Major city · Japan
Beppu別府
Stay 1–2 nights in Kannawa for the hells and steam baths, or 1 night downtown for Takegawara; skip Beppu as a day trip from Fukuoka.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- JPY
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- avoid Jul–Aug (hot and humid), Golden Week
- Airports
- OIT · FUK
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 5
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- Japan ↗IC cards (ICOCA/Suica) are topped up with cash at station machines.
- Japan ↗Smoking while walking is banned in most city centres; use designated areas.
- Japan ↗Shinkansen bags 160–250 cm (L+W+H) need a seat reserved with the oversized-baggage area.
Beppu is one of Japan's three great hot-spring towns, on the Kyushu coast in Oita prefecture. The sights split into two zones: the seven Jigoku hells and the old steam baths cluster in Kannawa, 5 km inland, while the station, Takegawara sand bath and the arcades sit downtown. Buses link them every 30 minutes or so. Most travellers come for one or two nights of bathing, not sightseeing.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Beppu, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.Japan-wide
- SIM or eSIMData-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.Japan-wide
- Tap waterSafe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.Japan-wide
- TippingRestaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.Japan-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 100 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Japan-wide
- SafetyOne of Japan's safer cities.
- RestroomsFree, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet.Japan-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 119 fire and ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMuseums close on Mondays (Tuesday when Monday is a holiday); many family restaurants close one weekday, often Tuesday or Wednesday…Japan-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportOIT Oita Airport (Shuttle bus to Beppu downtown, about 40 min).
- Getting aroundThe city is long and narrow between the bay and the mountains, so walking between zones is slow.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffeecheck¥400–700 (≈ US$3–5)
- Street or quick mealRamen or udoncheck¥800–1,300 (≈ US$6–9)
- Beerdraught in an izakaya / can at a konbinicheck¥500–750 (≈ US$4–6)¥250–350 (≈ US$2–3)
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 mi5 km taxi3.1 mi taxiLate-night surcharge after 22:00; checkLate-night surcharge after 10:00 PM; check¥2,000–2,500 (≈ US$14–17)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekcheck¥2,000–4,000 (≈ US$14–30)
- Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per person¥3,000 (≈ US$25)
- Mid-range bedBusiness-hotel double room, a night, per room¥15,000 (≈ US$110)
- High-end bedBusiness-hotel double room, a night, per room¥35,000 (≈ US$250)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ¥7,000 (≈ US$50) · Mid ¥13,000 (≈ US$90) · High ¥25,000 (≈ US$170)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- OIT Oita Airport (Shuttle bus to Beppu downtown, about 40 min) · FUK Fukuoka Airport (Highway bus to Kannawa and Beppu downtown, about 110 min)
Weather and climate
Beppu: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
10°C50°F
2°C36°F
8 rd
Feb
11°C52°F
2°C36°F
9 rd
Mar
14°C57°F
5°C41°F
12 rd
Apr
19°C66°F
10°C50°F
11 rd
May
23°C73°F
15°C59°F
12 rd
Jun
26°C79°F
19°C66°F
16 rd
Jul
30°C86°F
23°C73°F
17 rd
Aug
31°C88°F
24°C75°F
14 rd
Sep
28°C82°F
21°C70°F
13 rd
Oct
23°C73°F
15°C59°F
9 rd
Nov
18°C64°F
10°C50°F
8 rd
Dec
13°C55°F
5°C41°F
8 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The city is long and narrow between the bay and the mountains, so walking between zones is slow. Local buses leave from outside JR Beppu Station; the one-day pass sold at the station tourist office is the usual deal if you ride three or more times. The Kannawa and hells routes run roughly every 30 minutes.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Yufuin
goDoor to door: About 1 h (check)
JR from Beppu Station toward Oita, then the Kyudai main line; check the connection
Onsen village under Mount Yufu; go early, the lanes fill by midday.
Oita
goDoor to door: About 30–45 min (check)
JR Nippo main line or the Sonic limited express
Prefectural capital; useful for the airport bus and ferry links.
Usa
cautionDoor to door: About 1.5 h (check)
JR Nippo main line north, then a local bus
Usa Jingu shrine; bus connections are thin, so check times first.
Hita
goDoor to door: About 1.5–2 h (check)
JR via Oita and the Kyudai main line
Old merchant streets and the river; a full day out.
