Suginoi Hotel sits on a hillside 250 meters above Beppu Bay. Both guest rooms and on-site hot springs offer sweeping views of the sea and mountains from different angles. With three buildings, more than 500 rooms, and three distinct bathing experiences, one of the things that makes this resort special is that travelers of all kinds can find a way to enjoy their stay that suits them. Choices range from a traditional hot spring to a pool where swimsuits are required, allowing families, couples, and groups of friends to enjoy the water together.
Three Buildings: SORA KAN, HOSHI KAN & NIJI KAN
Suginoi Hotel has three buildings, each standing in a different part of the hillside and offering a different style of stay.
SORA KAN (宙館) sits at the highest point on the property. Each room follows one of three color themes drawn from the natural scenery surrounding Beppu: aoumi (blue), named for Beppu Bay; shinrin (forest green), named for Mount Tsurumi; and yūnagi (evening calm), inspired by the still water at dusk. The building blends art with the culture of Oita Prefecture — in the lobby, a large plaster art piece by craftsman Naoki Kusumoto stands 4 meters high and 25 meters wide, and the adjoining SORANIWA garden features monuments inspired by Oita, creating a space that reflects Beppu’s four seasons. The restaurant, TERRACE & DINING SORA, serves a varied menu centered on Western cuisine with Oita-grown ingredients, alongside Japanese dishes such as sushi and sashimi and Chinese cuisine.
HOSHI KAN (星館), opened in January 2025, has a more traditional Japanese design, with the calm and refined atmosphere of a classic onsen ryokan. Its top-floor restaurant has floor-to-ceiling glass walls and a roughly 6-meter-high ceiling with a partial skylight, letting guests enjoy Japanese-style cuisine while looking out at the stars from about 220 meters above sea level.
NIJI KAN (虹館) is a casual and comfortable accommodation building, offering loft-style rooms with Japanese-inspired designs that work well for families and groups. It sits closest to Aquabeat, the seasonal water park, making it a practical choice for guests who value convenience.
Three Hot Spring Zones: Tanayu, Aqua Garden & Sorayu
Suginoi Hotel offers three main hot spring experiences.
Tanayu’s five terraced open-air baths step down the hillside like rice paddies and are enjoyed in the traditional bathing style — separated by gender, with no swimsuits. A recent renovation added a Löyly-style sauna (a dim room scented with aromatic water and mood lighting) and a cold plunge pool, allowing guests to enjoy a hot-and-cold bathing cycle. Oto-no-yu (sound bath) is a bathing room that recreates the sound of hot spring water rising through the ground with surround audio — an atmosphere somewhere between meditation and a documentary film. Together, it’s a facility built for what the hotel calls a Beppu experience that engages all five senses.
Aqua Garden is a swimsuit-required, mixed-gender pool-style onsen suited to a wide range of guests — families, couples, and groups of friends. Beyond the main pool overlooking Beppu Bay, it includes a panoramic spa, jet baths, a vibration pool, a walking bath, a waterfall shower, and a high-salinity floating pool for guests in junior high school or older.
After dark, Aqua Garden holds AQUA DREAMS, a fountain show three times a day. Ten large fountains combine with projection mapping and surround sound, offering a different experience from a typical light show as guests watch the fountains rise right in front of them from inside the pool.
Sorayu, the resort’s highest hot spring at roughly 250 meters above sea level, has an indoor bath with floor-to-ceiling glass, and its open-air bath looks out on Mount Tsurumi and Beppu Bay from a different angle than Tanayu. It’s not available for day use — it’s a hot spring experience reserved for overnight guests.
Entertainment (Other Activities)
Suginoi Hotel’s appeal goes beyond its hot springs and restaurants. Suginoi Palace, a facility within the resort, is packed with entertainment you can enjoy all day regardless of weather or season, so there’s plenty to do even in winter.
At night, alongside Aqua Garden’s fountain show, projection mapping is shown on a wall at Aquabeat. Original footage themed around Beppu’s nature, hot springs, and oni (demon) folklore is projected onto a screen roughly 58 meters long. The show runs three times a day for about 12 minutes each, and is free of charge — an easy stop for overnight guests and visitors to the area alike, and another sight that lights up the resort after dark.
