Where should I go for sightseeing or a walk?
For hot spring scenery up close, consider Beppu Jigoku Meguri; for mountain views, consider Beppu Ropeway. For a leisurely hot spring village walk, continue through Yufuin to Lake Kinrin. For Stone Buddhas or shrine history, visit Usuki and Usa on separate days. Hells sightseeing is not bathing; arrange return travel between stations and attractions for Usuki/Usa.
Attraction admission and access
Beppu Jigoku Meguri · 別府地獄めぐり
Beppu Jigoku Meguri別府地獄めぐり
This is a trip to view hot springs bubbling up. Buying the combined ticket does not let you bathe in that water. Leave half a day for five facilities and visit the other two the following day. Reduce the number of visits around entrance walks and return transport.
- AdmissionThe seven-facility combined ticket costs ¥2,400 for high school students and older and ¥1,200 for elementary and junior high school students. Use it once per facility over the purchase day and following day.
- HoursThe seven facilities are listed as open 8 a.m.–5 p.m., year-round. These hours differ from bathing times at your hotel.
- Getting thereTake a Kannawa-direction route 5 from Beppu Station west-side stop 3 and get off at Umi Jigoku-mae or Kannawa. Walk between the five nearby facilities first, then travel separately to Chinoike and Tatsumaki, about 3 km away.
Combined ticketAccess to both groups of hellsRoute 5 toward APU: timetable
Beppu Ropeway · 別府ロープウェイ
Beppu Ropeway別府ロープウェイ
Ride Beppu Ropeway up Mount Tsurumi for mountain views or a walk near the summit. Allow half a day for travel and visiting; change plans if strong winds or maintenance stop operations. Check official weekday/weekend timetables to ensure your return route 36 actually serves the ropeway stop. Some final services skip it. The ¥500 one-way bus fare and ropeway ticket are separate. Add ticketing and boarding waits to the approximately one-minute stop-to-facility walk.
- AdmissionRound-trip fare is ¥1,800 for junior high school students and older and ¥900 for children age 4 through elementary school. City buses and bathing cost extra.
- HoursMarch 15–November 14: first departure 9 a.m., final ascent 5 p.m., final descent 5:30 p.m. November 15–March 14: first departure 9 a.m., final ascent 4:30 p.m., final descent 5 p.m. No regular closure days are listed, but bad weather, maintenance and inspections may suspend service. Each one-way ropeway ride takes about 10 minutes.
- Getting thereTake a Yufuin-direction route 36 from Beppu Station west-side stop 1 and get off at Beppu Ropeway. Official tourism guidance estimates about a one-minute walk to the facility. The lower boarding station is Beppu Kogen and the upper station is Tsurumi Sanjo. Adult bus fare is ¥500 each way, or ¥1,000 round trip; buy the ropeway ticket separately. Timetable services marked 不 skip the ropeway, so choose your return bus first.
Beppu City official tourism: ropeway fares and hoursOita tourism association: ropeway stop and stationsRoute 36 weekday timetableSeparate timetableCurrent combined fare table
Lake Kinrin · 金鱗湖
Lake Kinrin金鱗湖
Continue to Lake Kinrin if you want a waterside break during a Yufuin street walk. Allow separate time to explore the lakeside and rest at a cafe. Mist sometimes rises from the water on cold mornings, but weather may keep it from appearing. Allow half a day for a return walk from the station and lunch. Cafes and private facilities cost extra. If using a ryokan shuttle, leave time to return to the station.
- HoursDistinguish lakeside walks from cafe and shop hours. Autumn/winter morning mist may not appear, depending on temperature and weather.
- Getting thereWalk from Yufuin Station toward Yunotsubo Street. The city tourism map estimates about 25 minutes to Lake Kinrin, but shopping, photos and breaks are not all included in that 25-minute walk.
Prefectural tourism agencyCity tourism map
Usuki Stone Buddhas · 臼杵石仏
Usuki Stone Buddhas臼杵石仏
Look closely at the faces and poses of Buddha figures carved into rock at Usuki Stone Buddhas. The National Treasure figures are arranged in several groups, allowing comparisons as you follow the viewing route. Allow a day for return travel and visiting from Beppu. The itinerary below uses a booked sightseeing taxi from Usuki Station to the figures and back to the station. JR and taxi costs are additional to the subtotal.
- AdmissionAdmission is ¥550 for high school students and older and ¥270 for elementary and junior high school students.
