Stay in Beppu or Yufuin?
Consider Beppu for hell viewing and mountain views, or Yufuin for onsen-town walks and a local stay. Usuki and Usa lie in different directions, so separate dates and check station–facility return transport.
Choose hell viewing, mountain views or an onsen-town walk
Beppu Jigoku Meguri offers hot-spring scenery, while the ropeway provides Mount Tsurumi views. In Yufuin, walk through town to Lake Kinrin. For Stone Buddhas or shrine history, compare separate Usuki and Usa days.
Itineraries by trip length
Compare a Beppu base with bus outings to hells and ropeway against moving to Yufuin for an onsen-town evening and morning. The two options for each trip length have different bases and areas. They use Oita Airport; plan bathing and accommodation separately from admission.
2 days / 1 night
Compare two days for Beppu's two hell areas with one Yufuin night and separate Yunotsubo Street and Lake Kinrin walks. Beppu needs a daytime day-one arrival; adjust final-day sightseeing around airport buses and check-in.
3 days / 2 nights
Compare two Beppu nights separating hells and ropeway with one Beppu night followed by one in Yufuin. The moving option needs day-one arrival early enough for mountain views and stays in Yufuin on day two.
4 days / 3 nights
Choose a Beppu base with a Yufuin day trip or two Beppu nights followed by one in Yufuin. The moving option requires reserving day-two Usuki Stone Buddhas return taxi travel by the previous day; JR and taxi costs are extra.
5 days / 4 nights
Choose hells and mountain views in Beppu followed by one Yufuin night, or four Beppu nights with separate Usuki and Usa days. The latter lie in different directions; calculate JR and local transport outside the subtotal.
Where should you stay?
Beppu Station and Kitahama
Consider this area for airport buses, JR and meals. The checked airport Airliner does not stop at Beppu Station, so arrange separate travel from Kitahama to your accommodation.
Kannawa
Stay in Kannawa for the five nearby hells. The other two facilities are farther away and need a bus. Hell viewing and bathing at your accommodation are separate.
Yufuin Station to Yunotsubo Street
Explore the onsen town and Lake Kinrin on foot. Check the station–lake distance, ryokan meals and pickup times before choosing your walking order.
Prefectural tourism bodyCity tourism mapOfficial Lake Kinrin guide
Around Oita Station
Consider this base for JR travel towards Usuki. For several days in Yufuin and Beppu, compare travel times with stays in those areas.
Spend more time on hell viewing or the onsen town?
Beppu Jigoku Meguri
Visit Kannawa's five hells on one day and Chinoike and Tatsumaki on another. Hells are facilities for viewing hot springs and scenery. Plan bathing separately at your accommodation or a bathhouse.
Beppu Ropeway
This ropeway climbs Mount Tsurumi, not towards Takasakiyama. Take route 36 from Beppu Station's west side to the ropeway stop. Mountain views depend on weather, so check operation and visibility before leaving.
Beppu city official tourism: ropeway fares and hoursWeekday route 36
Yufuin and Lake Kinrin
Walk from the station to Lake Kinrin through the onsen town. Choose a day return from Beppu or a Yufuin night first. Morning mist depends on cold-weather temperature conditions.
Oita Prefecture official Yufuin and Beppu guideOfficial Lake Kinrin guide
Distinguish Beppu Station's east and west boarding points
Kannawa and the two distant hells
On day one, take route 5 from Beppu Station west-side stand 3 for Kannawa's five hells. On day two, take route 26 from east-side stand 5 to Chinoike and Tatsumaki and return on route 16. Allow entrance walks and Tatsumaki eruption waits separately from bus time.
Access to both hell groupsRoute 5 APU-bound timetableOfficial Mini day-pass price and Beppu hell areas
Towards the ropeway and Yufuin
Both use route 36 from west-side stand 1, but check destinations and stop markers. Some buses skip the ropeway, so choose your mountain return first. On the Yufuin accommodation move, reach your booked property from the station-front bus centre without adding a Beppu return trip.
Usuki Stone Buddhas and Usa Jingu
Reserve Usuki station departure, Stone Buddhas viewing and station return with the taxi company by the previous day, then choose return trains. For Usa, take a station-front bus to Usa-Hachiman, follow the city map's approach to the main sanctuary and retrace it to the stop. Do not combine both areas on one day.
Usuki tourism association 2026 sightseeing taxis and previous-day reservationsUsa city official Usa-Hachiman stop and shrine approach mapOperator weekday/weekend Usa-Ekimae–Usa-Hachiman return timetables
Check Oita transport and passes
Between the airport and accommodation
Beppu itineraries use Kitahama for airport buses. It is a different stop from Beppu Station, so connect it to your property's address. Yufuin uses the station-front bus centre. Check dated departure directions and times.
