Beppu Onsen is one of Japan’s best-known hot spring destinations, renowned for its steaming streets, distinctive sulfurous aroma, and extraordinary variety of geothermal attractions. Located in Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, this celebrated hot spring resort offers much more than traditional bathing. Visitors can experience steam baths, sand baths heated by geothermal energy, cuisine prepared using natural hot spring steam, and spectacular hot spring phenomena known as the “Hells of Beppu.”
Beppu is particularly famous for its exceptional abundance of hot spring water. According to the source information, the city has more than 2,000 hot spring sources, with a combined discharge exceeding 80,000 liters per minute. Both figures have been cited as Japan’s highest, highlighting the extraordinary scale of Beppu’s geothermal resources.
Hot springs can be found throughout Beppu, and the city’s central area combines traditional bathing culture with the lively atmosphere of a modern tourist destination. Hotels and traditional Japanese inns are concentrated around the coastal thoroughfares and along Nagarekawa Street, where commercial districts such as Gintengai provide opportunities for shopping, dining, and strolling through the city.
As you explore Beppu, you will encounter a distinctive landscape shaped by geothermal activity. Clouds of steam rise from hot spring facilities and residential neighborhoods, creating an atmosphere that is closely associated with the city’s identity. This combination of everyday urban life and abundant geothermal energy makes Beppu a particularly memorable destination for travelers interested in Japan’s hot spring culture.
Beppu’s hot spring culture is rooted in eight traditional hot spring areas collectively known as Beppu Hatto. Each area has developed its own character and bathing traditions, reflecting the diversity of the region’s geothermal environment.
The eight areas are Beppu, Hamawaki, Kamegawa, Kannawa, Kankaiji, Horita, Myoban, and Shibaseki. Together, they form a varied hot spring destination where visitors can experience different settings, from urban bathing districts to atmospheric hillside communities.
The area’s springs contain a wide range of mineral compositions, including simple thermal waters, salt-containing springs, sodium bicarbonate springs, and calcium bicarbonate springs. The characteristics of the water differ from one source to another, making hot spring hopping an appealing way to discover the diversity of Beppu’s natural resources.
Beppu’s abundant geothermal steam has long inspired distinctive bathing practices. Steam baths offer visitors a different experience from conventional immersion bathing, allowing them to enjoy the heat generated by the region’s natural hot spring resources.
Sand baths are another memorable feature of Beppu’s hot spring culture. In this traditional bathing experience, visitors relax while being covered with naturally heated sand. The warmth of the sand provides a distinctive alternative to soaking in a hot spring pool and is one of the experiences that sets Beppu apart from many other hot spring destinations in Japan.
Beppu is also famous for jigoku mushi, a traditional cooking method that uses naturally occurring hot spring steam to prepare food. The geothermal steam is used to cook ingredients, connecting the region’s culinary traditions directly to its remarkable natural environment.
This technique demonstrates how Beppu’s hot spring resources have influenced everyday life beyond bathing. For visitors, geothermal cooking offers an opportunity to appreciate the relationship between the local food culture and the powerful natural forces beneath the city.
One of Beppu’s most distinctive attractions is Beppu Jigoku Meguri, or the Hells of Beppu. The word “hell” refers to naturally occurring hot spring sources with unusual colors, temperatures, and geothermal activity that make them unsuitable for ordinary bathing. Instead, these dramatic springs are visited for their remarkable natural appearance.
The area features several striking geothermal sites, including Umi Jigoku, or Sea Hell; Chinoike Jigoku, or Blood Pond Hell; Shiraike Jigoku, or White Pond Hell; and Tatsumaki Jigoku, or Tornado Hell. Each offers a different view of the region’s geothermal activity.
Four of these sites—Umi Jigoku, Chinoike Jigoku, Shiraike Jigoku, and Tatsumaki Jigoku—are designated National Places of Scenic Beauty in Japan. Their unusual natural features make the Hells of Beppu an essential stop for travelers wishing to understand the geological character of the region.
Beppu’s hot spring resources have supported a wide range of industries throughout history. In addition to their long-standing role in bathing and tourism, these resources have been used for alum production, geothermal power generation, medical applications, flower cultivation, and aquaculture.
More recently, geothermal materials have also found applications in beauty and skincare products, including treatments using hot spring mud. These varied uses illustrate how Beppu’s geothermal environment continues to contribute to local economic activity and innovation.
Beppu Onsen offers an exceptionally diverse introduction to Japan’s hot spring traditions. Visitors can stroll through steam-filled streets, explore eight distinctive hot spring areas, experience steam and sand bathing, sample food prepared with geothermal steam, and admire the extraordinary landscapes of the Hells of Beppu.
Whether you are interested in traditional Japanese bathing, unusual natural scenery, local culinary culture, or the many ways geothermal energy has shaped a city, Beppu provides a fascinating destination where nature and everyday life are closely intertwined.
Tour Beppu Onsen's numerous naturally gushing "jigoku" (hells), which present a variety of bizarre sights.
Umi-Jigoku (Sea Hell), Kamino-ike Jigoku (Pool of Blood), Shiraike Jigoku (White Pond), and Tatsumaki Jigoku (Dragon Scroll) are designated as national scenic spots.
5 min. walk from Beppu Station