Taketa
cautionDoor to door: About 2 h (check)
JR Hohi main line via Oita
Castle ruins and the Oka no Jokamachi lanes; long for a return day.
Saiki
overnightDoor to door: About 2 h (check)
JR Nippo main line south
Seki-aji and the fishing port; sleep one night rather than rush back.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Kannawa Onsen
Next to the hells and the steam baths; bus 5, 9, 41 or 43 from the station. Best for a bathing-focused stay.
Beppu Station and downtown
Walk to Takegawara, the arcades and the ferry port; best for one night with bags or a late arrival.
Kamegawa and Myoban
Quieter onsen villages north of the centre; buses 5, 9, 24, 41 or 43 from the station.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ¥7,000–11,000 (≈ US$50–75) excl. bed
- Mid
- ¥11,000–18,000 (≈ US$75–130) excl. bed
- High
- ¥18,000 (≈ US$130)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Business-hotel double room1 × 2 nights × ¥15,000 | ¥30,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × ¥13,000 | ¥52,000 |
| Oita Airport shuttle to Beppu downtown, one way2 × ¥1,450 | ¥2,900 |
| Fukuoka Airport highway bus to Beppu, one way2 × ¥2,000 · check | ¥4,000 |
| One-day bus pass2 × ¥900 | ¥1,800 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × ¥2,500 · check | ¥5,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ¥9,570 |
| Trip total≈ ¥26,320 per person per day, bed included | ¥105,270≈ US$750 |
check
2026 estimate in yen; flights and rail passes excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffeecheck | ¥400–700 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Ramen or udoncheck | ¥800–1,300 (≈ US$6–9) |
| Toriten (chicken tempura) setcheck | ¥900–1,500 (≈ US$7–11) |
| Jigokumushi steamed vegetables and seafoodCooked in the hot-spring steam at Kannawa; check | ¥1,000–2,000 (≈ US$7–14) |
| Beer: draught in an izakaya / can at a konbinicheck | ¥500–750 (≈ US$4–6) / ¥250–350 (≈ US$2–3) |
| 5 km taxiLate-night surcharge after 22:00; checkLate-night surcharge after 10:00 PM; check | ¥2,000–2,500 (≈ US$14–17) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a weekcheck | ¥2,000–4,000 (≈ US$14–30) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Buses to the hells thin out after late afternoon; check the last return before you start.
- Takegawara's hot bath is very hot; regulars like it that way, so test the water first.
- Some downtown streets carry adult shops; if you are bathing with children, pick Kannawa instead.
- The Mount Tsurumi trail was cut by a 2024 typhoon; check before hiking and use the ropeway or bus if unsure.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Fire and ambulance
- 119
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
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Beppu別府
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
ここまでお願いしますTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
Embassy
No embassies in Beppu; the US consulate is in Fukuoka, and most other countries keep embassies in Tokyo.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Oita Airport → Beppu downtown, shuttle bus: about ¥1,450 (≈ US$10), about 40 min
- Fukuoka Airport → Beppu, highway bus: about ¥2,000 (≈ US$14) with a coupon ticket, about 110 min
- Beppu → Hakata, Sonic limited express: about ¥5,570 (≈ US$40) one way, 2 h
- One-day bus pass: ¥900 (≈ US$7)
Say or show
- すみません — Excuse me / Sorry (sumimasen)
- ありがとうございます — Thank you (arigatō gozaimasu)
- 大人一枚お願いします — One adult, please (otona ichimai onegaishimasu)
- いくらですか? — How much is it? (ikura desu ka)
- カードで払えますか? — Can I pay by card? (kādo de haraemasu ka)
- トイレはどこですか? — Where is the toilet? (toire wa doko desu ka)
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Beppu. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov · avoid Jul–Aug (hot and humid), Golden Week · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 6 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for OIT and FUK: last shuttle and highway-bus departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Beppu Station and Takegawara, the Ginza and Yayoi arcades, Kannawa and the hells, Myoban and Kamegawa.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (the hells, Takegawara, Hyotan Onsen, the ropeway) and eat pages with last orders.
- Golden and hostile arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.
Sources
- officialBeppu official multilingual guide
- officialBeppu City Council
- officialBeppu Jigoku Association
- officialBeppu Ropeway
- secondaryWikivoyage: Beppu, revision 5241876 (CC BY-SA 4.0)