Top 8 Day-Trip Hot Springs in Beppu! From Natural Springs to Private Open-Air Baths
Beppu Offers Plenty of Charming Day-Trip Hot Springs!
Beppu's day-trip hot springs are filled with the charm unique to a destination that boasts the highest number of springs and largest volume of discharge in Japan. A characteristic of the area is that you can enjoy "yameguri" (hot spring hopping) among the scattered baths that feature diverse water qualities and benefits. You can also experience unique bathing styles such as sand baths and steam baths. Additionally, there is a rich variety of facilities available, including open-air baths where you can bathe while gazing at spectacular views of Beppu Bay and the mountains, as well as historic public bathhouses. You can enjoy the atmospheric streets of the hot spring town and the scenery of rising steam, spending a healing time that relaxes both body and mind.
8 Recommended Day-Trip Hot Springs in Beppu
"Takegawara Onsen," the Iconic Beppu Bathhouse with a Grand Karahafu Roof
Photo courtesy of: Nifty Onsen
"Takegawara Onsen" is a municipal public bathhouse that symbolizes Beppu Onsen, characterized by its magnificent 1938 Karahafu-style (arched gable) building. Designated as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2004, it continues to convey its retro charm to this day. Inside, there is a free-flowing indoor bath and a famous sand bath; the men's bath features chloride spring water, while the women's bath features hydrogen carbonate spring water, allowing you to enjoy different qualities. Business hours are 6:30–22:30 (sand bath 8:00–22:30, last entry 21:30). Prices are affordable at 300 yen for regular bathing and 1,500 yen for the sand bath. The second floor features a 90-mat grand hall, which is also used as a local community center. It is a hot spring that symbolizes Beppu's bathing culture, loved by locals and popular with tourists alike.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 16-23 Motomachi, Beppu City, Oita Prefecture 874-0944 |
| Access | 10-minute walk from JR Beppu Station, approx. 15-minute drive from Beppu IC on the Oita Expressway |
| Parking | None (paid parking available nearby) |
| Business Hours | Regular bath: 6:30–22:30, Sand bath: 8:00–22:30 (last entry 21:30) |
| Fees | Regular bath: Adult (junior high school and older) 300 yen, Child 100 yen (free for preschool children), Sand bath: 1,500 yen (6 years and older) |
"Hyotan Onsen," Enjoy 7 Types of 100% Free-Flowing Spring Water
Photo courtesy of: Nifty Onsen
"Hyotan Onsen" is a day-trip facility in Beppu's Kannawa district featuring 100% free-flowing spring water. Established in 1922, this long-standing facility uses unique "Yumetake" technology to maintain the purity and freshness of the source. The facility is home to 7 types of hot springs, including a large communal bath, open-air baths, sand baths, steam baths, and waterfall baths, making for an enjoyable hopping experience. The sand bath using geothermal steam and the powerful waterfall baths (19 for men, 8 for women) are particularly popular. Business hours are 9:00–25:00 (large communal bath until 24:00), with affordable prices of 1,020 yen for adults and 400 yen for children. It also features 14 private baths (reservation required), making it recommended for families. As a spot where one can easily experience Beppu's hot spring culture, it is widely loved by locals and tourists alike.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 159-2 Kannawa, Beppu City, Oita Prefecture 874-0042 |
| Access | Approx. 25 minutes by bus from JR Beppu Station (West or East Exit) |
| Parking | Available (approx. 80 spaces, large buses/microbuses allowed), Free |
| Business Hours | 9:00–next day 1:00 (large bath until 24:00; sand bath entry until 22:30, use until 23:00) |
| Fees | Adult (13+) 1,020 yen, Child (7–12) 400 yen, Toddler (4–6) 280 yen, 3 and under free |
"Kannawa Mushiyu," Warm to the Core with Hell Steam
Photo courtesy of: Nifty Onsen
"Kannawa Mushiyu" is a unique steam-bath style facility in the Kannawa hot spring district. Said to have been opened in 1276 by the monk Ippen, this historic bath allows you to experience a traditional bathing method: lying on medicinal "sekishou" (sweet flag) herbs spread inside an eight-mat stone chamber and steaming your whole body with 75°C hot spring steam. You will break into a sweat in about 10 minutes, providing excellent detox and relaxation effects. You can also easily enjoy the free foot steam bath on the premises. Business hours are 7:30–19:30 (last entry 19:00), and the fee is 700 yen (junior high school and older) plus 220 yen for yukata rental. It is a special spot where you can savor Beppu's unique hot spring culture while enveloped in the scent of sekishou.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Kannawa Kami-1-kumi, Beppu City, Oita Prefecture 874-0046 |
