Beppu is one of those places that looks deceptively simple on paper: hot springs, lots of hot springs, and then… more hot springs.
But once you actually get there, you realize Beppu is much more than a city built around soaking. It’s spread out across the coast and foothills of Oita Prefecture, with different neighborhoods, hot spring areas, bakeries, restaurants, and attractions scattered throughout the city.
We made Beppu our home base for two nights during our week-long Kyushu road trip, and honestly, I wouldn’t have done it any other way.
Having a car made it so easy to experience Beppu at our own pace. We could drive between the famous Hells of Beppu without worrying about squeezing everything into a tour schedule, stop whenever we spotted something interesting, and linger as long as we wanted.
And if you’re also hoping to visit Yufuin Onsen nearby, Beppu makes a particularly practical base for budget travelers. Yufuin is only about 30 minutes away by car, but its famous ryokans can get seriously expensive, especially if you’re looking for a room with a private onsen and meals included.
Staying in Beppu gives you access to the same beautiful corner of Kyushu while giving your wallet a little more breathing room. You can spend the day exploring Yufuin, then head back to Beppu for a more affordable night.
Of course, one of the best parts of staying in Beppu is the opportunity to experience a traditional Japanese ryokan. While you can certainly visit public baths throughout the city, booking a ryokan with a private onsen gives you a completely different kind of experience.
You can soak whenever you want, without worrying about public bath etiquette, sharing the space with strangers, or rushing through your soak before heading off to the next thing.
Private onsen rooms are also among the most sought-after accommodations in Beppu, so don’t wait until the last minute if you’ve found a ryokan you love. The best rooms can book up months in advance!
After scouring through all the options, these are the Beppu ryokans I found most worth considering, whether you’re looking for a traditional Japanese experience, a private onsen, or just a simple place to slow down for a couple of nights.
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Table of Contents
First Off, What Is A Ryokan?
Long before Japan had bullet trains, boutique hotels, or even modern highways, ancient travelers were making their way between cities on foot and by horseback, and they needed somewhere to sleep along the way.
Ryokan grew out of this tradition of roadside inns, giving travelers a place to rest, eat, bathe, and sleep as they made their way toward Japan’s major cities, including the capital of Edo (now Tokyo).
The experience was practical, but it was also deeply tied to Japanese hospitality. Guests would remove their shoes, settle onto tatami mats, sleep on futons, eat a traditional meal, and soak in a bath before turning down for the night.
The basic ingredients haven’t changed all that much, though today’s ryokan experience is considerably more comfortable.
Modern ryokans range from humble family-run inns to seriously luxe retreats, but the emphasis is still on Japanese hospitality and slowing down.
You’ll typically sleep on a futon laid over tatami, change into a yukata (a casual cotton robe), and dine on beautifully presented Japanese cuisine. Depending on the property, you might also have access to an onsen, a private bath, traditional gardens, tea ceremonies, or even a multi-course kaiseki dinner served in your room.
Okay, So What Is An Onsen?
You’ll often see ryokan and onsen mentioned together, but they’re not the same thing.
A ryokan is the inn; an onsen is a natural hot spring used for bathing. Many ryokans are built around onsen, particularly in Japan’s famous hot spring towns, but you can absolutely stay at a ryokan without one (and visit an onsen without staying at a ryokan).
1. Amane Resort Seikai
Price Range: $$ – $$$
Amane Resort Seikai ryokan hotel is hands-down one of the best ryokans in Beppu.
The most notable feature of this ryokan is that it boasts luxuriously large guest rooms, almost all with open-air hot spring baths overlooking the ocean.
Fitted with dark wooden flooring and chic furnishings, each spacious room offers great ocean views. And being able to see the sunrise from your private onsen? You’re definitely going to feel like you’re in luxury here.
The Seikai provides large public baths and hot tubs on both the ground floor and the top floor.
Fancy a massage or spa treatment after your hot spring soak? Spa Sheer Pearl offers many ways to relax with its massages and treatments.
Now, let’s touch on the food. If your motivation for staying at a ryokan is for the food, then this resort is fit for gourmands! The food at dinner and breakfast (Both Japanese style) is immaculate.
