Beppu Travel Itineraries: Join a Hell Tour and Savor Local Gourmet!

Perfect for Onsen Lovers! Beppu Sightseeing Itineraries

Oita Prefecture's Beppu City is known as one of the world's leading hot spring areas.

Within the city there are eight major hot spring facilities (Beppu Hatto) and they are characterized by the clouds of steam rising into the air.

This article introduces three model itineraries arranged by schedule for sightseeing in Beppu. You can have an enjoyable visit to Beppu even without a car, so please use this article as a reference when planning your own trip.

Half-Day Sightseeing Itinerary (Afternoon-Evening)

Something you don't want to miss during your Beppu visit is the Beppu Hell Tour.

This tour features seven hot springs that are for viewing rather than bathing. In ancient times, boiling water and gas often bubbled up violently from these mysterious springs, causing people to see them as a kind of "hell (jigoku)."

For travelers with only half a day available for sightseeing, your time is somewhat limited so we recommend only visiting the selected Beppu Hells. Down below we introduce a Half-Day Model Itinerary for Beppu sightseeing.

Half-Day Sightseeing Itinerary (Afternoon-Evening)
Umi Jigoku→Chinoike Jigoku→Shiraike Jigoku→Dinner Time (Beppu Reimen Rokusei Matsubara Main Shop).

Umi Jigoku

Picture courtesy of Pixta

Umi Jigoku will be our starting point for the Beppu Hell Tour.

It's been said that Umi Jigoku was born some 1,300 years ago with the eruption of volcanic Mount Tsurumi (Tsurumidake).

The cobalt blue color that spreads out over the entire area is strikingly beautiful.
This blue color is caused by iron sulfate―a compound found in hot springs―that is dissolving.

These springs, which have a temperature of 98℃ and are 200 meters deep, have been designated as a National Scenic Spot. There's also a garden on the premises where visitors can enjoy the changing scenery of each season.

Umi Jigoku
Location: Oita, Beppu, Kannawa 559-1
Business Hours: 8:00 - 17:00
Closed: Open every day
Official Homepage: Umi Jigoku
Official SNS: Instagram

Chinoike Jigoku

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Chinoike Jigoku is Japan's oldest natural "hell" hot spring and was designated as a National Scenic Spot

In the Bungo no Kuni Fudoki it was referred to as the Red-Colored Hot Spring. These ancient writings were compiled during the Nara Period (710-794) and detailed the geography, climate, and culture of what is now present-day Oita Prefecture (historically known as Bungo).

This hot spring is characterized by its reddish thermal mud. The sight of steam rising up powerfully from the water is somewhat reminiscent of hell.

Chinoike ointment, which is made with red thermal mud, is a famous hot spring product and recommended as a souvenir. There's also a foot bath on the hot spring grounds so please give this a try.

Chinoike Jigoku
Location: Oita, Beppu, Noda 778
Business Hours: 8:00 - 17:00
Closed: Open every day
Official Homepage: Chinoike Jigoku
Official SNS: Instagram

Shiraike Jigoku

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Shiraike Jigoku is located on the premises of a quiet and relaxed Japanese-style garden and is characterized by its colorless, transparent waters.

It was designated as a National Scenic Spot, and another one of its attractive features is that it's shaped like a heart when viewed from above.

On the park grounds there's also Mukobaru Stone Pagoda and Kunisaki Pagoda, both of which were designated by the prefecture as Important Cultural Properties. So we recommend going for a walk that includes both of these attractions.

Next door is the Tropical Fish Aquarium which uses heat from the hot spring steam. Unusual species of fish are displayed here including the Arapaima gigas and piranha.

Shiraike Jigoku
Location: Oita, Beppu, Kannawa 283-1
Business Hours: 8:00 - 17:00
Closed: Open every day
Official Homepage: Shiraike Jigoku (Japanese)
Official SNS: Instagram

Rokusei Matsubara Main Shop: Handmade Reimen Noodles

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Beppu Reimen Rokusei is a shop where diners can sample Beppu Reimen―Korean-inspired cold noodles adapted into a Japanese-style dish.

The origins of Beppu Reimen date back to around 1950, at a shop opened by a Japanese person who had returned to Japan from Manchuria.

All of the ingredients are homemade, starting with the soup stock that's made with Japanese beef and two kinds of kombu seaweed from Hokkaido's Kushiro area, the noodles made with soba flour, the chashu pork slices, and the kimchi.

The full-bodied flavor of the dashi stock and the chewy texture of the noodles are a perfect match. So when visiting Beppu this is definitely a dish you'll want to try!