- HoursThe site is listed as open 9 a.m.–5 p.m., year-round; last admission is 4:30 p.m.
- Getting thereBook Usuki Station → Stone Buddhas visit → Usuki Station with the sightseeing taxi company by the preceding day, then choose Beppu return trains. The facility's official map estimates about 15 minutes by taxi from the station. The current city free-choice course runs July 1, 2026–March 31, 2027; ¥7,000 for two hours is per vehicle. Daily vehicle numbers are limited. Agree on station pickup, visiting time and return train when booking. JR and taxi costs are excluded from the subtotal.
Stone Buddhas official bus/taxi access and admissionFacility admission and accessStone Buddhas official station-to-facility access mapUsuki tourism association: 2026 sightseeing taxis and preceding-day bookingUsuki taxi operator's 2026 plans
Usa Jingu Shrine · 宇佐神宮
Usa Jingu Shrine宇佐神宮
Usa Jingu retains a history in which shrine worship and Buddhism developed together. Learning how the two faiths combined can help you understand the site as you walk its worship approach. Take a bus from Usa Station to Usa Hachiman, then walk the approach. Allow a day for return travel and worship, separate from Usuki.
- AdmissionWorship is free; parking costs extra. Do not assume all associated facilities are free.
- HoursThe upper shrine is accessible 6 a.m.–6 p.m., with New Year exceptions. Check official guidance for the area you plan to visit and access hours on your date.
- Getting thereTake a Yokkaichi-direction bus from Usa Station-mae to Usa Hachiman. Cross toward the shrine at the Usa Jingu-iriguchi intersection on National Route 10, then follow Nakamise, Shirobashi, Omotesando and Usa Torii to the main shrine area. Retrace the approach to the stop and take a Bungo-Takada-direction bus via Usa Station-mae. Check onsite restrictions and date-specific weekday/weekend timetables. JR and bus fares are excluded from the subtotal.
Tourism association access and hoursOperator weekday/weekend timetables: Usa Station-mae ↔ Usa HachimanUsa City official Usa Hachiman stop and worship approach map
Frequently asked questions
Does a hells ticket include bathing?
No. It is an admission ticket for viewing hot springs bubbling up. For bathing, check your accommodation or bathing facility's separate fees and hours.
Can I walk to all seven hells?
The five facilities around Kannawa are about 3 km from the Chinoike and Tatsumaki pair. This itinerary uses buses to visit the two groups separately.
Will I see mist at Lake Kinrin every morning?
No. Mist sometimes rises from the water on cold mornings, depending on temperature and weather. Plan for a lakeside walk that you can enjoy even without mist.
How do adult fare ages differ for the hells, ropeway and Stone Buddhas?
The hells charge the adult fare from high school age, the ropeway from junior high school age, and the Stone Buddhas charge the general admission fare from high school age. Check each facility's age categories separately.
Combined ticketBeppu City official tourism: ropeway fares and hoursFacility admission and accessStone Buddhas official bus/taxi access and admission
Does the Beppu Ropeway ticket include bus fares?
The ¥1,800 round-trip ropeway ticket and ¥1,000 route 36 bus round trip between Beppu Station's west side and the ropeway are separate. Mini/Wide bus passes do not replace the ropeway ticket. Choose the mountain descent time together with a return bus that serves the stop.
Beppu City official tourism: ropeway fares and hoursRoute 36 weekday timetableSeparate timetableCurrent combined fare tableKamenoi Bus official My Beppu Free
Official sources and check dates
- Combined ticket ·
- Access to both groups of hells ·
- Prefectural tourism agency ·
- City tourism map ·
- Facility admission and access ·
- Tourism association access and hours ·
- Route 5 toward APU: timetable ·
- Kamenoi Bus official My Beppu Free ·
- Route 36 weekday timetable ·
- Separate timetable ·
- Current combined fare table ·
- Beppu City official tourism: ropeway fares and hours ·
- Oita tourism association: ropeway stop and stations ·
- Stone Buddhas official bus/taxi access and admission ·
- Stone Buddhas official station-to-facility access map ·
- Operator weekday/weekend timetables: Usa Station-mae ↔ Usa Hachiman ·
- Usuki tourism association: 2026 sightseeing taxis and preceding-day booking ·
- Usuki taxi operator's 2026 plans ·
- Usa City official Usa Hachiman stop and worship approach map ·