Yufuin vs Beppu 2026: Which Onsen Town Is Right for You?
Apr 5, 2026
Two of Japan's most famous onsen towns sit just 40 minutes apart in Kyushu, yet they couldn't feel more different. Yufuin draws couples seeking quiet ryokan evenings and misty lake views, while Beppu pulls in travelers who want to see boiling mud pools and get buried in volcanic sand.
Choosing between them—or figuring out how to fit both into your trip—comes down to what kind of experience you're after. This guide breaks down the atmosphere, onsens, costs, and logistics for each town so you can decide which one matches your travel style.
Yufuin is quiet, romantic, and upscale with boutique shops and private ryokan baths. Beppu is louder, cheaper, and more urban, with famous geothermal "hells" and massive public bathhouses. Both sit in Oita Prefecture, which produces Japan's largest volume of onsen water, about 40 minutes apart by train, yet they attract completely different crowds.
Yufuin feels like a European village dropped into the Japanese countryside. Narrow streets wind past cafes and craft shops while Mount Yufu rises dramatically in the background. The whole town stays walkable and intimate.
Beppu, by contrast, operates like a working city that happens to sit on top of volcanic activity. Steam pours from street vents, pipes run along sidewalks, and the air carries a faint sulfur smell. Locals describe it as "steampunk," and that label fits.
You can walk across Yufuin in about 30 minutes, and the town empties out after 5 PM when day-trippers catch their trains home. That quiet evening atmosphere is part of the appeal.
Beppu sprawls across several districts, so getting between the famous Hells and various onsen areas requires buses or taxis. The city stays active later into the evening with more dining and nightlife options.
Beppu holds the title of Japan's onsen capital. The city sits on over 2,000 hot spring sources with different mineral compositions across its eight distinct bathing districts. You'll find everything from mud baths to sand baths to traditional soaking pools.
Yufuin takes a different approach. Despite holding the second-highest number of hot spring sources in Japan, the town focuses on high-end private baths at ryokan, which are traditional Japanese inns. The experience here centers on exclusivity and mountain views rather than variety.
Public baths in Beppu run as low as ¥100-500, and budget hotels cluster near the station. You can have a full onsen experience without spending much at all.
Yufuin commands premium prices. Luxury ryokan stays often exceed ¥30,000 per person, though that typically includes a multi-course kaiseki dinner. Day visitors can still enjoy the town affordably through free foot baths and reasonably priced cafes along the main street.
Beppu offers more than just bathing. The city holds over 10% of Japan's hot spring vents, and that geothermal energy creates sightseeing opportunities you won't find anywhere else in Japan.
The Jigoku, meaning "hells" in Japanese, are geothermal hot springs meant for viewing rather than bathing. The water temperatures reach near boiling, and each hell displays a different color or characteristic.
Umi Jigoku (Sea Hell): Brilliant cobalt blue pool, the most photographed
Chinoike Jigoku (Blood Pond Hell): Deep red water from iron oxide
Oniishibozu Jigoku (Shaven Head Hell): Gray mud bubbles that resemble monks' heads
Seven main hells spread across two areas, and a combination ticket covers all of them. Plan for about half a day to see everything at a comfortable pace.
Experience the unique beauty and natural wonders of Beppu with a half-day tour that includes visits to the mesmerizing blue waters of Umijigoku, the intriguing Kamadojigoku, and a unique cooking experience at the Hell Steam Restaurant, all guided by an English-speaking local.
Beppu's sand baths offer something genuinely unusual. Attendants bury you in naturally heated volcanic sand along the beach, and you lie there for about 15 minutes while the warmth seeps into your muscles. The sensation falls somewhere between a sauna and a weighted blanket.
Takegawara Onsen, built during the Meiji period in the late 1800s, remains one of Japan's most atmospheric bathhouses. The wooden building alone makes the visit worthwhile, and entry costs just ¥300 for the regular bath.
Jigoku mushi, or "hell-steamed" cooking, uses natural hot spring steam to cook seafood and vegetables. Several restaurants in the Kannawa district let you steam your own ingredients at the table, which turns lunch into an activity.
The morning markets near Beppu Station sell fresh catches from the nearby sea. Arrive early for the best selection.
With hundreds of options, knowing where to start helps. Here are three that represent different sides of Beppu's bathing culture.
Hyotan sits in the Kannawa district and offers multiple bath types in one facility. You'll find waterfalls, steam baths, outdoor pools, and even a sand bath on site. The clear signage explaining bathing etiquette makes it approachable for first-time visitors to Japanese onsen.
The Meiji-era wooden architecture draws visitors as much as the baths themselves. The regular soaking bath costs ¥300, while the sand bath runs around ¥1,500. Lines form on weekends, so arriving early helps.
Located along the oceanfront, this outdoor sand bath combines sea views with geothermal warmth. After about 15 minutes buried in the sand, you rinse off in the adjacent bathhouse. The whole experience takes under an hour.
Yufuin rewards visitors who prefer atmosphere over activities. The town works best when you slow down and wander rather than checking off a list.
