33.3° N
Oita, Japan
A hot-spring town on Beppu Bay. In Kannawa and Myoban steam comes up out of the ground, and there are a kitchen that steams food in it and huts where yunohana bath salt is made. Bamboo craft, wagashi, and the restaurant that calls itself the home of toriten — Rin’s picks.
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Where Rin would go
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Made in Beppu
Beppu bamboo craft is the only craft in Oita designated a traditional craft by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. A bamboo mill founded in Beppu in 1908 still makes bamboo goods, and the city’s Traditional Bamboo Crafts Center shows the craft.
Kitahama & Beppu Station
A maker of bamboo material and bamboo goods, founded in Beppu in 1908. Craftsmen make the pieces by hand from Oita bamboo. Enquiries are taken on weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm; closed on weekends and holidays.
RinBuy the bamboo tumbler through the link on the official site.
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Made in Beppu
In Kannawa you set the food on a colander, put it in a steam kettle where steam of about 100 degrees rises, and close the lid. That is jigoku-mushi. At Jigokumushi Kobo Kannawa you steam it yourself, and at Mushicharou the course is cooked in hot-spring steam.
Kannawa
A jigoku-mushi kitchen on the Ideyu slope in Kannawa. Put the food on a colander, set it in a kettle where steam of about 100 degrees comes up, and close the lid. No bookings; people are called in the order of their number tickets. Closed on the third Wednesday of each month (the next day if it is a holiday).
RinNo bookings. Take a number and wait.
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Made in Beppu
Yunohana is a natural bath salt from the Myoban hot spring. Its way of making goes back to the Edo period, and in March 2006 it was designated a national Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property. At Myoban Yunosato you can watch the making in the yunohana huts for free.
Myoban
A maker and direct seller of medicinal yunohana in Myoban. The way of making it is a national Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property, and the yunohana huts can be seen for free (9:00 to 17:30). There are also an open-air bath and a shop.
RinSee the huts where yunohana is made, then buy it.
Kitahama & Beppu Station
A shop in Tatemachi with makers’ tableware and glass, clothing and cloth, paper, books and old tools. It also has a bamboo curry spoon and holds solo exhibitions. Open 11:00 to 17:00 on weekdays and 10:00 to 17:00 on weekends and holidays; closed on Wednesdays.
RinStart with the bamboo curry spoon. Closed on Wednesdays.
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Ishigaki & Shonin
A wagashi shop in Ishigaki. At the counter it sells fresh sweets made by hand every morning, seasonal jo-namagashi, red-bean rice and mochi. Open 9:00 to 18:00; closed on Wednesdays, and on some Tuesdays in the month.
RinThe fresh sweets are made each morning. Go in the morning.
Ishigaki & Shonin
A wagashi shop that began with a Western-and-Japanese confectioner the first owner opened in Shanghai in 1909. After the third generation moved it to Higashisoen, its monaka Tsurumi no Mine became known. Open 9:00 to 17:00; closed on Mondays.
RinStart with the monaka Tsurumi no Mine.
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Kannawa
A restaurant in Kannawa serving courses that combine jigoku-mushi and medicinal cooking. The soup is made with hot-spring steam alone, without water. Booking by phone by the day before only; up to 20 seats; cash only.
RinBook by phone by the day before. Bring cash.
Ishigaki & Shonin
A shop in Jissoji-cho for Oita home cooking and sweets. Handmade, hand-pulled dango-jiru, toriten, yaseuma dusted with soybean flour, and mochi dishes. Open 10:00 to 21:00 (last order 20:30), with no regular closing day.
RinThe Furusato set has dango-jiru, yaseuma and toriten in one meal.
Ishigaki & Shonin
Founded in 1926. The restaurant that calls itself the home of toriten, an Oita home dish based on Chinese cooking. The main shop is in Ishigaki-higashi and is closed on the second Tuesday of each month.
RinOn weekends and holidays, from 3 to 5 pm, only the honke toriten is served.
By area
Rin is a fictional traveller. Every place here was checked by the editors to exist and be open (checked 2026-11-11). Please confirm hours on the official site before you go. Paid listings are always marked.
To see — art and sights (landmarks)
Sights · Kitahama & Beppu Station
Takegawara Onsen
A municipal hot spring founded in 1879. The present building dates from 1938 and has a karahafu gable on the front. Besides the ordinary bath there is a sand bath, taken in a yukata under warm sand.
Closed on the third Wednesday of each month (18 November). Ordinary bath 6:30 to 22:30; sand bath 8:00 to 22:30 (last entry 21:30). The sand bath cannot be booked.
Sights · Ishigaki & Shonin
Beppu City Traditional Bamboo Crafts Center
A city facility showing the history and work of Beppu bamboo craft, the only craft in Oita designated a traditional craft by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. It has exhibition rooms and a museum shop; the hands-on classes need a booking.
Closed on Mondays (the next day if it is a holiday) and from 29 December to 3 January. Open 8:30 to 17:00 (museum shop until 16:30).
Sights · Kannawa
Umi Jigoku
The largest of the Beppu Jigoku. The cobalt-blue water is about 98 degrees, and its blue comes from iron sulphate dissolved in the spring. It is a nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty.
Open 8:00 to 17:00 every day of the year. The shared ticket for all seven jigoku is valid on the day of purchase and the next day.
Sights · Kannawa
Kannawa Mushiyu
A municipal steam bath said to have been founded by the priest Ippen in 1276, in the Kamakura period. You lie on sekisho herbs spread over the floor of a stone room heated by the hot spring.
Closed on the fourth Thursday of each month (26 November). From 1 October to 31 January open 7:30 to 19:30 (last entry 19:00). The steam bath is for junior high school age and older.
These are landmarks, not Rin's picks. Each was checked to be open on its official site (checked 2026-11-11). Please confirm hours before you go.