Suginoi Palace offers eight kinds of activities, including bowling and boccia, a universal sport, along with a game corner, karaoke, and a gym. With enough on offer to fill a full day without stepping outside, it also suits travelers who want to enjoy Oita’s crisp winter air without worrying about the cold while staying warm indoors.
Visiting in summer, don’t miss Aquabeat, the seasonal outdoor water park with a wave pool and slides.
Hours, Day Use & Practical Info
| Facility | Day-use hours | Swimwear | Tattoos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tanayu (棚湯) | 9:00 AM–11:00 PM (last entry 10:00 PM) | Not permitted | Not permitted |
| Aqua Garden | 11:00 AM–10:00 PM | Required | Not permitted |
| Sorayu | Hotel guests only (no day use) | Not permitted | Not permitted |
| Aquabeat | 2026 season: April 25–September 30. Standard hours: 11:00 AM–6:00 PM; extended to 9:00 AM–6:30 PM from mid-July through the end of August | Required | Not permitted |
Hours and day-use rates vary by season — always check Suginoi Hotel’s official page for the latest rates.
A private bath themed around Oita and Beppu culture also opened on June 1, 2026 — one more option for guests who’d rather not share the space with other visitors.
Getting There from Beppu Station
Suginoi Hotel runs a free shuttle from Beppu Station, taking about 10 minutes — the easiest option if the schedule lines up with your plans (check departure times on the official site). A taxi also takes about 10 minutes.
The address is 1 Kankaiji, Beppu, Oita Prefecture 874-0822.
If you’re staying at SORA KAN, HOSHI KAN, or NIJI KAN, keep in mind that the three buildings are spread across the hillside — the two farthest buildings are about a 10–15 minute walk apart. A resort shuttle also runs between the buildings, which is worth using for getting from one building to another, such as from NIJI KAN to the SORA KAN lobby.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Can you use the hot springs without staying overnight? Yes. Tanayu and Aqua Garden both accept day-use guests. Tanayu is open 9:00 AM–11:00 PM (last entry 10:00 PM), and Aqua Garden runs 11:00 AM–10:00 PM. Sorayu, located at the resort’s highest point, is reserved for SORA KAN guests and eligible HOSHI KAN guests. Day-use rates change with the season, so check the official site for current pricing.
Q2. Are tattoos allowed? No. Both Tanayu and Aqua Garden prohibit tattoos, in line with most public bathing facilities in Japan. Beppu has more than 100 tattoo-friendly onsen elsewhere in the city if this is a concern.
Q3. Do I need a swimsuit? It depends on the facility. Both Aqua Garden and Aquabeat require one (rental starts at ¥440). Tanayu follows the traditional Japanese bathing style, with no swimsuits and separate areas for men and women.
Q4. How do I get there from Beppu Station? The free shuttle takes about 10 minutes, and a taxi takes roughly the same amount of time. The Kamenoi Bus takes about 30 minutes but costs less. It’s worth checking the shuttle schedule on the official site before you leave.
Q5. Is Aquabeat open year-round? No, it’s seasonal. In 2026 it runs April 25 through September 30, with extended hours from mid-July through the end of August. Day-use guests need to buy tickets online in advance; access is included for overnight guests.
Q6. What should I know about visiting with kids? Both Aqua Garden and Aquabeat welcome families, and NIJI KAN is designed with families in mind. Many of Aquabeat’s slides require a minimum height of 120 cm, so it’s worth checking in advance. Weekday mornings tend to be less crowded than weekend afternoons.
Q7. How can I combine this with other sights in Beppu? Pair it with Kannawa, about 15–20 minutes away by local bus, where you can try jigoku-mushi — a cooking method unique to geothermal hot spring towns that steams vegetables, eggs, and seafood using the heat of the earth. It’s a way to experience two very different sides of Beppu’s hot springs in a single day.
