Beppu — Where the Steam Comes Out of the Ground
Beppu has eight different hot spring sources, sand baths you bury yourself in, and enough steam vents to make the whole city feel alive. This is onsen at its most dramatic.
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Beppu Onsen
Hot Springs in Beppu
Sand baths, traditional rotemburo, and the famous jigoku steam vents of the Kannawa district.
Unique
Scenic
Ryokan Stay
Quiet
Hopping Course
Urban Sento
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Questions
Beppu Onsen FAQ
A sand bath (suna yu) is unique to Beppu. You lie on a beach where geothermally heated sand is raked over you by attendants. The sand is hot enough to sweat profusely — it's an acquired sensation, and many visitors describe it as deeply relaxing. The sand at Jigoku Sudori in the Kannawa district is where it happens.
If you're serious about onsen culture, yes. Beppu isn't pretty in the conventional sense — it's an industrial city that's leaned fully into its hot spring identity. But for variety of experiences (sand baths, multiple source types, steam vents, dedicated ryokan), it's hard to match in Japan. It's also less crowded than Hakone with lower prices.
Beppu is in Oita prefecture, Kyushu. The easiest route is via Fukuoka (Hakata Station to Beppu by limited express train, about 2 hours). From Tokyo, you'd fly to Fukuoka or take the Shinkansen to Hakata and connect from there. Beppu is not a day-trip from Tokyo — plan at least one overnight.
Most Beppu venues are tourist-oriented and accept tattoos, especially the sand bath experiences and ryokan. As always, we list only venues with confirmed policies. The sand bath experience at Jigoku Sudori is particularly foreigner-friendly.