Rokusei Matsubara Main Shop
Location: Oita, Beppu, Matsubara 7-17
Business Hours: 11:30 - 14:00 (L.O. 13:45) / 18:00 - 20:00 (L.O. 19:45) *The shop closes when the soup is sold out.
Closed: Wednesdays
Official Homepage: Rokusei (Japanese)
Official SNS: Instagram (Japanese)

Day-Trip Sightseeing Itinerary (Morning-Evening)

If you want to see all seven of the hellish hot springs on the Beppu Hell Tour, then we recommend an itinerary that starts from the morning. Then, after a day of walking, let's soothe our tired bodies at a day-trip hot spring.

Next, we introduce a model itinerary when sightseeing in Beppu on a day trip.
Day-Trip Sightseeing Itinerary (Morning-Evening)
Umi Jigoku→Oniishi Bozu Jigoku→Kamado Jigoku→Oniyama Jigoku→Shiraike Jigoku→Tatsumaki Jigoku→Chinoike Jigoku→Lunch Time (Toyoken)→Hyotan Onsen

Oniishi Bozu Jigoku

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Oniishi Bozu Jigoku got its name from the boiling grey thermal mud that resembles the shaved head of a Buddhist monk (bozu).

This is a historic spot that was even mentioned in the Bungo no Kuni Fudoki, an ancient compilation that was edited in 733. When you see this boiling spring with its bubbling sound you'll soon be fixated upon it.

Right next door is a day-trip onsen, Oniishi no Yu (requires a separate fee). The bath with a view on the second floor is popular, so please give it a try.

Oniishi Bozu Jigoku
Location: Oita, Beppu, Kannawa 559-1
Business Hours: 8:00 - 17:00
Closed: Open every day
Official Homepage: Oniishi Bozu Jigoku

Oniishi no Yu
Business Hours: 10:00 - 22:00 (last entry is 30 minutes before closing).
Closed: The first day of every month. If this falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or national holiday, the next weekday it's closed.
Admission: Adults 620 yen, Elementary School students 300 yen, children 200 yen
Official Homepage: Oniishi no Yu

Kamado Jigoku

Picture courtesy of Pixta

Kamado Jigoku, whose boiling ponds stretch from 1-chome all the way to 6-chome, is a spot offering a variety of attractions.

It got its name from an ancient myth in which rice was cooked using the 98℃ steam from the hot springs, and then offered to the guardian god during the Kamado Hachimangu Shrine Festival.

Visitors to Kamado Jigoku can enjoy different sights including a hellish spot where 100℃ hot spring water gushes out from between rocks, and a hell of melted mud.

Here you can also relax in a foot bath and drink the spring water. There are also some food favorites such as onsen eggs and Ishigaki manju so please try sampling these.

Kamado Jigoku
Location: Oita, Beppu, Kannawa 621
Business Hours: 8:00 - 17:00
Closed: Open every day
Official Homepage: Kamado Jigoku
Official SNS: Instagram

Oniyama Jigoku

Picture courtesy of Pixta

Oniyama Jigoku also goes by the name of Crocodile Jigoku because many crocodiles are being bred here. In 1923 this became the first place in Japan to use a hot spring for breeding crocodiles. At the present time, about 80 creatures from the crocodile and alligator families are being raised here.

The crocodile feeding, which only takes place on Saturdays and Sundays, is a must-see event. Inside the exhibition hall with its Malaysian-style architecture, there are stuffed crocodiles and a specimen of an endangered species called a gavial.

Oniyama Jigoku
Location: Oita, Beppu, Kannawa 625
Business Hours: 8:00 - 17:00
Closed: Open every day
Official Homepage: Oniyama Jigoku
Official SNS: Instagram

Tatsumaki Jigoku

Picture courtesy of Pixta

Tatsumaki Jigoku was designated as a National Scenic Spot and is different from the other hell springs because it's a hot spring geyser.

There are geysers throughout the world, but Tatsumaki Jigoku is characterized by its short eruption cycle. It's been said that if it wasn't for the stone roof, the geyser would spout about 30 meters into the air.

When the geyser erupts it creates a loud sound, and the 150℃ boiling water and hot steam spouting into the air is worth seeing. You can see the geyser for about 30 to 40 minutes at a time, and announcements are made when an eruption is about to occur.