Buses for day two's two hells
The day using route 26 outward and route 16 for the return includes a JPY 1,100 Mini day pass. Day one's route 5 return is a separate JPY 780 ordinary fare. A single day pass is not used across two dates, and hell admission is separate.
Official Mini day-pass price and Beppu hell areasCombined ticketAccess to both hell groups
JR Northern Kyushu pass and ordinary tickets
For travel from Hakata to Beppu or Yufuin, compare eligible JR sections and return dates. Airport buses, Kamenoi buses, ropeways and hell viewing cost extra. Northern Kyushu excludes Oita–Usuki. Eligibility requires a non-Japanese passport, residence outside Japan and tourism entry under Temporary Visitor status. Check your passport's entry stamp or sticker and carry your passport when using the pass. If using automated immigration gates, ask airport staff for an entry stamp or sticker.
JR Northern Kyushu eligible trains, excluded transport and consecutive days
Visit from Fukuoka for the day or stay locally?
Choose the return train first for travel from Hakata to Beppu or Yufuin. On a day trip, spend time in one area for hells or Lake Kinrin. For an onsen-town evening and morning, compare a local night. Confirm actual Northern Kyushu coverage and consecutive validity; city buses, bathing and accommodation cost extra.
JR Northern Kyushu eligible trains, excluded transport and consecutive days
What should you eat in Beppu and Yufuin?
Near Beppu Station or Kitahama, look for toriten or Beppu reimen. On a Kannawa hells day, check steam-cooking facilities' procedures and queues before choosing meal time.
Toriten and dango-jiru
Toriten is battered, fried chicken served with accompaniments such as ponzu, mustard or yuzu kosho. Dango-jiru is a miso soup made with thinly stretched wheat dough and vegetables. Look for them on lunch or dinner menus.
Beppu reimen
Beppu reimen combines wheat and buckwheat noodles and Japanese-style broth with cabbage kimchi and beef toppings. Check each shop's noodles and ingredients. It fits a meal near Kitahama or Beppu Station before returning to your accommodation.
Kannawa steam cooking
Ingredients are cooked in hot-spring steam. Some Kannawa facilities let you cook them yourself; first check procedures, queues and whether you can bring ingredients. Hell admission does not include meals or steam-cooking activities.
Separate admission and buses from extra costs
Bathing, accommodation, meals and flights are excluded from these subtotals. Beppu Jigoku Meguri is viewing, not bathing. Usuki and Usa itineraries also require separate essential JR and local transport costs.
| Trip length | Beppu-focused option A | Other-area option B |
|---|---|---|
| One night, two days | JPY 7,480: hells combined ticket JPY 2,400, day-one route 5 return JPY 780, Kitahama airport buses return JPY 3,200; day-two Mini day pass JPY 1,100 for route 26 outward and route 16 return | JPY 4,000: two ordinary airport–Yufuin one-way tickets at JPY 2,000 each |
| Two nights, three days | JPY 10,280: hells combined ticket JPY 2,400, route 5 return JPY 780, ropeway return JPY 1,800, route 36 ropeway return JPY 1,000, Kitahama airport buses return JPY 3,200; day-two Mini day pass JPY 1,100 for route 26 outward and route 16 return | JPY 7,500: airport–Kitahama JPY 1,600, ropeway return JPY 1,800, route 36 ropeway return JPY 1,000, Beppu–Yufuin JPY 1,100, Yufuin–airport JPY 2,000 |
| Three nights, four days | JPY 12,480: hells combined ticket JPY 2,400, route 5 return JPY 780, ropeway return JPY 1,800, route 36 ropeway return JPY 1,000, Kitahama airport buses return JPY 3,200, Yufuin day return JPY 2,200; day-two Mini day pass JPY 1,100 for route 26 outward and route 16 return | JPY 8,050, excluding Usuki JR and per-vehicle sightseeing taxi: airport–Kitahama JPY 1,600, ropeway return JPY 1,800, route 36 ropeway return JPY 1,000, Stone Buddhas JPY 550, Beppu–Yufuin JPY 1,100, Yufuin–airport JPY 2,000 |
| Four nights, five days | JPY 11,780: hells combined ticket JPY 2,400, route 5 return JPY 780, ropeway return JPY 1,800, route 36 ropeway return JPY 1,000, Beppu–Yufuin JPY 1,100, airport–Kitahama JPY 1,600, Yufuin–airport JPY 2,000; day-two Mini day pass JPY 1,100 for route 26 outward and route 16 return | JPY 10,830, excluding Usuki and Usa JR and local transport: hells combined ticket JPY 2,400, route 5 return JPY 780, Stone Buddhas JPY 550, ropeway return JPY 1,800, route 36 ropeway return JPY 1,000, Kitahama airport buses return JPY 3,200; day-two Mini day pass JPY 1,100 for route 26 outward and route 16 return |
Airport faresCombined ticketCurrent combined fare tableOfficial Mini day-pass price and Beppu hell areasBeppu city official tourism: ropeway fares and hoursFacility admission and accessUsuki tourism association 2026 sightseeing taxis and previous-day reservations
Choose one base or an onsen-town stay
Around Beppu Station and Kitahama
Compare both locations for consecutive Beppu nights and bus trips to hells and ropeway. Hells and Yufuin services use the station's west side; airport buses use Kitahama. Choose boarding-point access from your actual property address.