This pedestrian street connects Yufuin Station to Lake Kinrinko, running about 1.5 kilometers through the heart of town. Cafes, sweet shops, and craft stores line both sides, and the walk takes roughly 20-30 minutes if you stop to browse.
Local specialties worth trying include:
Yufuin roll cake: Light sponge with fresh cream
Korokke (croquettes): Crispy fried potato snacks sold from street vendors
Yuzu products: Citrus-flavored sweets and seasonings from the region
Morning mist rising from Lake Kinrinko with Mount Yufu reflected in the water creates Yufuin's signature image. The effect happens most dramatically at dawn, though the lakeside shrine and walking paths stay pleasant throughout the day.
A small torii gate stands in the water near the shore, and the surrounding trees turn brilliant colors in autumn. The whole lake circuit takes about 15 minutes to walk.
This European-style village features cottage shops, an owl cafe, and Studio Ghibli merchandise. The aesthetic leans heavily into fairy-tale whimsy, which appeals to some visitors and feels too touristy for others. Families with children tend to enjoy it most.
Yufuin's onsen culture centers on private ryokan baths rather than large public facilities. However, day-use options exist for visitors not staying overnight.
Musoen offers private outdoor baths overlooking rice paddies with Mount Yufu in the distance. Non-guests can sometimes arrange day-use bathing with advance reservations, though availability varies by season.
A mid-range option with rotenburo, which are open-air baths, facing the mountains. Day visitors can access the baths for around ¥800, making it one of the more accessible options without an overnight stay.
Free foot baths dot the town, offering rest stops while exploring. You'll find them near the station and along Yunotsubo Kaido. Just roll up your pants, sit on the edge, and soak your feet for as long as you like.
The right choice depends on what kind of trip you're planning and who you're traveling with.
Yufuin wins here. The quiet evenings after day-trippers leave, private baths with mountain views, and intimate ryokan serving multi-course dinners all create a sense of escape. The town practically empties after dark, leaving the streets to overnight guests.
Beppu's affordable accommodations and social public bath culture suit solo travelers well. The varied sightseeing fills time easily, and you'll find plenty of casual dining options designed for one person. The city also stays livelier in the evenings.
Beppu offers more variety to keep children engaged. The colorful Hells work as a visual spectacle, sand baths feel like an adventure, and hell-steamed cooking turns lunch into an activity. More restaurant options and simpler logistics also help with family travel.
Beppu delivers the best value by far. Public baths cost a few hundred yen, budget hotels cluster near the station, and street food keeps meals affordable. You can experience world-class hot springs without the premium ryokan price tag.
Both towns connect easily to Fukuoka, which serves as the main entry point for most Kyushu travelers. They also rank among the most popular day trips from Fukuoka.
JR Kyushu limited express trains run from Hakata Station to both destinations. The journey takes approximately 2 hours to Yufuin and 2.5 hours to Beppu. The JR Pass covers all of these routes.
This sightseeing train features panoramic windows, wooden interiors, and a lounge car selling local products. The train itself becomes part of the experience rather than just transportation. Reservations fill quickly on weekends and holidays, so book your seat as early as possible.
Local trains and buses connect the two towns in 30-40 minutes. The proximity makes visiting both during a single Kyushu trip straightforward, whether you base yourself in one town and day-trip to the other or split your nights between them.
For Beppu and Yufuin alone, a rental car adds convenience but isn't essential.
Yufuin is entirely walkable from the station. The terrain stays flat, and nothing sits more than 30 minutes away on foot. A car would actually complicate things since parking costs money, and the main street is pedestrian-only.
Beppu's bus network connects the Hells and major onsen areas reliably. A car does improve efficiency if you're short on time, but most visitors manage fine without one.
When a car makes sense: If you're adding Kurokawa Onsen to your itinerary or exploring rural Kyushu beyond the train lines, renting a car opens up significantly more options. For just Beppu and Yufuin, skip it.
The 40-minute distance between towns makes combining them practical, even on a tight schedule.
Take the morning Yufuin no Mori train from Hakata, arriving around 10 AM. Spend the morning walking to Lake Kinrinko and browsing Yunotsubo Kaido. After lunch, catch a local train to Beppu and visit two or three of the Hells before taking an evening limited express back to Fukuoka.
The day runs tight, but it works if you're efficient.
Stay overnight in one town for full exploration, then day trip to the other. This pace lets you experience an evening onsen soak and morning mist at the lake, which are the moments day-trippers miss entirely.
Most travelers prefer staying in Yufuin for the quieter evening atmosphere, then visiting Beppu's Hells during the day. The reverse works too, especially if budget matters more than ambiance. Both towns slot naturally into a 14-day Japan itinerary with a Kyushu extension.
Whether you choose Yufuin's romantic tranquility or Beppu's geothermal adventures, both towns showcase a side of Japan that most visitors never see. Trip To Japan's Kyushu itineraries include onsen destinations with JR Pass coverage and ryokan recommendations already built in. You can also book a free 30-minute consultation to talk through which town fits your travel style.
