Tourists flock to 'spa city' full of thousands of hot springs and 8 'hells'

08 December 2023 , 11:01

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Steam rises up from the thermal springs throughout the city of Beppu in Japan (Image: Getty Images)

Cities are full of hustle and bustle, but sometimes the sheer amount of things to see and do can be overwhelming; but in one lesser-known spot, there are hundreds of natural spas where you can go to escape it all. 

Beppu may not always be top of the list when people are planning Japan holidays but that could be about to change soon, as it's been named the top trending destination in Booking.com's Travel Predictions 2024 report. 

The spa resort city sits on the southern coast of Kyushu Island, and is famed for the thermal springs that can be found tucked away amongst its buildings. 

It's estimated that there are around 2,000 hot springs in the region; it's even earned the title of the 'Onsen Capital of Japan' as it's believed to have more natural hot springs than anywhere else in the country. Images of the city can be pretty striking with clouds of steam rising up amongst all of the residential and office blocks. 

The Umi Jigoku hot spring in Beppu (Getty Images)

With the report showing that 75% of travellers find instant relaxation by the water's edge, the spa city is tipped to become a popular destination for Brits. It's already a firm favourite with locals and other international visitors, with over four million visitors estimated to stay in the city each year. 

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The Booking.com team explain: "Nestled between Beppu Bay and dramatic volcanic mountains, Visitors looking to immerse themselves in Japanese bathing culture can replenish in nutrient-rich water, sand, steam and even mud baths, or head to the 'Hells of Beppu', a collection of eight spectacular geothermal springs from hot bubbling mud to a geyser shooting off every 30 minutes."

It's worth noting that if you want to visit the Hells of Beppu, you can do so but you won't be able to take a dip in the waters as they're boiling hot! But even without a dip, it makes for a pretty incredible day out especially with the dense green surroundings and picturesque scenery to be found. 

The Hells of Beppu are a must-visit (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Travel insiders also recommend heading to Jigoku Mushi where travellers can steam their own food using kama, Japanese vats heated by the onsen waters for a unique dining experience.

It's not just the waters that make Beppu well worth a visit though. For adventurers, a trip to Mount Tsurumi needs to be on the cars. You can take the Beppu Ropeway a casual 4,510 feet above the ground, for some pretty incredible views of the surrounding scenery. 

Visiting Japan got a little easier for Brits this year, as the country lifted the last of its Covid restrictions in April. The Foreign Office updated its advice at the time explaining: "All travellers arriving into Japan from 29 April will no longer be required to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination or a COVID-19 test result for travellers who are not vaccinated. The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs websites have details of the entry requirements for all travellers to Japan, including the ‘fast track’ entry system. Rules may be subject to change at short notice." 

You can find out more in the Foreign Office's Japan travel advice. 

Julie Delahaye