Tatsumaki Jigoku
Location: Oita, Beppu, Noda 782
Business Hours: 8:00 - 17:00
Closed: Open every day
Official Homepage: Tatsumaki Jigoku

Toyoken

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Toyoken is known for being the birthplace of Oita's local specialty, toriten. This dish uses the breast meat of Japanese chickens, and it's not too greasy because all the excess sinew and fat is carefully removed by hand.

Also, the coating uses fresh eggs but no water, so even when the chicken cools down it retains its crispy texture. Out of the many menu items at Toyoken we most recommend the Honke Toriten Teishoku Set Meal which is a filling and satisfying dish.

Toyoken
Location: Oita, Beppu, Ishigaki Higashi 7-8-22
Business Hours: 11:00 - 15:30 (L.O. 15:00) / 17:00 - 22:00 (L.O. 21:00)
*On Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays it's open from 15:00 to 17:00, and only serves Honke Toriten and Honke Yuzu Toriten (a la carte and set meals)
Closed: The second Tuesday of each month
Official Homepage: Toyoken (Japanese)
Official SNS: Instagram / Facebook

Hyotan Hot Springs

Picture courtesy of Pixta

Hyotan Onsen is a day-trip hot spring which was established in 1922. In addition to the large public bath and the open-air bath, visitors can enjoy a wide variety of baths including a sand bath and steam bath.

Even though the hot spring water is about 100℃, the facility uses a unique bamboo hot spring-cooling system that ensures the water is 100% free flowing and comes directly from the spring source.

The onsen contains about ten times the amount of metasalicic acid (natural moisturing agent) than the standard required by the Hot Spring Law. So bathers here can expect to receive some skin beautifying effects. After doing extensive walking during the Beppu Hell Tour, let's relax our tired bodies in the soothing hot spring waters.

There's also an adjoining restaurant so we recommend having dinner here before going back home. Diners can sample tasty dishes using locally grown ingredients at Hyotan Onsen Restaurant Yurari.

Hyotan Onsen
Location: Oita, Beppu, Kannawa 159-2
Business Hours: 9:00 - 1:00 (next morning)
Closed: Open every day. *There will be temporary closures for facility maintenance in April, July, and mid-December
Official Homepage: Hyotan Hot Springs
Official SNS: Instagram

Two-Day Sightseeing Itinerary

While it's possible to enjoy Beppu sightseeing on a day trip, we recommend a two-day trip if your schedule allows for it. If you have two days, then you can also enjoy attractions in addition to the Beppu Hell Tour. Down below we introduce a model itinerary for a one night-two day visit.

Two-Day Sightseeing Itinerary
Day One
Umi Jigoku→Oniishi Bozu Jigoku→Kamado Jigoku→Oniyama Jigoku→Shiraike Jigoku→Tatsumaki Jigoku→Chinoike Jigoku→Lunch Time (Toyoken)→Oita Fragrance Museum→Dinner Time (Kamesho Kuru Kuru Sushi)→Stay in hotel
Day Two
Beppu Ropeway→Takegawara Onsen→Toyotsune Main Shop

Oita Fragrance Museum

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The Oita Fragrance Museum is one of the few places in the world that features a theme based on fragrances. It's considered a hideaway sightseeing spot even in Beppu City. It displays fragrance-related items brought in from all parts of the globe.

These precious items include ancient perfume bottles (dating back to B.C.) and medieval steam distillation units. Visitors can also participate in a perfume-making workshop, so please try making a one-of-a-kind perfume as a keepsake of your Beppu adventure!

Oita Fragrance Museum
Location: Oita, Beppu, Kita Ishigaki 48-1
Business Hours: 10:00 - 18:00 (last entry is 30 minutes before closing)
Closed: The third Thursday of each month, December 31, January 1 - 3.
Official Homepage: Oita Fragrance Museum (Japanese)
Official SNS: Instagram / Facebook

Kamesho Kuru Kuru Sushi-Crosswalk Location

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Kamesho Kuru Kuru Sushi is a well known conveyor belt sushi shop in Beppu. The large, generous-sized toppings are appealing, and diners here can enjoy fresh sushi at reasonable prices.

However, reservations are not taken, so lineups are not uncommon on weekends.
Those who'd like to save on time should visit at different times for lunch and dinner.

Kamesho Kuru Kuru Sushi-Crosswalk Location
Location: Oita, Beppu, Kitaju 7
Business Hours: 11:00 - 20:30
Closed: Tuesdays, Wednesdays. *There are sometimes temporary closures.
Official SNS: Instagram

Beppu Ropeway

Picture courtesy of Pixta

Beppu Ropeway offers commanding views of Beppu's townscape and Beppu Bay. Here you can experience the changing of the seasons with the cherry blossoms in spring, the fall foliage in autumn, and a frosty snow-covered world in winter.