Gen serves traditional Japanese cuisine using seasonal and local ingredients. Eitaro restaurant offers various fresh seafood meals, while Japanese-Western fusion dishes can be enjoyed at Ban-ya.
From start to finish, the hotel staff will make your visit feel super special. If you enjoy a stellar oceanside hotel view, we highly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a relaxing and enjoyable stay in Beppu.
Ryokan Details
- 5-star ryokan
- Western-style beds
- The property overlooks the ocean.
- Amane Resort Seikai is a 7-minute walk from JR Beppu Daigaku Station.
2. Amane Resort Gahama
Price Range: $$$ TWE RECOMMENDED CHOICE
Experience a perfect ryokan stay at Amane Resort Gahama (formerly known as Gahama Terrace).
Conveniently situated in the Beppu part of Beppu, this seaside villa overlooking Beppu Bay puts you close to all the attractions and dining options the town offers!
This 5-star property offers plenty of in-house facilities to enhance the quality and enjoyment of your stay. In a nutshell, you’ll get a huge maisonette room, comfortable beds, an amazing private onsen, a terrace with an ocean view, and delicious meals.
Let’s start with the rooms. The accommodations provide private in-room hot spring baths, free WiFi throughout the property, and family rooms. But perhaps the most outstanding feature is that each room has a private indoor and outdoor onsen as well!
In terms of food, you can bet that the breakfast and dinner will be really good too (and very filling). Truly, there will be no reason to eat anywhere else during your stay!
If you want privacy and comfort, this is one of the best modern ryokans in Beppu. You’ll truly enjoy the villa-like atmosphere of the property and be able to relax no matter where you are at the ryokan.
Ryokan Details
- 4.5-star seaside villa ryokan
- Western-style and Japanese-style beds are available
- This hotel is very close to bus stops, so getting around in Beppu by bus is easy.
- Popular points of interest near Kannawaen include Hyotan Onsen, Yukemori Observatory and Oita Fragrance Museum.
3. Kannawaen
Price Range: $$ – $$$ TWE RECOMMENDED CHOICE
Kannawaen is one of those ryokans that offer visitors a chance to relax and rejuvenate both in its natural hot springs and out.
Kannawaen is a family-friendly ryokan located in the heart of Beppu and is just a short walk from the city’s famous Hells of Beppu hot springs.
The ryokan has rooms with their own private hot springs baths as well as public onsens which guests can enjoy for free. The spacious public bath is not to be missed, featuring lovely views of the mountains.
The public onsens are gorgeous and relaxing, as are the in-room private onsens. In addition to the baths, you can enjoy the property’s lovely garden, terrace and bar.
All 30 rooms are super spacious and have comforts such as premium bedding and air conditioning.
If you’re traveling with family members or larger groups with different sleeping styles, this hotel is awesome in that it has both western beds and Japanese-style tatami sleeping options all within the same room!
The rooms are fitted with a private bathroom with free toiletries, and certain rooms will provide you with mountain views.
In terms of location, it simply can not be beaten, are you are going to be right in the middle of the Beppu Hells.
And if you’re wondering if you should opt for the kaiseki dinner and breakfast package, you 100% should. It elevates the entire ryokan experience that much more!
Ryokan Details
- 4.5-star ryokan
- Western-style and Japanese-style beds are available
- The property is 350 feet from Hells of Beppu and 1,650 feet away from Jigokumushikobo Kannawa.
- Popular points of interest near Kannawaen include Hyotan Onsen, Yukemori Observatory and Oita Fragrance Museum. Oita Airport is 19 mi away.
- Free shuttle to and from the train station
4. Bettei Haruki
Price Range: $$ – $$$
Bettei Haruki is another wonderful option for the best ryokans in Beppu, Japan. This little ryokan is located in a traditional Japanese building and offers guests a truly unique experience.
The property is small, with about 6 rooms in total, so if you’re looking for a more authentic private ryokan experience, this is going to be a great option.
You’ll find that even the public areas are very quiet and with fewer people around, you’ll rarely have a problem getting into one of the private group onsens during your stay.
In addition to some rooms having their own open-air baths, there are a total of 3 hot spring baths for guests to enjoy, all of which are private baths.
Bettei Haruki also serves amazing food for dinner and breakfast, which you’re able to enjoy in the comfort of your own room. Don’t want to ever leave your room to eat? You don’t have to!
