Oita

Travel Guide

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• 2020 Top 30 Hot Springs (Onsen) in Japan

  

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Best Events

• Festivals

  

  • Hita Tenryo Festival
  • Mt. Kuju Opening Festival
  • Beppu Hato Hot Spring Festival

• Cherry Blossom

  

  • Oka Castle Ruins

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  • Nakatsu Shimin Fireworks Show

Top Things to do

• Beppu Jigoku Meguri (Hot Springs Tour)

  4.0

  1653 Reviews

  Oita Pref. Beppushi Kannawa 559-1

  For over a thousand years, the gasses, hot mud, and boiling waters erupting from beneath the area from Kanawa to Kamegawa have led it to being called the Jigoku (Hells) of Beppu. In 2009, four hot springs, Umi (Sea) Jigoku, Chinoike (Blood Pond) Jigoku, Tatsumaki Jigoku, and Shiraike (White Pond) Jigoku were designated as National Places of Scenic Beauty. Visiting these four hot springs in addition to three other famous ones is fun and enjoyable. In addition to hot spring eggs (slow boiled in hot spring waters), hell-themed souvenirs such as Chinoike ointment, and Enman no Yu (bath salts) are popular to take home and give to friends. A 15-minute drive by car from JR Beppu Station.

• Suginoi Hotel Acquabeat

  4.0

  1097 Reviews

  Oita Pref. Beppushi Kankaiji 1

  An indoor pool facility open in the summer adjoining the Suginoi Hotel in Kankaiji, Beppu City. Attractions include a wave pool, water slides, “water jungle gym,” Mystery Dork cavern to explore, and water balls. There’s also a kids’ pool. Modeled after a south seas resort, visitors can also relax on provided beach chairs.

• Umi Jigoku

  4.0

  747 Reviews

  Oita Pref. Beppushi Kannawa 559-1

  Umi Jigoku boasts of being the largest among the Beppu Jigoku hot springs. The beautiful cobalt blue color is due to iron sulphate in the hot spring water. Royal water lilies and tropical water lilies are cultivated using the heat from the hot spring and the flowers will be at their best from early May until early November. At the Bon Festival event, lower grade elementary school children (up to 20 kilograms) can get on the leaves of the royal water lilies that float in the pond. There is also a footbath. The hot spring has been designated as a National Place of Scenic Beauty.

• Kokonoe Yume Suspension Bridge

  4.0

  558 Reviews

  Oita Pref. Kusugunkokonoemachi Tano 1208

  A bridge 173 meters high and 390 meters long. Completed in 2006, it is the longest pedestrian bridge in Japan. The scenery from the bridge is, in a word, superb, and those traversing its length can get sweeping views of such sights as Narukogawa Ravine and a stunning Shindo-no-taki waterfall, with larger and smaller sub-waterfalls. Visiting in fall to see the autumn foliage is particularly recommended.

• Oita Marine Palace Aquarium Umitamago

  4.5

  414 Reviews

  Oita Pref. Oitashi Kanzaki Uto 3078 - 22

  A large aquarium located in Oita City, Oita Prefecture next to Takasakiyama Nature Zoo, famed for its Japanese macaque exhibit. Designed around the theme of an aquarium where visitors can make friends with the animals, Umitamago is filled with exhibits and attractions which let visitors experience sea and river life up close and personal, including aquariums which recreate natural environments, a variety of shows, and opportunities to get close and even touch animals. The aquarium’s giant tank, containing some 90 species and 1,500 individual sea creatures, is truly stunning. There’s also the popular and hilarious walrus show and the Asobeach play area, ensuring that Umitamago is fun for the whole family, from children to adults.

• Usa-jingu Shrine

  4.5

  344 Reviews

  Oita Pref. Usashi Minamiusa 2859

  This Shinto shrine is famous for being the head shrine of all 40 thousand Hachiman shrines in Japan dedicated to Emperor Ojin as the god Hachiman in a syncretic belief system which combines elements of Buddhism. Enshrining Hachiman as well as Hime and Empress Jingu, the shrine was founded in 725. The grounds are spacious, and the main shrine building, a National Treasure, is divided between an upper building located on a hill and a lower building located at the base. The first hall of the upper building is believed to provide luck with money and business; the second and third are believed to provide luck with love and easy childbirth.

• Takegawara Onsen

  4.0

  473 Reviews

  Oita Pref. Beppushi Motomachi 16-23

  A low-cost public hot spring facility operated by Beppu City. Originally erected in 1879, the current building was built in 1938. In the spa’s famous sand bath, visitors lie down in sand wearing a yukata robe, after which assistants cover you with sand heated by the site’s natural hot spring. Up to eight persons can use the sand bath at the same time. Wait times may grow long when the facility is busy. A 10-minute walk from JR Beppu Station.

• African Safari

  4.5

  293 Reviews

  Oita Pref. Usashi Ajimumachiminamihata 2-1755-1

  This is Kyushu’s only safari park and one of Japan’s largest, where 1,300 animals of 70 varieties are raised in conditions close to natural. There is an “animal zone” where visitors can observe lions and tigers from a jungle bus or their own car, and a “petting zone” where one can do horse riding or pet small animals, allowing one to enjoy the various aspects and charms of the animals.

• Hyotan Onsen

  4.0

  300 Reviews

  Oita Beppushi-shi Kannawa 159-2

  This day-use hot spring bathhouse is located not far from the Beppu Interchange. In addition to men's and women's bathing areas, the bathhouse has a large public bath area and sand bath area, and customers can enjoy a diverse array of bathing facilities, including tubs made of different materials, a cascade bath, and a steam bath. There's also a footbath. The waters of the bathhouse salt spring are said to treat nerve pain and muscle soreness. Note that persons with certain health conditions are contraindicated from using the baths. The bathhouse also has free, time unlimited parking and can accommodate large vehicles, making it easily accessible by car as well.