Japan · 2026 itinerary
Beppu 3-Day Itinerary
A day-by-day plan for Beppu: the best attractions in order, where to eat, how to get around — with free hotel briefings for your stay.
Arrive & Explore the Highlights
A spacious public park with a large pond, cherry trees, and a free footbath fed by natural hot spring water. A calm spot for picnics or a rest between sightseeing.
🕐 Always open
Free entry💡 Bring your own towel for the footbath — none provided. Best in late March for cherry blossoms, though peaceful year-round.
Hotels near Beppu Park →A large, well-tended public park with a pond, walking paths, and plenty of cherry trees for spring blossom. Good for a quiet stroll or picnic.
🕐 Open 24 hours
Free entry💡 Head to the rose garden at the south end — it's less busy and has benches to sit and read.
Hotels near Beppu Park →バレーナ · ££
Shidaka Lakeside Restaurant · ££
Deeper Into Beppu
The base station of the ropeway to Mount Tsurumi is free to wander around, with views of the surrounding mountains and a small plaza. The ropeway ride itself costs money, but the base area has free lo
🕐 Base area open 24 hours
💡 Best free viewpoint is at the back of the car park, looking east over Beppu Bay at sunset.
A 100-metre tower offering wide views of Beppu Bay and the city's steaming hot springs below. The entrance fee is minimal compared to many other tower experiences.
🕐 09:00-22:00
💡 Visit just before sunset to see the town lit up and the steam rising. The small café at the base sells decent coffee for ¥200.
A traditional wooden onsen built in the 1930s, with a striking Meiji-era facade. Entry costs only a few hundred yen for a hot spring bath.
🕐 06:30-22:30 (closed 2nd Monday of month)
💡 This is a working public bath, not a luxury spa. Expect basic facilities and strong sulphur smell. Sand baths here are separate and cost extra.
Historic wooden public bathhouse dating back to 1879. While entry to the main baths costs money, the free foot bath (ashiyu) outside lets you soak your feet in the mineral-rich hot spring water for as
🕐 Foot bath: 24 hours
💡 Go early morning (before 8 AM) to avoid crowds and get the cleanest water in the foot bath.
Kuro Uma
地獄蒸し工房 鉄輪
Final Favourites & Departure
A set of seven unique hot spring ponds, each with a different colour and character. Umi Jigoku is a vivid cobalt blue, while Chinoike Jigoku is blood-red. Each
💡 Buy a combo ticket for all seven at Umi Jigoku if you plan to visit more than three. Saves roughly 20%. Go early to avoid crowds.
A communal kitchen where you cook your own food using natural geothermal steam from Beppu’s hot springs. Bring raw ingredients (like eggs, vegetables, or seafoo
💡 Buy a bag of sweet potatoes and eggs at the nearby grocery store before going — costs less than ¥500 total for a full meal.
焼肉モランボン
Domino
Getting Around Beppu
Pay with a prepaid NFC card or exact cash. The bus is slow but scenic—you'll pass by Beppu Tower and the hells. Get off at 'Kankaiji' stop and walk downhill one block.
Get the day pass for 500 yen at the station information desk – covers the whole loop and pays for itself after 5 rides.
Buy a round-trip ticket from the machine outside arrivals; it's cheaper and saves queuing. The bus drops you a 10-minute walk or short taxi ride from J-hoppers.
Buy a return ticket at the airport counter – saves 200 yen each way. Get off at Kitahama stop for a shorter walk to JZauruSS Hotel.
Not a daily commuter route, but if you're staying at J-hoppers and want the best view of Beppu Bay, take the local bus from Beppu Station to the ropeway base, then this tram cable car up. Arrive early to avoid tour groups.
Book a 'Sunrise seat' on the right-hand side for coast views. Reserve online via JR Kyushu SmartEX – saves queuing at the ticket machine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 3 days enough for Beppu?
Three days covers the main highlights well. You can see the key attractions like Beppu Park and get a genuine feel for the city. For a more leisurely pace or to explore neighbourhoods in depth, a 5-day trip is better.
What is the best time to visit Beppu?
See our full best time to visit Beppu guide — it covers weather month by month, peak vs. shoulder seasons and how to avoid the crowds.
Where should I stay for this itinerary?
A central location saves transit time between sites. Top options include Onsenyado Hamayu Nagi, Venus Hotel, Hotel Mana. See the full ranked list with free briefings for each.