Experience the world's most spectacular hot spring city. From boiling cobalt lakes to therapeutic volcanic sand baths.
The "Hell Tour" Spectacular pools meant for viewing, not bathing.
The "Blood Pond Hell." A photogenic, naturally red lake colored by iron-rich minerals and steam reaching 78°C.
The "Sea Hell." A stunning pool of cobalt blue water that looks like the ocean but is actually a boiling cauldron of volcanic intensity.
The "Shaved Head Hell." Named after the way the bubbling grey mud looks like the bald heads of monks emerging from the earth.
Beppu is famous for its diversity of baths. Try the unique steam baths or the seaside sand baths where you are buried in naturally heated volcanic sand.
Relax to the sound of the ocean waves while the weight and heat of the black volcanic sand detoxifies your body. It is an ancient practice that remains one of Japan's most unique wellness experiences.
Traveler Tip
Visit Takegawara Onsen built in 1879 for the most historic bathing atmosphere.
In the Kannawa district, you can cook your own vegetables, seafood, and eggs using the natural geothermal steam vents found throughout the town.
Don't miss 'Jigoku Purin' a rich, silky custard pudding steamed by the volcano's breath, giving it a unique, earthy sweetness.
Beppu is not a single experience, but a quartet of geothermal archetypes.
The iconic face of Beppu. Entire districts engulfed in white steam, utilizing high-pressure vapor for healing and culinary heritage.
High-altitude volcanic mud baths rich in sulfur and alum, harvested in traditional 'Yunohana-goya' straw huts.
Seaside geothermal activity heats the black volcanic sand. A weighted, therapeutic experience unique to the Oita coastline.
Traditional wooden bathhouses and public 'Sento' where the community has gathered for over a millennium.
In Beppu, the weather is more than just temperature; it is how the air interacts with the steam. The visibility and density of the city's "steam-scape" change dramatically with the seasons.
High Contrast. The cold air causes the steam to condense instantly, creating thick, white pillars that dominate the skyline.
Atmospheric Haze. High humidity makes the steam transparent, though the geothermal heat remains intense beneath the surface.
*Observation Note: Early morning (06:00) during the winter months (Jan-Feb) offers the highest technical visibility for the Kannawa steam vents.
*The resulting "Yunohana" crystals are 100% organic mineral concentrates used to transform standard water into medicinal Beppu thermal water globally.
"In the heights of Myoban, the villagers do not harvest crops; they harvest the breath of the volcano."
The **Yunohana-goya** (Straw Huts) are specialized laboratories built without a single nail. The thick thatch creates a specific internal climate, high humidity and constant temperature that allows sulfur gas to react with local blue clay.
This reaction produces bright yellow alum crystals. This "Secret Alchemy" was so valuable during the Edo period that it was used as a form of currency and a luxury export to the Shogun's court in Edo.
Beppu faces a unique engineering paradox: the water emerges from the earth at **100°C (212°F)** far too hot for human contact but cooling it with cold water would dilute its precious mineral density.
Invented in Beppu, these bamboo structures allow boiling water to drip through thousands of twigs. This utilizes **evaporative cooling** to drop the temperature to a perfect 42°C in seconds without losing a single mineral ion.
The city's steep incline is utilized to move water from the mountain sources to the coastal bathhouses using nothing but gravity and a complex network of visible, steaming pipes.
"The Yumitake is the only cooling system in the world that preserves 100% of the water's medicinal efficacy while lowering the temperature naturally."
Five technical anomalies that define the world's hot spring capital.
Beppu discharges over **130,000 tons** of hot water daily, ranking second in the world only to Yellowstone (USA) in total geothermal volume.
Of the 11 classified types of thermal water on Earth, Beppu possesses **10 distinct varieties**, ranging from acidic to alkaline and iron-rich.
The iconic triangle-shaped straw huts in Myoban are "factories" that grow **mineral crystals** from the steam, a process unchanged since the Edo period.
Historically, the city utilized excess steam to power everything from community heaters to specialized **crocodile breeding farms** in the Shasai district.
The water emerges from a massive tectonic rift. Some wells in Beppu are drilled up to **700 meters deep** to tap into the purest volcanic reservoirs.
A technical circuit through the city's most active geothermal zones.
Beppu Beach Sand Bath
Begin at the shoreline. Experience the **Suna-yu**, where you are buried in volcanic sand heated by undersea geothermal veins. This weighted warmth jumpstarts the lymphatic system.
Umi & Chinoike Jigoku
Document the "Hells." Observe the cobalt blues of **Umi Jigoku** and iron-oxide reds of **Chinoike Jigoku**. These observation pools demonstrate peak volcanic mineral concentration.
Kannawa Jigokumushi Workshop
Utilize high-pressure steam vents to cook nutrients in the **Jigoku-mushi** style. The natural minerals in the vapor infuse ingredients with an earthy, volcanic profile.
Myoban Yunohana-goya
Ascend to the Myoban heights. Observe the straw huts where **Yunohana** (bath salts) are "grown" from steam. Conclude with a dip in the milky, acidic sulfur waters for skin restoration.
Takegawara Onsen
End at the city's architectural anchor (est. 1879). The temple-style woodwork and traditional sand baths offer a final psychological reset under the evening steam.
Technical data for traversing the Beppu Rift from the coast to the volcanic heights.
Utilize the **JR Sonic Limited Express**. A high-speed journey of approx. 2 hours. Arrival at JR Beppu Station puts you at the city's central sea-level hub.
The **Airliner Airport Bus** connects the terminal to Beppu Station in 45 minutes. For a faster vector, the **Hover Ferry** across the bay is a unique high-speed alternative.
The primary network for the Hells and Myoban heights. Purchase a **1-Day Pass** for unlimited thermal district hopping.
The incline to Kannawa is steep. Electric-assist bikes are the optimal archival tool for solo explorers.
*Note: Most tourist sites in the Kannawa and Myoban districts require significant uphill walking. Proper footwear and hydration are technical requirements.
While international visitors come for the "Hells," Japanese travelers visit Beppu for **Toji** the ancient practice of long-term medicinal hot spring stay. Beppu is unique because it offers "Functional Bathing," where different mineral springs are prescribed for specific physical ailments.
**Peak Season:** November to February. The colder air creates the most dramatic steam-scape, making the city look like a volcanic cauldron. This is the optimal time for the 'Steam Alleys' of Kannawa.
**Mid-April:** The cherry blossoms frame the steaming vents. The Beppu Hatto Onsen Festival celebrates the abundance of water with religious rituals and free access to over 100 bathhouses.
The 'Mount Ogiyama Fire' ritual kicks off the festival, where the entire mountainside is set ablaze to pray for a plentiful supply of hot water.
Massive displays over Beppu Bay. Best viewed from the rooftop onsens of the Kitahama district.
Designed by Arata Isozaki, this 125m open-air deck offers a technical view of the tectonic rift that feeds the city.
"We are currently navigating the steam-filled alleys of Kannawa and testing the most restorative waters to build the ultimate geothermal guide for your 2026 journey."
Feel the heat. The guide is rising soon. Stay with us.
A Note to our Guests
Thank you for exploring the bubbling wonders of Beppu with us. We are honored to help you find your sanctuary in the steam.
— The Beppu Travel Team