Hyotan Onsen ひょうたん温泉

Beppu is renowned as a hot spring destination, and Hyotan Onsen is the only onsen in Japan to have been awarded three stars by the Michelin Green Guide Japon seven times in a row. Boasting special water famous for its moisturizing qualities and featuring ten kinds of baths including outdoor, cypress, waterfall, steam, rock, sake, and cooling—visit this onsen for luxe bathing.

Hyotan Onsen is most conveniently reached by train.

The closest train station is Beppudaigaku Station, a 30-minute journey from Beppu Station. Reach Beppu Station from Hakata, Oita, Miyazaki, Hitoyoshi, and neighboring areas.

Hyotan Onsen was founded in 1922. It takes its name from a nearby observation tower that was shaped like a gourd, or hyotan in Japanese. The company developed its own bamboo cooling system which cools the hot spring water from 100 to 45 degrees Celsius before it flows into the baths.

For those who would prefer privacy, six outdoor baths and eight indoor baths are available for private rental. The bath water is changed each time, and you can adjust the water temperature to your liking.

Family baths can be used for one hour and and reservations are advised. Wearing bathing suits in the family baths is permissible.

Bathing in natural sand heated by the steam of the hot springs is said to promote general health and wellbeing because it heats the body slowly. Don a yukata and try burying yourself or a friend in the hot sand for fresh and glowing skin.

Aside from bathing, you can try making steamed tofu using the steam from the hot spring and drink from a lucky hot water faucet. Meals, snacks and refreshments are available at on-site facilties.