Beppu (別府)

Map

Getting There

• train
• bus
• car
• ferry

Best Times to Visit

• spring: Mild weather supports sightseeing, hiking, and bathing; cherry blossoms, mountain flowers, and major April festivals add seasonal appeal.
• summer: Mountain areas offer cooler conditions, while the Hi-no-Umi Festival, fireworks, irises, and lush greenery provide seasonal experiences.
• autumn: Comfortable temperatures and autumn foliage enhance Mount Tsurumi, lakeside scenery, hiking, outdoor sightseeing, and harvest-related events.
• winter: Hot springs are especially inviting in cold weather, while Mount Tsurumi may feature hoarfrost and distinctive winter festivals.

What's There

• food: Geothermal cooking, toriten, Beppu noodles, dangojiru, and hot-spring pudding are distinctive local specialties.
• onsen: Beppu is renowned for eight hot-spring districts, bathing facilities, sand baths, steam, and the famous Hells circuit.
• mountain: Mount Tsurumi and surrounding highlands provide mountain scenery, ropeway access, and panoramic views.
• nature: Volcanic geothermal features, lakes, forests, seasonal vegetation, and coastal landscapes create varied natural attractions.
• views: Ropeway stations, mountain viewpoints, and elevated observatories overlook Beppu, Beppu Bay, and surrounding ranges.
• park: Beppu Park and other green spaces support recreation, events, and seasonal flower viewing.
• seafood: Fresh seafood is used in geothermal cooking and is highlighted among local culinary experiences.
• hiking: Mount Tsurumi and nearby highland areas offer hiking routes, including a major annual mountain-climbing event.
• flowers: Seasonal highlights include plum blossoms, cherry blossoms, rhododendrons, and Japanese irises.
• cherry blossoms: Spring cherry blossoms are prominent at Beppu Park, Mount Tsurumi, and other local viewing areas.
• culture: Historic bathing traditions, geothermal cuisine, festivals, music events, and traditional performing arts shape Beppu culture.
• history: Beppu’s hot-spring districts, historic public baths, traditional inns, and longstanding therapeutic bathing culture reflect deep history.
• crafts: Beppu bamboo crafts have a long local tradition and remain an important regional artistic specialty.
• festival: Annual events include the Beppu Hatto Onsen Festival, summer festivals, fireworks, and winter celebrations.
• coast: Beppu Bay and coastal districts complement the city’s hot springs with seaside scenery and beach sand bathing.
• spiritual: Shrines, Buddhist traditions, and festival practices are integrated into historic hot-spring districts and local events.

Specialties

• Jigoku Mushi Pudding (地獄蒸しプリン): This handmade custard pudding is steamed using Beppu hot-spring heat and has a rich texture with a slightly bitter caramel sauce. Okamotoya has produced it using the same jigoku-mushi method since 1988.
• Toriten (とり天): Toriten is a Beppu-origin dish of seasoned chicken coated in batter and deep-fried. It is commonly served with mustard, ponzu, or a soy-based dipping sauce.
• Beppu Reimen (別府冷麺): Beppu Reimen developed from noodle traditions brought from the former Manchuria region after World War II. The dish typically combines chewy noodles, a Japanese-style broth, beef chashu, and cabbage kimchi, although recipes vary by restaurant.
• Dangojiru (だんご汁): Dangojiru is a traditional Oita soup made with broad strips of hand-formed dough and assorted vegetables. It is also offered as one of the local dishes served alongside Beppu’s geothermal cooking experiences.
• Jigoku Mushi (地獄蒸し): Jigoku mushi is a traditional Beppu cooking method that uses high-temperature hot-spring steam instead of fire or gas. Vegetables, seafood, meat, eggs, and sweets are cooked in a jigoku kettle, producing a distinctive geothermal food experience.