natural wonder
Beppu Hells (Jigoku Meguri)
A collection of spectacular hot spring vents in Beppu producing steaming pools of vivid blue, red, and milky-white water.
5 km · about 10 min drive
AsiaJapanOita
Beppu
Oita, Japan · Asia
About Beppu
Beppu is worth a stop: 20 minutes from Hiji, 5km from Beppu Hells (Jigoku Meguri).
Beppu is in Oita, Japan, with about 120,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Hiji, about 11 km away.
Beppu (別府市, Beppu-shi) is a city in Ōita Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan. As of November 30, 2023, the city had a population of 113,045 in 62,702 households, and a population density of 900 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 125.34 km2 (48.39 sq mi). Beppu is famous for its hot springs. In 2024,Read more
Beppu celebrated its centenary as a city.
Where to Stay in Beppu
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Beppu.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Beppu.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Beppu?
Within an hour or so of Beppu: Beppu Hells (Jigoku Meguri) (5 km), Aonodōmon (39 km), Kurokawa Onsen (40 km), Tsuetate Onsen (44 km).
Are there any good drives near Beppu?
The nearest famous roads are Shikoku Karst.
Where is Beppu?
Beppu is in Oita, Japan, about 11 km from Hiji.
Road trip
Drive to Beppu
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Beppu. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 122,643
- Continent
- Asia
- Country
- Japan
- Region
- Oita
- Timezone
- Asia/Tokyo
- Coordinates
- 33.2794, 131.4975
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Japan
Japan Helpline (24h English assistance): 0570-000-911. An International Driving Permit (1949 convention) is required to drive.
Full driving guide for JapanTags
Worth the detour from Beppu
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
tunnel
Aonodōmon
A tunnel hand-cut through a cliff on the Yamakuni River, begun by the monk Zenkai in 1735 and reputedly dug over three decades to spare travellers a lethal chain path. Sections of the original chiselled bore survive alongside the road.
39 km · about 45 min drive
landmark
Kurokawa Onsen
A hot-spring village in the Aso highlands that banned neon and concrete facades, so wooden inns and stone-walled riverside baths dominate. A single wooden pass grants entry to three open-air baths of your choice.
40 km · about 45 min drive
landmark
Tsuetate Onsen
A narrow ravine village straddling the Kumamoto–Oita border where steam vents rise between old wooden inns and footbridges. In spring hundreds of carp streamers are strung across the gorge.
44 km · about 50 min drive
waterfall
Nabegataki Falls
A broad, low curtain of water falling from an overhanging ledge, allowing visitors to walk along a path behind the entire span of the fall. A short descent from the car park in northern Kumamoto.
46 km · about 55 min drive
racetrack
Autopolis
A hillside circuit on the island of Kyushu in Japan, known for dramatic elevation changes and hosting Super GT and Super Formula.
55 km · about 65 min drive
natural wonder
Mount Aso Caldera
One of the world's largest volcanic calderas in Kyushu with an active smoking crater and vast green grasslands.
57 km · about 65 min drive
photogenic
Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine
A moss-covered stone stairway of roughly 100 steps climbing through cedar forest to a shrine below a rock face pierced by a huge natural window. Reached by a short walk from a small car park in the Aso caldera.
57 km · about 65 min drive
Driving roads near Beppu
- 39 kmAonodōmonA tunnel hand-cut through a cliff on the Yamakuni River, begun by the monk Zenkai in 1735 and reputedly dug over three decades to spare travellers a lethal chain path. Sections of the original chiselled bore survive alongside the road.
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Beppu.
Plan a trip around Beppu
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Beppu.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.