| Access | 20 minutes via Kamenoi Bus bound for Kannawa from JR Nippo Main Line Beppu Station; get off at the last stop, then walk 5 minutes |
| Parking | Available (12 spaces at Netsunoyu, 19 spaces in Kannawa area). 2 hours free for users of Kannawa Mushiyu |
| Business Hours | 6:30–20:00 (last entry 19:30) |
| Fees | – |
"Kannaiji Onsen Ichinoide Kaikan," a Hidden Bath with Spectacular Views and Blue Water
Photo courtesy of: Nifty Onsen
"Kannaiji Onsen Ichinoide Kaikan" is a day-trip facility located on a hill in Beppu, where you can enjoy breathtaking views and cobalt blue water. The glowing blue color is caused by "Rayleigh scattering," where light reflects off the metasilicic acid contained in the high-temperature spring water, and the color changes throughout the day. The water quality is sodium-chloride (pH 8.6, metasilicic acid 254mg/kg), which has high heat-retention and moisturizing properties, making it popular as a "beauty bath." In the "Keikan no Yu" (Scenic Bath), which alternates daily between men and women, you can enjoy a highly liberating bathing experience with a panoramic view of Beppu Bay. Admission is 700 yen; plans with a meal are 1,600 yen. Business hours are weekdays 11:00–17:00, weekends/holidays 10:00–17:00. Why not enjoy stunning views and beautifying water in this location filled with the feeling of a hidden hot spring?
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 14-2 Uehara-cho, Beppu City, Oita Prefecture 874-0829 |
| Access | 7 minutes via Kamenoi Bus (Ogiya line bound for Ogiya Danchi) from JR Nippo Main Line Beppu Station, get off at Meihou Campus-mae, walk 15 minutes |
| Parking | Available (20 spaces, free) |
| Business Hours | Weekdays 11:00–17:00 (last entry 16:00), Sat/Sun/Hol 10:00–17:00 (last entry 16:00) |
| Fees | Adult 700 yen, Child (4 to elementary school) 300 yen, Toddler (under 3) free |
"Myoban Yunosato," Excellent Skin-Beautifying Effects in the Land of Yuhana
Photo courtesy of: Nifty Onsen
"Myoban Yunosato" is a hot spring facility on a hill in Beppu where you can enjoy sulfate springs (strongly acidic with a pH of 2.1–2.5). Characterized by milky-white sulfur water, it offers excellent skin-beautifying and bactericidal effects, and is expected to help with skin conditions and neuralgia. In particular, the "alum" (aluminum potassium sulfate) contained in the spring components is known to activate TRPM4, which suppresses skin inflammation. You can enjoy a supreme bathing experience while feeling nature in the spacious large open-air bath. Furthermore, you can tour the Yuhana (hot spring flower) huts to learn more deeply about Beppu's hot spring culture. Admission is an affordable 500 yen for adults and 300 yen for elementary students; business hours are 8:00–21:00 (last entry 20:30). This is a recommended spot for those interested in beauty and hot spring culture.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Myoban 6-kumi, Beppu City, Oita Prefecture |
| Access | 30 minutes via Kamenoi Bus from JR Beppu Station bound for Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, get off at Jizoyu-mae. Approx. 4km/6-min drive from Beppu IC on the Higashi-Kyushu Expressway via Prefectural Road 11 and Route 500 |
| Parking | Available (80 spaces, free) |
| Business Hours | – |
| Fees | Adult 600 yen, Child (4–elementary school) 300 yen |
"Koudei Onsen," Natural Mud Packs with 1,300 Years of History
Photo courtesy of: Nifty Onsen
"Beppu Onsen Hoyouland" is a precious facility utilizing natural mud that springs spontaneously from "Konya Jigoku," which has over 1,300 years of history. It is one of only three such rare mineral mud baths in Oita Prefecture, expected to help with shoulder stiffness, back pain, and skin beautification. The appeal lies in the different ingredients found in the indoor and outdoor mud-infused baths. Business hours are 9:00–20:00 (overnight guests can use the colloid bath 24 hours). Admission is 1,500 yen for adults, 1,100 yen for junior high students, and 600 yen for elementary students. Please check in advance as the facility may only operate in the morning for cleaning. Why not try this unique Beppu hot spring experience, often called the "Phantom Hot Spring" due to its rarity and efficacy?