We definitely recommend opting for the Kaiseki dinner and breakfast package when booking.
All in all, this is probably one of the best value-for-the-money ryokans in the area. You’ll get reasonable pricing, amazing food, and excellent service throughout your stay. The best thing is the private onsen bath!
Ryokan Details
- 4-star ryokan
- Western-style and Japanese-style beds are available
- Popular points of interest near the accommodation include the Oita Fragrance Museum, Yama Jigoku, and Hells of Beppu.
- You will need to walk a bit or take a bus/taxi from the train station. It takes about 12 minutes by taxi from JR Beppu Station to the property.
5. Galleria Midobaru
Price Range: $$
If you’re looking for a more modern ryokan stay with “James Bond meets art gallery” vibes, the newly built Galleria Midobaru fits the bill.
The ryokan is conveniently located near many of the city’s attractions, including the Beppu Hot Springs and Hells of Beppu. Galleria Midobaru offers its guests modern accommodations and traditional Japanese-style hospitality!
It’s a truly magnificent property — from the moment you see the building from the outside, you’ll realize it’s quite different from other hotels/ryokans in the area. And once you get inside, you’ll be blown away by the breathtaking art and architecture.
The ryokan has 36 guest rooms, each decorated in a modern, airy style and equipped with Western beds and an en suite bath. Guests can choose from a variety of room types, including twin rooms, double rooms, and even triple rooms and multi-bedroom family suites.
Best of all, many come with an in-room onsen so you can enjoy a relaxing soak without having to leave the comfort of your room.
Lastly, in terms of food, you can expect more American-style fare for dinner and breakfast.
Ryokan Details
- 4-star ryokan
- Western-style beds
- The property is closer to the mountainside of Beppu. Bike rentals are available at the property.
- You will need to take a bus/taxi from the train station. It takes about 9 minutes by taxi from JR Beppu Station to the property.
6. Beppu Nagomitsuki
Price Range: $ – $$
Beppu Nagomitsuki ryokan is a beautiful example of a typical Japanese inn, located in the hot spring town of Beppu.
The inn is situated in a quiet residential area, just a short walk from the famous Beppu Hot Springs.
Nagomitsuki has been welcoming guests for well over 100 years, and its traditional Japanese atmosphere is sure to please any traveler. The inn offers both Western-style and Japanese-style rooms, each with its own private bath.
Personally speaking, I think their private onsen baths are by far the most charming on this list!
A stay at Nagomitsuki ryokan is the perfect way to experience traditional Japanese hospitality.
The friendly staff will be happy to help you with any needs you may have, and the delicious breakfast and dinner meals are sure to satisfy even the most discerning traveler.
Ryokan Details
- 3-star ryokan
- Western and Japanese hybrid-style beds
- The property is closer to the seaside of Beppu.
- JR Beppu Station is 3 miles away, and Beppudaigaku Station is a 9-min walk from the property.
7. Terrace Midoubaru
Price Range: $$
Terrace Midoubaru is one of the most popular (and budget-friendly!) ryokans in Beppu, Japan. In addition to private onsens in the rooms, the ryokan has a large outdoor terrace where guests can enjoy the view of Mt. Yufu or views of the ocean.
Terrace Midoubaru features Japanese-style guestrooms with tatami areas and private semi-open-air baths. With each room comes a terrace with either a view of the sea or the mountains!
The ryokan also has a communal hot spring bath and a sauna, perfect for relaxing in after a day of sightseeing.
All in all, this ryokan is an amazing mix of traditional and modern amenities. The private onsen in the room will be perfect after a long day, and the food (both breakfast and dinner) will be delicious and is well worth the price.
What we love most is how affordable this ryokan can be during the off-season!
Ryokan Details
- 3 to 4-star ryokan
- Japanese-style beds
- The property is closer to the mountainside of Beppu. Beppu Ropeway is 0.9 mi from Terrace Midoubaru, while Beppu Rakutenchi is 1.5 mi away.
- You will need to have a rental car or take a bus/taxi from the train station. It takes about 15 minutes by car from JR Beppu Station.
- The location is a bit out of the way, so having a rental car is more ideal than not. Either way, you’re going to get phenomenal scenic views.
