The 10 Best Hot Springs (Onsen) You Must Visit in Oita, Japan

Oita is famous not only for its delicious ramen noodles, but it is also famous for accommodating many great onsen facilities and ryokan as well. We have picked up 10 onsen facilities in Oita that are worth to visit!

1. Myobanyu no Sato

Myobanyu no Sato is located in the Myoban Onsen area, one of the most famous onsen cities in Oita prefecture.

Established since Edo period, Myobanyu no Sato was registered as a National Important Cultural Assets by the Japanese government in 2006. Famous for its great quality of hot springs, Myobanyu no Sato also enhances your health by promoting your blood circulations.

At Myobanyu no Sato, you can relax yourself while enjoying the scenic view of the nature from its huge open-air bath. After relaxing in the hot springs, you can have a cold cider, steamed egg, and onsen pudding at the souvenir shops, or you can have your meal at the restaurants as well!

2. Nagayu Onsen

Nagayu Onsen is one of the most famous onsen cities in Oita, and it is famous for its great quality of carbonated hot springs!

You can find many different carbonated hot springs at Nagayu Onsen, and among all of them Ramune Onsen is our favorite.

At Ramune Onsen, you can enjoy two different baths: indoor (42℃) and outdoor (32℃) public baths. Private baths are available for reservations as well, and both public and private baths have very thick substance of carbonic acid (1000 mg/l). Carbonated springs enhance your health by promoting the blood circulations, and loosening stiff muscles as well.

You can drink carbonated springs as well, and many people in Japan drink carbonated springs to enhance their heart and digestive healths. Ramune onsen sells the carbonated springs in a plastic bottle, so you can buy them as souvenirs for your family back home!

3. Sujiyu Onsen

MT. Waita’s spring is famous for its great quality and one of the most famous onsen cities in Oita was built in that area a thousand years ago. The three most famous public bath facilities in that cities are: Utase Daiyokujo, Yakushiyu, Iwanyu.

Utase Daiyokujo is famous for its great Sujiyu spring, which supports your health by loosening stiff muscles and shoulders. There are a lot of onsen spa and hotels at Utase Daiyokujo, but our favorite is Hojuya.

Hojuya is an old ryokan built in Meiji period, and it is famous for its authentic Japanese traditional atmosphere and huge open-air Sujiyu bath!

4. Hita’s Koto Hira Onsen

Hita is famous for its great onsen ryokan, which most of them are located nearby the Mikuma River. There are 7 onsen ryokan in that area, but our favorite is Koto Hira Onsen’s Yume Sansui.

Surrounded by the greens, Yume Sansui is located nearby the Takase River and it accommodates 4 open-air baths and 16 private baths for the families. Guests can relax themselves in Yume Sansui’s huge open-air bath while staring at the scenic view of the nature.

You can also use the open-air bath for free only on the weekdays by spending more than JPY 1,500 at the yakiniku restaurant next door!

5. Yamaga Onsen

Yamaga Onsen is located at the outskirt of Kitsuki city, and it is famous for its great quality of natural hot springs, which are rich in minerals, carbon dioxide, and iron.

The open-air bath at Yamaga Onsen is very big, and guests can enjoy relaxing themselves while listening to the sounds of birds and insects.

Yamaga Onsen also accommodates restaurant that serves delicious lunch and dinner as well! Located within 40-minute drive from Beppu city, Yamaga Onsen is definitely worth to stop by when visiting Oita!

 
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6. Yunohira Onsen

Located within 25-minute drive from JR Yufuin Station, Yunohira Onsen is an onsen city with more than 800 years of history. The area currently accommodates more than 20 ryokan and 5 public baths.

Kin no Yu is the oldest public bath in Yunohira Onsen, and Naka no Yu has the best view of the nature compared to other public baths in this area. Suna Yu is famous for its high quality hot springs that is rich in minerals, and Gin no Yu is famous for its hot springs that is rich in silver dust. Hashimoto Onsen is the widest public bath in Yunohira Onsen, and this public bath is a favorite destination for the families visiting Oita!

During the Yunohira Onsen Festival in May, guests can enjoy relaxing at 4 public baths for free as well!

7. Amagase Onsen

Located in Hita, Amagase Onsen is one of the most famous onsen cities in Oita. Found in 8th Century, Amagase Onsen is famous for accommodating many different types of natural hot springs from sulfur, chloride, to hydrogen carbonate.

With more than 1,300 years of history, Amagase Onsen accommodates many onsen ryokan, and among of all, Tensui is our favorite. Tensui offers 21 spacious rooms decorated with Japanese traditional ornaments and furniture. Some rooms are equipped with open-air bath and fireside, so guests can enjoy an ultimate relaxation just by staying in their rooms.

Tensui also has a huge public open-air bath available for its guests only, public bath for visitors and 5 private baths for the family as well!

8. Kankaiji Onsen

Kankaiji Onsen is located in Southwest of Beppu, and it offers a great view over Beppu city since it is located on top of a hill. The area accommodates many onsen ryokan and hotels, and among of all Suginoi Hotel is our favorite place to visit!

At Suginoi Hotel, you can enjoy dipping yourself into its spacious stacked onsen bath, consisting 5 different types of onsen bath. The highest level is an indoor bath, the second highest is a half open-air bath, and the other levels are open-air baths.

You can enjoy the scenic view of the entre Beppu city from Suginoi Hotel’s stacked onsen, and we strongly recommend you to reach the stacked onsen before the sunset to enjoy the breathtaking sunset view and night view of Beppu city!

In addition to the stacked onsen, you can aso enjoy Fangotherapy, Salty Sauna, and many other facilities at Suginoi Hotel!

9. Usuki Onsen

Usuki Yu No Sato is the only onsen facility in Usuki city, and it is famous for its great onsen baths and for serving Usuki city’s blowfish, Seki Aji, Seki Saba, and Bungo beef.

Usuki Yu No Sato is famous for its natural sulfate onsen, which smoothens your skin and promotes your blood circulation at the same time. Usuki Yu No Sato is also famous for its spacious and dynamic open-air bath.

Usuki Yu No Sato also accommodates Usuki Daibutsu in its area, where you can see 70 golden Buddha statues. There is also Usuki Stone Buddhas, a National Important Asset of Japan, which can be reached within 15-minute walk or 2-minute drive from Usuki Yu No Sato.

10. Yufuin Onsen

Yufuin Onsen is the most famous onsen city in Oita, and the area accommodates more than 100 onsen facilities including hotels, ryokan, and spas that are worth to stop by. Among all of these facilities, Yufuin Sansuikan is our favorite spot to visit!

Yufuin Sansuikan accommodates both open-air bath onsen and indoor bath, where guests can enjoy the scenic view of Mt. Yufu.

The facility also accommodates a restaurant serving both Japanese and Western lunch buffet, where guests can enjoy eating more than 30 different types of dishes and desserts!

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Let’s Enjoy Best Hot Springs (Onsen) in Oita!

Besides its famous and delicious ramen noodles, Oita is famous for its huge collection of great onsen facilities. Accommodating more than 4,000 onsen facilities, you can enjoy an ultimate relaxation in Oita by visiting one of its day onsen spa or by staying at one of its fabulous onsen ryokan and hotels!