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 6 Ogura, Beppu City, Oita Prefecture 874-0842 |
| Access | Approx. 3-minute drive from Beppu IC on the Oita Expressway. Located within the Bouzu Jigoku premises. |
| Parking | Available (shared with Bouzu Jigoku) |
| Business Hours | 8:30–17:00 |
| Fees | Adult 900 yen, elementary student 700 yen (not open to those below elementary age) |
"Kannawa Onsen Shibunoyu," a Public Bathhouse with a Retro Atmosphere
Photo courtesy of: Nifty Onsen
"Shibunoyu" is a historic public bathhouse in the heart of Kannawa Onsen, loved by locals and tourists alike. The bath and tubs are made of bluish Towada stone, creating a warm and refreshing space. The water is sodium-chloride, known for its high metasilicic acid content, making it a "beauty bath" with high moisturizing effects. A characteristic is the temperature adjustment using the bamboo-based cooling device "Yumetake." Admission is an affordable 100 yen (coin locker fee); business hours are 6:30–21:00 (last entry 20:30). With tattoo-friendly policies and multilingual support, it is easy for tourists to use and popular as a relaxing space to interact with locals. It is a hot spring where you can easily experience the charm of Kannawa Onsen.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Furo-moto 1-kumi, Kannawa, Beppu City, Oita Prefecture 874-0044 |
| Access | Approx. 25 minutes via Kamenoi Bus from JR Beppu Station bound for Kannawa; get off at Kannawa bus stop, walk 5 minutes |
| Parking | None (paid parking available nearby) |
| Business Hours | – |
| Fees | – |
"Beppu Ohirayama Onsen Okano-yu," Panorama Open-Air Baths
Photo courtesy of: Nifty Onsen
"Beppu Ohirayama Onsen Okano-yu" is a private bath facility on a hill in Beppu, offering spectacular views of the town, steam, and distant ridges. The open-air bath "Tsurumi" is especially popular for its openness. The facility has 10 private rooms: the open-air/semi-open-air baths are 100% free-flowing, and the other 8 are coin-operated, refreshing the water every time for maximum cleanliness. The water is sodium-chloride, expected to help with joint pain, skin conditions, and digestive issues. Rates are 1,500–2,500 yen per room per hour, and business hours are weekdays 11:00–23:00, weekends/holidays 9:00–23:00 (last entry 22:00). With easy access just a 5-minute drive from Beppu IC, this is a day-trip hot spring where you can enjoy high-quality water and spectacular views in total privacy.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Takenouchi 5-kumi, Beppu City, Oita Prefecture |
| Access | 20 minutes via Kamenoi Bus from JR Nippo Main Line Beppu Station bound for Ogiya Danchi; get off at the last stop, walk 4 minutes. Approx. 5-min drive from Kyushu Expressway Beppu IC |
| Parking | 20 spaces available (free) |
| Business Hours | Weekdays: 11:00–23:00 (entry until 22:00), Sat/Sun/Hol: 9:00–23:00 (entry until 22:00) |
| Fees | 1,500–2,500 yen per room per hour (varies by bath type) |
Enjoy Beppu's Popular Day-Trip Hot Springs!
Beppu's day-trip hot springs continue to captivate visitors with their diversity and charm. From luxurious 100% free-flowing springs and historic public bathhouses to open-air baths with spectacular views, as well as rare sand and steam baths, various hot spring experiences await you in Beppu. The water quality is diverse, and you can enjoy different benefits for skin beauty and fatigue recovery. Furthermore, unique gourmet foods like "Jigoku-mushi" (hell-steamed) cuisine and onsen pudding are part of Beppu's charm. Whether with family or friends, or slowly on your own, a trip around Beppu's hot springs will surely be a supreme healing time to refresh both your mind and body. Please fully enjoy Beppu's hot spring culture and have an unforgettable spa journey.