Visit Oita

The benefits of onsen include long-lasting moisturizing effects, improved blood circulation, and relief from fatigue, shoulder stiffness, high blood pressure, chronic skin conditions, and even enhanced skin health. Additionally, the buoyant effect of soaking in hot spring water promotes relaxation, making onsen a perfect way to rejuvenate both body and mind. An onsen getaway provides a delightful escape from everyday life, offering an opportunity to recharge your energy, both physically and mentally.

Before diving in, be sure to review onsen etiquette and tips to fully enjoy this unique and revitalizing experience.

Mushiyu steam baths are believed to help cure various ailments, drawing visitors from all over Japan and contributing to the development of Oita's toji culture – a tradition of staying at onsen resorts to relax and promote health through bathing. Even today, you can experience this unique style of mushiyu by lying down in stone chambers lined with sekishou (Japanese sweet flag), a medicinal herb that only grows along clear streams.

Additionally, a variety of other unique bathing experiences are available, including sunayu sand baths, where you are buried in warm sand, utaseyu waterfall baths, where water cascades down on you from a height of 3 meters, and doroyu mud baths, where you soak in creamy mud.

For a culinary twist, the jigoku-mushi ("hell-steaming") method, which uses steam heat from onsen, is highly recommended. This traditional cooking technique, practiced in Beppu since the Edo period, involves placing vegetables, meat, or seafood in bamboo baskets and steaming them over natural hot spring vents at around 100°C. The process concentrates the ingredients' natural flavors, enhanced by a touch of salty minerality from the steam, resulting in a simple yet delicious dish.

Beppu’s Eight Famous Onsen, collectively known as Beppu Hatto, refer to the eight distinct onsen areas in Beppu: Hamawaki Onsen, Beppu Onsen, Kankaiji Onsen, Horita Onsen, Myoban Onsen, Kannawa Onsen, Shibaseki Onsen, and Kamegawa Onsen. With seven different types of spring qualities among them, each area offers a unique experience, ensuring you’ll find a favorite.

For onsen enthusiasts, the Beppu Hatto Onsen Road stamp rally is a fun and rewarding way to enjoy these onsen. Set your sights on becoming a true Onsen-do Meijin (Onsen Master) by embarking on this hot spring tour!

If you’re seeking to enjoy an onsen while surrounded by nature, Kabeyu Onsen Ryokan Inn  Fukugenya is the perfect choice. Established in 1907, this charming ryokan inn offers just nine guest rooms, exudes a nostalgic ambiance in a healing space surrounded by the soothing sounds of a nearby stream. Its highlight, the popular Kabeyu Natural Cave Onsen, has been flowing naturally for over 300 years. This rustic onsen, nestled within cliffs, features water at a comfortable 39°C, close to body temperature, making it ideal for a relaxing soak without feeling overheated.

While Kabeyu Natural Cave Onsen is a mixed-gender bath, guests wear designated bathing garments. For women who prefer privacy, a women-only cave bath is also available, ensuring that everyone can enjoy this unique and tranquil experience.

Did you know that onsen aren't always about hot water? In fact, there’s a cold onsen located at an elevation of 1,000 meters in Oita Prefecture. About an hour’s drive from Oita City lies Kan no Jigoku Ryokan inn in Kokonoe Town, Kusu-gun, where you can experience a reisen (a cold onsen) with an intriguing history. Approximately 200 years ago, a wounded monkey is said to have healed its injuries by bathing in this chilly spring. The water, at a cool 13–14°C, is rich in sulfur and metasilicic acid, known for breaking down keratin to leave smooth and radiant skin.

In 2023, the ryokan introduced the Dan no Jigoku Sauna, featuring a wood-burning stove. With the sauna exceeding 100°C and alternating baths in the reisen, visitors can enjoy not only enhanced skin beauty but also the benefits of improved autonomic nervous system balance.

At an elevation of 1,303 meters, the Hokkein Onsen Sanso is home to the highest onsen in Kyushu. Located within the rugged Kuju mountain range, Kyushu's most mountainous region, this onsen can only be reached on foot, requiring a two-hour hike to get there. As the the hike itself, in spring, the surroundings are painted pink with Miyamakirishima azaleas, while in autumn, vibrant red and yellow foliage transforms the landscape, making it a favorite destination for hikers. Note that reservations for overnight stays at Hokkein Onsen Sanso are only available via phone.

From the indoor bath, you can enjoy breathtaking views of Mt. Taisen, Mt. Hiiji, and Mt. Tatchu, creating the perfect setting for relaxation and rejuvenation. Adventurous travelers are encouraged to take on the challenge!

Before your visit, ensure you are equipped with proper hiking gear, check the weather and temperature, and remember to submit a climbing notification at the trailhead.

At Kur Park Nagayu, established in 2019, you can enjoy unique onsen experiences while wearing swimwear, including a 110 cm deep pool and a 50-meter walking bath, designed for gentle exercise in the buoyant onsen water and reducing strain on joints while warming the body. The onsen’s rare neutral carbonated spring water is renowned for its health benefits, said to alleviate conditions like allergies, poor circulation, and even severe illnesses such as cancer. Kur Park Nagayu also offers day-use options and swimwear rentals, making it a convenient spot for a casual visit. Don’t miss the building’s stunning design, crafted by Pritzker Architecture Prize-winning architect Shigeru Ban, which incorporates a generous use of wood to create a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Oita Prefecture is home to many hot springs, and the ways to enjoy them are endless. From enhancing beauty and providing relaxation for the mind and body to breathtaking locations and unique water qualities and bathing styles, Oita is brimming with attractions you won’t find anywhere else. It’s a destination you’ll want to brag about and revisit time and time again.

Be sure to explore the featured guide on enjoying Oita’s onsen to make the most of your journey into the world of Oita’s extraordinary hot springs.

"Beppu Jigoku Tour" - Visit the 7 Hot Spring Hells

Hot Springs Facilities Where Swimwear is Allowed

Onsen Area List