The ropeway also operates at night during Golden Week and on designated days from July to October. So passengers can see Beppu's night view and the starry skies from an altitude of 1,300 meters. If your visit coincides with a day offering nighttime service, we also recommend coming back to visit at night.

Beppu Ropeway
Location: Oita, Beppu, Oaza Minami Tateishi, Aza Kanbara 10-7
Business Hours: Summer & Fall (March 15 - November 14). 9:00 (first ascent) to 17:00 (final ascent). *Last descent is 17:30.
Winter (Nov. 15 - Mar. 14). 9:00 (first ascent) to 16:30 (final ascent). *Last descent 17:00
Closed: Open every day
Official Homepage: Beppu Ropeway
Official SNS: Instagram

Takegawara Onsen

Picture courtesy of Pixta

Takegawara Onsen is a spot where you can try sand bathing. In 1879 when the hot spring was first established, the bathhouse had a bambo roof, but during a subsequent renovation this became a tile roof, hence the name Takegawara (bamboo tile).

When you change into a yukata (summer kimono) and lie down on the sand, a staff member known as sunakake-san will cover you with sand that was heated by the hot spring. After your sand bath, you can take a shower to wash away all the sand, then head for the indoor bath.

The building itself is architecturally significant and is worth taking a look at―it was registered as a Tangible Cultural Property and a Modern Industrial Heritage Site.

Takegawara Onsen
Location: Oita, Beppu, Motomachi 16−23
Business Hours: 6:30 - 22:30 *Sand hot springs 8:00 - 22:30 (last entry is 21:30)
Closed: The third Wednesday of each month (if it falls on a national holiday, the next day it's closed)
Official Homepage: Takegawara Onsen

Toyotsune Main Shop

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Toyotsune was established more than 90 years ago. This popular restaurant features tendon (tempura bowl) covered in a secret sauce that's been handed down from generation to generation. There are always lineups outside this famous shop and it's most popular menu item is the Tokujo Tendon.

This is a large serving―the rice bowl overflows with large pieces of tempura filled with shrimp and vegetables. This meal comes with miso soup that uses miso from a long-established shop in Beppu, Sakamoto Chohei Shoten.

Toyotsune Main Store
Location: Oita, Beppu, Kitahama 2-12-24
Business Hours: 11:00 - 21:00 (L.O. 20:00)
Closed: Tuesdays, Wednesdays
Official SNS: Instagram

Recommended Hotels in Beppu

When sightseeing in Beppu on a one night-two day trip, it's important to find the right hotel. Down below we introduce a reasonably-priced hotel as well as a slightly extravagant hotel.

Beppu Hatto Onyado Nono Beppu

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Beppu Hatto Onyado Nono Beppu is an accommodation facility where guests can enjoy a stunning view of Beppu Bay as they relax in the large bath on the top floor.

The hotel features an inside bath and open-air bath that both use water coming direct from the hot spring source, as well as a self-löyly sauna (löyly is Finnish for the steam that comes off hot rocks in the sauna) and cold bath (mizuburo).

There are also private baths so why not spend some luxurious time together with your loved ones? We recommend this hotel for visitors who want to stay within their budget and also relax after a long day of sightseeing.

Hana Beppu

Picture courtesy of Booking.com

Hana Beppu is an attractive hotel offering modern Japanese-style guest rooms that are easy to relax in. Although the rooms are Japanese-style, they have a stylish atmosphere.

On the premises there's a large bath featuring sodium bicarbonate spring waters.

The bath, also called Bihada no Yu (skin-beautifying bath) and Bijin no Yu (beauty bath), is said to offer skin beautifying effects. After spending time in the bath your skin will be soft and smooth, so it's also good for cuts and chronic skin conditions.

In Closing

In this article we explained in detail our recommended model itineraries for Beppu sightseeing. Beppu is one of Japan's leading hot spring regions and many domestic and international visitors make the trip here.

If you do come and visit Beppu, the Beppu Hell Tour is a must-see attraction. Each of the seven hell hot springs offer their own unique scenery, so we recommend taking your time and walking around each one.

After a long and satisfying day of sightseeing, let's soothe our tired bodies in the waters of a nearby hot spring. If your schedule allows for it, it's a good idea to book a hotel with a hot spring. This way you'll be able to refresh both your body and soul.

By all means please use this article as a reference and enjoy your Beppu excursion to your heart's content!