Weekday route 36Airliner timetableAccess to both hell groups
Around Kannawa
Consider Kannawa accommodation for more hell viewing and steam-cooked food. Check property bathing hours and city and airport return transport. Beppu Station-based itinerary fares do not automatically apply to your address.
Oita Prefecture official regional food guideAccess to both hell groups
One Yufuin night
Choose this for an onsen-town evening and morning. A Beppu-based Yufuin day trip differs from moving your accommodation there. Confirm ryokan meals, bathing and pickup before choosing Lake Kinrin walking time.
Oita Prefecture official Yufuin and Beppu guideOfficial Lake Kinrin guideWeekday route 36
Compare bases for your trip length
| Trip length | Beppu-focused | Adding another area |
|---|---|---|
| One night, two days | Seven hells spread across two days | One Yufuin night and Lake Kinrin walk |
| Two nights, three days | Hells and ropeway on separate days | One Beppu night, then one in Yufuin |
| Three nights, four days | Consecutive Beppu nights and Yufuin day trip | Option B: reserved Usuki sightseeing taxi, then one Yufuin night |
| Four nights, five days | Option A: hells and ropeway, then one Yufuin night | Option B: Beppu base, reserved Usuki taxi and Usa worship |
Oita Prefecture official Yufuin and Beppu guideAccess to both hell groupsStone Buddhas official bus/taxi access and feesOperator weekday/weekend Usa-Ekimae–Usa-Hachiman return timetablesUsuki tourism association 2026 sightseeing taxis and previous-day reservationsUsa city official Usa-Hachiman stop and shrine approach map
If suspensions or transport checks change your plans
When the ropeway is suspended
Check same-day operation before heading to the stop. For suspension, spend the day on Beppu meals and rest, moving mountain viewing to another operating day. For added bathing, check the facility's hours and fees separately.
Beppu city official tourism: ropeway fares and hoursOita Prefecture official regional food guide
If you cannot book the Usuki sightseeing taxi
Reserve Usuki Station departure, Stone Buddhas viewing and station return by the previous day. The limited-period programme has a daily vehicle limit. If unavailable or outside its dates, switch to a Beppu meal and rest day. Shorten Usa viewing around approach restrictions and return buses.
Usuki tourism association 2026 sightseeing taxis and previous-day reservationsUsa city official Usa-Hachiman stop and shrine approach map
View cameras before your Oita trip
Check each camera's filming location and update time. Beppu city footage does not establish Mount Tsurumi visibility or Yufuin morning mist. Check ropeway and bus operation separately with operators.
Frequently asked questions
Are Beppu Station and Kitahama the same airport bus stop?
No. These itineraries board and alight at Kitahama for airport buses. Arrange separate travel between Kitahama and accommodation around Beppu Station. Yufuin uses the station-front bus centre. Airport-bound boarding points may differ from arrival stops, so check official stop guidance.
Do onsen-town prices include bathing and ryokan accommodation?
Current itinerary figures exclude bathing, accommodation, meals, flights, luggage storage and property-specific access. Hell admission is not a bathing ticket. Confirm check-in, pickup and bathing conditions with your booked property before planning walks.
Combined ticketAccess to both hell groupsPrefectural tourism bodyCity tourism map
Official sources and checked dates
- Airport fares ·
- Route timetable ·
- Combined ticket ·
- Access to both hell groups ·
- Prefectural tourism body ·
- City tourism map ·
- Facility admission and access ·
- Route 5 APU-bound timetable ·
- Weekday route 36 ·
- Separate timetable ·
- Airliner timetable ·
- Current combined fare table ·
- Official Lake Kinrin guide ·
- Beppu city official tourism: ropeway fares and hours ·
- JR Northern Kyushu eligible trains, excluded transport and consecutive days ·
- Official Mini day-pass price and Beppu hell areas ·
- Stone Buddhas official bus/taxi access and fees ·
- Operator weekday/weekend Usa-Ekimae–Usa-Hachiman return timetables ·
- Oita Prefecture official regional food guide ·
- Oita Prefecture official Yufuin and Beppu guide ·
- Usuki tourism association 2026 sightseeing taxis and previous-day reservations ·
- Usa city official Usa-Hachiman stop and shrine approach map ·