are reassuring. Sand baths and popular inns get busy at certain times, so reservations or early visits are recommended. If bathing at several places, spacing out the baths and staying hydrated helps reduce strain on the body.