Exploring Beppu on Two Wheels

This month, we explored Beppu by electric bicycle. With an electric bicycle, you can go wherever you want, even to the mountains! There are many attractive places in Beppu! We will share how to explore Beppu by electric bicycle in a day!

E-biking in Beppu is a great way to explore the city and its many attractions. With a variety of rental shops to choose from, it’s easy to find an e-bike that’s right for you. Once you’re on your bike, you can pedal along the coast, visit the hot springs, or explore the many temples and shrines.

Today’s tour: Beppu Station west exit -> Beppu park -> Global Tower -> Otobaru Falls -> Asami Shrine -> Beppu Station

First, we visited Beppu Park, a popular spot for locals to relax, located about a 15-minute walk from the west exit of Beppu Station. With a circumference of about 1.7 kilometers, it’s a large park. Be ready to do some walking if you want to see it all.

We stopped at Beppu Park for a refreshing break on our journey through Beppu. It was a beautiful day, and the park was full of people enjoying the sunshine and fresh air. Events are also held regularly at Beppu Park, making it an important place for citizens to gather and celebrate.

The park is filled with a variety of plants, including cherry blossoms and plum blossoms in the spring, and a lush bamboo grove the whole year. As I stroll through the park, I feel a sense of contentment and my eyes instantly relax as they absorb the lush greenery that surrounds me. It’s the perfect place for unwinding and relaxation.

In the park, there are monuments about the history of Beppu Park and Mr. Kumahachi Aburaya, who contributed to the development of Beppu tourism, and we learned about the history of the park and Beppu tourism. Did you know that Beppu City was the first to offer bus guided tours? We realized that Mr. Kumahachi’s involvement in these new initiatives helped Beppu develop into what it is today.

Mr. Kumahachi’s hand in actual size is on display, and its size is astonishingly large. Please visit Beppu Park and see for yourself!

Beppu Park is the perfect place to refresh yourself. In spring, cherry blossoms bloom in vibrant hues, creating a breathtaking spectacle. In summer, the lush bamboo forest provides a serene environment for visitors to escape the heat. In autumn, leaves turn brilliant shades of yellow, orange, and red, painting the park in a canvas of autumnal beauty. In winter, Trees are wrapped in “komomaki,” a traditional Japanese method of protecting pine trees from pests. Komomaki looks like a muffler wrapped around a tree, adding a whimsical touch to the winter landscape.

No matter the time of year, Beppu Park is a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of Beppu.

E-Biking in Beppu – 2. Global Tower

Our next stop is Global Tower, conveniently located near Beppu Park. In Global Tower, you can enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of all of Beppu from the observatory, which is perched more than 100 meters above the ground. 

Enjoy taking beautiful photos for your friends!

From the Global Tower, you can see just how vast Beppu Park is.

The entire green area is Beppu Park! Observing Beppu from a different perspective offers a whole new experience of the city. It allows me to appreciate the layout and gain a fresh perspective on the distribution of houses, residential areas, and commercial districts. Since Beppu was spared from the fires of World War II, the city has countless narrow alleys that have existed since ancient times. A labyrinth of paths winds through the city, and walking through Beppu’s streets, one can feel the atmosphere of the old days.

The sunset in Beppu displays a different color every day, and each color is more stunning than the last. If you see a sunset color that interests you, be sure to visit the Global Tower! You’ll be rewarded with unexpected scenery that will take your breath away.

If you have time, take a few minutes to sit back and relax on the observation deck. Enjoy the view and try to spot all of Beppu’s famous landmarks. And be sure to take your camera! You won’t want to miss the opportunity to capture these stunning views.

E-Biking in Beppu – 3. Otobaru Falls 

Our next destination is Otobaru Falls! The flowers along the way were so beautiful, especially the cosmos blooming on the roadside. They seemed to be telling us that autumn is coming!

From the sign at the entrance, it takes about 20 minutes to walk to the waterfall.

Singing frogs and colorful flowers attracted us. But, we should be careful because the way is very narrow!

Now, we finally reach Otobaru Falls! It was utter serenity. Ren, Yuzu, and Pami walked to get closer to the Otobaru Falls! They said near Otobaru Falls it is much colder. 