Need To Know: Basic Onsen Etiquette + Rules
Your first onsen can feel a little intimidating, especially when you’re trying to remember which towel goes where and whether you should shower before or after getting in.
The good news? Onsen etiquette is actually pretty simple once you know the basics. The biggest thing to remember is that an onsen is a place to soak and relax, not a swimming pool or a communal shower!
Yes, you really do get naked.
This is probably what makes first-timers most nervous, but in 99% of cases, there’s no swimsuit option here. You’ll undress completely in the changing room and leave your clothes in a locker or basket before heading into the bathing area.
And once you’re inside, nobody is paying attention to anyone else. In Japan, it’s completely normal for no one to give it a second thought.
Shower before you soak.
Here’s the cultural distinction that trips people up: the bath is for soaking, not washing. Before you get anywhere near the hot spring, sit at a shower station and thoroughly rinse and wash yourself.
Most have a little stool, handheld showerhead, shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. Once you’re clean, you’re ready for the good part.
Keep your towel out of the water.
You can bring your small face towel into the bathing area, but don’t let it touch the onsen water! You’ll often see people folding it up and balancing it on top of their head while they soak. It’s partly to keep the head cool, and partly because there isn’t anywhere else to put it. Everything else stays back in the locker / changing area.
Final tip: Keep voices low, don’t splash, and avoid treating the bath like a social swimming pool. Then, enjoy and let the tensions melt away.
Things To Do In Beppu, Japan
Heading to Beppu for the hot springs and not sure what else to do? Here are some fun things to do in Beppu:
- Visit the Hells of Beppu: The Hells of Beppu are eight different geothermal hot springs, each with its own unique colors and mineral makeups. The most popular of the bunch has got to be the Umi Jigoku, or “sea hell”. This spring is the brightest blue, and the water is so hot it can hard-boil eggs in it!
- Beppu is also known for its mud baths, which you can experience for yourself at Beppu Onsen Hoyoland.
- Enjoy “soaking” in hot sand at Beppu Beach Sand Bath.
- Go for a relaxing walk at the beautiful Beppu Park.
- Ride the Beppu Ropeway and soak in the incredible landscape views.
- There are also a number of museums and galleries worth visiting, such as the Oita Fragrance Museum and the Beppu City Traditional Bamboo Crafts Center.
- Have an amusement park day at the Kijima Kogen Park or Beppu Ratukenchi.
How To Get To Beppu, Japan
We personally started our week-long Kyushu road trip in Fukuoka (the nearest major airport is Fukuoka Airport (FUK)), then slowly made our way through the countryside toward Beppu, stopping at a few other magical, memorable places along the way.
That said, you absolutely don’t need to rent a car to experience Beppu.
Beppu is actually very easy to reach from both Oita and Fukuoka.
From Oita Airport: The easiest option is the airport limousine bus, which goes directly toward Beppu. You don’t need to go into Oita city first.
From Oita City: Take a local or limited-express JR train from Oita Station to Beppu Station. It’s a very short hop (roughly 15 minutes).
From Fukuoka: The Limited Express Sonic runs directly from Hakata Station to Beppu, so there’s no need to transfer in Oita. JR Kyushu currently lists the fastest Hakata–Beppu trips at around 2 hours, with frequent service.
If you plan on traveling around the Kyushu area more via public transportation, look into whether the JR Kyushu Pass is a good deal for you or not!
Other nearby airports include:
- Kumamoto (KMJ): 77 km away
- Fukuoka (FUK): 103.5 km away
- Matsuyama (MYJ): 127.4 km away
- Nagasaki (NGS): 152.2 km away
Looking for more Japan travel tips? You may also like:
- 10 Reasons Kyushu Is Japan’s Best-Kept Secret: Volcanoes, Onsen, and More!
- Fukuoka 101: 15 Things That Make Japan’s Coolest City Worth Visiting
- 3 Days In Fukuoka: Hakata Ramen, Flower Gardens, and Seaside Fun!
- Everything We Did On Our Week-Long Kyushu Road Trip
- How To Spend A Perfect Day At Yufuin Onsen, Japan
- How We Spent 2 Days Relaxing In The Mount Aso Area
- 10 Amazing Onsen Towns In Japan To Visit On Your Next Trip
