Beppu city is located at the heart of Oita prefecture and is proud to represent Japan's favorite hot spring resort destination with the nation's largest number of hot spring wells, the yield of hot spring water, and the qualities of hot springs. Within Beppu there are eight hot spring areas - Beppu onsen, Kamegawa onsen, Kan'nawa onsen, Kankaiji onsen, Horita onsen, Shibaseki onsen, and Myoban onsen - which make up “Beppu hattou (eight hot springs)” as a whole. There are many sightseeing facilities in Beppu hattou's main Beppu onsen area such as “Takegawara onsen”, with a gorgeous Tang gable style roof, and “Beppu Tower”, which is the third broadcasting tower built in Japan.

◎Hot Springs

Beppu ranks top both in the number of qualities and the number of hot springs in Japan. Having 87,616 litters of hot spring water pouring out every minute, it is the world’s second largest. On top of that, Beppu has every quality of hot springs out of all 11 types except for radioactive springs (for public signs registered by Hot Spring Law.)

◎History

Beppu onsen has been mentioned in literature such as “Bungo Fudoki”(records of the culture and geography of Bungo Province) and “Iyonokuni Fudoki” (records of the culture and geography of Iyo Province) written in the Nara period. It has quite a long history. Since 1873, when the seaway between Beppu and Osaka were connected, many people started to visit Beppu and made it Japan's most famous and well-known hot spring tourist site.

◎Temperature/Climate

Beppu is located at the Northeast of Kyushu facing the Seto Inland Sea. The temperature is mild and warm. There are rarely natural disasters. This alluvial fan city is surrounded by mountains and the ocean with many slopes. It is quite scenic when hot spring steam vapors arise everywhere from the hills.

◎Events

There are many hot spring related events in Beppu, such as “Beppu Hatto Hot Spring Festival” to appreciate the abundance of hot springs, “Beppu Hatto Hot Spring Exposition” with various programs focusing on the theme of “Energetic and beautiful in hot spring city.”, and “Beppu Hatto Hot Spring Club” where the members aim to become hot spring masters. Additionally, there are active cultural and art events such as “Beppu Argerich Music Festival“, “Beppu Art Month”, and “in BEPPU” - a solo show style annual art festival starting 2016.

◎Craft works

Many bamboo handicrafts, such as strainers, baskets, and boxwood crafts such as combs became quite popular as necessities for “touji life”(long-term stay at hotels with hot springs for healing purposes) and still continue to be produced to this day. Beppu bamboo handicrafts that developed as craft works are designated as the national traditional crafts.