Because of the waterfall, they seemed like they were drowning. But, they said the scenery and sound of the waterfall were very gorgeous.

We looked at the Otobaru Falls and felt the greatness and power of nature. When water falls from a high place, it generates tremendous force and energy. Through this, we experience the grandeur of nature that is hard to feel in everyday life. 

The water of the waterfall is always flowing. And it is swept away by any obstacle. Looking at the waterfall, we learned about life, continuing to flow, and finding a new path even when faced with difficulties.

E-Biking in Beppu – 4. Hachiman Asami Shrine

The final destination of our day trip is Hachiman Asami Shrine, a place of serene beauty and historical significance. Asami Shrine is one of the Bungo Ichinomiya shrines, a highly prestigious group of shrines. Other Bungo Ichinomiya shrines include the USA Shrine.

Hachiman Asami Shrine is dedicated to the kami (gods) Hachiman, the guardian deity of warriors, and his wife, Hime Okami. The shrine was founded in the early 8th century and has played an important role in Beppu’s history and culture ever since.

There are two big trees standing next to each other along the path to the shrine. It is like a massive gate of the shrine with the towering height into the sky. The local people call these two trees as “The Ceder Couple.” 

It is believed that if two people pass under these two cedars, they will tie the knot.

How was our Beppu Bicycle tour? If you have a bicycle, there are limitless areas that you can explore inside the Beppu. You can rent a bicycle at WCB so, why don’t you explore the places that you have not ever known? 

Our one-day Journey had ended with the Asami Shrine. This trip took 3 hours and a half with the electronic bicycle. If you want to feel nature and take a leisurely trip, we highly recommend taking a trip by bicycle! 

(Nanatsuishi Onsen)

We also have a special experience by participating in the regular hot spring-cleaning activity conducted by the Beppu Hatto Onsen Road Meijin-kai. There are numerous hot spring facilities in Beppu, each of which is cleaned by hand. We were excited to be able to experience the cleaning of hot springs. By this chance, let’s take a look at what the cleaning looks like!

These are photos before we clean. Usually, there are people who clean the bathtub every day, this time, we experience the full cleaning routine.

We thoroughly cleaned every place including the dressing room, shoe storage, ventilation fan, etc., and it wasn’t an easy task. This reminded us of our elementary school days.

Here are layers of dust and grime that take time to get rid of.

Yet, in the process, we came to understand the profound history and enduring love that people have had for this hot spring over the years. 

It was a laborious but fulfilling experience that allowed us to connect with the rich heritage of this cherished place.

The residents were not only teaching us how to clean the place but also telling us lots of interesting history within the area.

After cleaning, we received a special gift from Beppu Hatto Onsen Road Meijin-kai. 

Participating in the hot spring cleaning was a truly memorable experience. As we scrubbed and polished, we felt a deep connection to the place and its community. At the same time, I realized how difficult and time-consuming it is to clean a hot spring. Beppu is known for its affordable and accessible hot spring baths, and partaking in this experience gave me a unique insight into the dedication of those who maintain these facilities.

Yuzu: Riding an electric bicycle is the best way to explore Beppu! I never thought I could visit mountain areas without renting a car, but thanks to electric bicycles, I was able to enjoy a memorable one-day trip with my colleagues. This journey has helped me discover a new dimension of Beppu’s hospitality.

Seohyun: The Beppu bicycle tour was a wonderful experience of exploring nature and discovering new places. Through this bicycle tour, I could enjoy the surrounding scenery and explore nature while feeling the wind. I was able to immerse myself in the journey, listening to the sounds of the landscape and nature. Moving through challenging and diverse terrains on the bicycle also provided a sense of achievement. Although I couldn’t personally experience the onsen cleaning experience due to personal reasons, I would like to try it with everyone if possible at the next opportunity.

Ren: October’s activities allowed us to experience local experiences in Beppu. In particular, cleaning up the hot springs was a fresh experience, something that is not often possible even for those living in Beppu City. It was also a good opportunity for me to realize that I am very grateful for the cheap access to the hot springs that are so close at hand in Beppu City.

We are getting used to working with WCB and learning more about Beppu. The mission is not an easy one, but we will do our best to produce something tied to our activities. Thank you very much for reading our monthly report.