Routes

Hells tour (half day)

Do the five hells in Kannawa, including Umi Jigoku, then take Kamenoi bus 16 from Kannawa (about every 30 min, 6 min) to Chinoike Jigoku-mae for the Blood Pond and the geyser; return on bus 26. The operators say the combined ticket works out cheaper.

Beppu Hells tour → Umi Jigoku (Sea Hell) → Chinoike Jigoku (Blood Pond Hell) → Tatsumaki Jigoku (geyser)

Kannawa stroll & steam cooking

Take in the view from the observatory, walk down through old Kannawa, steam your own lunch, and finish at Hyotan Onsen.

Yukemuri Observatory → Kannawa onsen quarter → Jigoku-mushi steam kitchen → Hyotan Onsen

Around the station: Takegawara & old town

Wander the lanes around the station at dusk, bathe or sand-bathe at Takegawara, then try Oita dishes such as toriten and dangojiru.

Beppu Station & Beppu Tower → Takegawara Onsen

Up the hill: Myoban & Mt Tsurumi

Ride the ropeway up Mt Tsurumi in the morning, then visit the Myoban huts and soak in milky sulphur water.

Myoban Onsen & mineral huts → Beppu Ropeway & Mt Tsurumi

Towards Oita: monkeys & aquarium

A half day with kids: the monkeys of Takasakiyama in the morning, the aquarium in the afternoon.

Takasakiyama & Umitamago

Sights

Kannawa onsen quarter 鉄輪温泉

The most onsen-town-like of Beppu's eight districts: steam everywhere, narrow lanes lined with communal baths, inns and souvenir shops, plus self-catering kashima inns and steam-cooking.

Jigoku-mushi steam kitchen 地獄蒸し工房 鉄輪

Buy ingredients on site (bringing your own incurs a fee) and steam them yourself in a vent of roughly 100°C spring steam — seafood, eggs, sweet potatoes and meat all work. No reservations; take a number. Closed the third Wednesday of each month.

Beppu Hells tour 別府地獄めぐり

Seven springs for looking, not bathing — five in Kannawa and two (Chinoike and Tatsumaki) near Shibaseki Onsen, about 3 km away. The combined ticket is ¥2,400 for adults, valid on the day of purchase and the next day; open 8:00–17:00 every day.

Umi Jigoku (Sea Hell) 海地獄

A cobalt-blue pool billowing steam — the most photogenic of the hells, with a giant water-lily pond in the grounds.

Chinoike Jigoku (Blood Pond Hell) 血の池地獄

Red-hot mud rich in iron oxide turns the whole pond crimson. It's near Shibaseki Onsen; see it together with the neighbouring Tatsumaki geyser.

Tatsumaki Jigoku (geyser) 龍巻地獄

A geyser that erupts at intervals; when the red lamp above the entrance sign is lit, an eruption is imminent or under way. Waits have been long and irregular this season, so allow time.

Yukemuri Observatory 湯けむり展望台

A lookout above Kannawa with the steaming town, Mt Ogi and Mt Tsurumi in one view; about 20 min on foot from the Kannawa bus stop.

Hyotan Onsen ひょうたん温泉

A large day-use spa in Kannawa with waterfall baths, sand baths and steam baths — many styles in one stop.

Takegawara Onsen 竹瓦温泉

A historic city-run bath near Beppu Station, in a 1938 building with a curved karahafu gable. Besides the regular bath (¥300), you can try a sand bath in a yukata (¥1,500, no reservations). Closed the third Wednesday of each month (the next day if that's a holiday).

Beppu Station & Beppu Tower 別府駅・別府タワー

The arcades and alleys around the station hold plenty of Showa-era shops where you can try Oita dishes such as toriten and dangojiru.

Myoban Onsen & mineral huts 明礬温泉・湯の花小屋

Sulphur springs on the hillside where 'yu-no-hana' bath minerals are grown in thatched huts; milky-white open-air baths.

Beppu Ropeway & Mt Tsurumi 別府ロープウェイ・鶴見岳

A ten-minute ropeway ride to about 1,300 m on Mt Tsurumi; on clear days you see out over Beppu, Mt Yufu and the Kuju range, and winter sometimes brings rime ice. It may stop in bad weather.

Takasakiyama & Umitamago 高崎山・うみたまご

About 15 minutes by bus from Beppu Station towards Oita: wild macaques on Mt Takasaki, with the Umitamago aquarium right beside it (same bus stop, shared car park) — good with kids.