Beppu City in Oita Prefecture is the world's largest hot spring resort. This city boasts the largest number of hot springs in the world, with 1/10th of Japan's hot spring water spewing out of Beppu. We will introduce the best places to drive in Beppu.

Beppu, the hot spring city

It takes about 50 minutes from Fujimax JDM Car Rental to Beppu City by car. If you take a shortcut route along the mountain road, you can reach Beppu City in 40 minutes. If you take the mountain road route, you will pass through the Torigoe Touge Loop Bridge, which is the only loop bridge in Oita Prefecture.

Beppu City has long flourished as a hot spring resort. Already mentioned in documents dating back to the first half of the 8th century, and flourished as a therapeutic bath in the 1800's. In the 1900's, visits to a hot spring called “Jigoku” became popular and evolved into a modern tourist destination.

Symbol of Beppu: Takegawara Onsen

The symbolic hot spring of Beppu is “Takegawara Onsen,” a bathhouse founded in 1879 that was originally built with a bamboo-roofed roof, but was later reconstructed with a tile roof, hence the name “Takegawara Onsen”. "Take" means banboo, and "Kawara" means tile roof.

The current building was constructed in 1938 and is characterized by its extremely luxurious and ornate construction. Inside this building, visitors can enjoy an old-fashioned, simple hot spring with no showers and a sand bath, as well as a space to relax after bathing.

Takegawara Onsen is located in Beppu's red-light district, but it is also a hot spring used by locals on a daily basis. It is truly a hot spring worthy of experiencing Beppu's history and culture.

Statue of Aburaya Kumahachi at Beppu Station

Aburaya Kumahachi is a man who can be said to have founded Beppu as we know it today. A bronze statue honoring his achievements stands in front of Beppu Station.

Aburaya Kumahachi was born in 1863 in what is now Ehime Prefecture. In 1911, he founded Kamenoi Ryokan (now Kamenoi Hotel) in Beppu, and inventing the catchphrase “Fuji for the mountains, Setouchi for the sea, and Beppu for the hot spring". These words were inscribed on beacon posts around the country, including on the top of Mt Fuji.

In 1925, in anticipation of the development of the automobile, he devised the prototype for the current Trans-Kyushu Highway (Yamanami Highway). In 1928 he began operating Japan's first regular sightseeing bus service with a female bus guide, making it possible to visit "Beppu Jigoku Meguri" by bus.

All publicity for Beppu Onsen was financed by Aburaya Kumahachi's personal and borrowed funds. His great originality and energy were highly appreciated, and he is still revered today as the father of Beppu tourism.

Yukemuri Observatory

The Yumemuri Observatory is a spot from which you can view the entire city of Beppu. Beppu has hot springs all over the city, and this is the place where you can view them from a single spot. This is the only place in the world where you can see the hot spring water spouting out from the city.

There is an observation deck as well as a parking lot here, and everyone can enjoy the view for free.

Kannawa Onsen

In Beppu, there is a term called “Beppu Hatto” (eight hot spring areas), which includes the following eight hot spring areas.

• Beppu
• Hamawaki
• Kannawa
• Myouban
• Kamegawa
• Kaikanji
• Shibaisi
• Hotta

Of these, Kannawa Onsen has a particularly long history. The central part of Kannawa Onsen is traversed by a slope called “Ideyu-zaka,” where hot spring water gushes out even from the gaps in the road. This makes visitors feel as if they are using the hot spring just by being in the town. Visitors can also enjoy free footbaths and experience cooking food with hot spring steam, called “Jigoku mushi”.

Many of the Beppu Jigoku Meguri are also located in the Kannawa area. If you wish to visit more than 3 Jigoku, you should purchase a common ticket.

Myoban Onsen

Myoban Onsen is located in the highest area of Beppu City. The hot springs here are characterized by their strong sulfur content and extremely high concentration. The open-air baths offer the best view of Beppu City.

Myoban Onsen is also known for the production of bath salts called “Yunohana,” which are extracted from the hot spring water. Visitors can observe the production of Yunohana in a unique hut. Once used as a medicine, Yunohana is also recommended as a souvenir.

Jumonjibaru Observatory

The Jumonjibaru Observatory is located further up the mountain from Myoban Onsen. This is a place where you can see the entire city of Beppu from above, and has been selected as one of the 100 best night views in Japan. Not only is the night view beautiful, but during the daytime you can also see the city of Beppu, Beppu Bay, and if you are lucky, Shikoku across the sea.