Okumyoban Sanso is a hot spring at a traditional style wooden house, surrounded by nature in the foothills of Beppu. Here you can enjoy a natural hot spring for only 550 yen. The hot spring is rustic. It is made of wood with Beppu stone flooring. Would you like to try it?
The way to Okumyoban Sanso
To visit Okumyoban Sanso, take a Bus from Beppu station and get off at the Yuyama bus stop.
After you get off, take a 10 minute hike to Okumyoban Sanso. On the way, enjoy the nature surrounding you and look over the meadow toward the mountain range.
(What is this thatched hut? Check more information here: Onsen Bath Salts: Beppu’s Yunohanagoya)
One the way to Okumyoban Sanso
When you get closer to the Okumyoban Sanso, you can see the hot spring steam rising and can smell the sulfur floats in the air. I felt like I was in a fairyland.
After the short hike, you will reach the entrance of Okumyouban Sanso. It has the exterior of a traditional Japanese wooden house. Walking across the courtyard, ring the door bell and the owners will come out to welcome you.
Did you notice the character on the sign? Yu-kichi-kun, Okumyoban Sanso’s character was created by the owner. This is the staff’s handwritten original mole character, Yukichi-kun, it’s really cute and gentle.
Most bathing areas in Japan are open to the public, but each of Okumyoban Sanso’s baths are all private. There are indoor and outdoor hot springs. Either one costs 550 yen per person for a one-hour rental. You can also rent a towel here for 50 yen.
The picture above is an indoor hot spring. Even on a rainy day, you can enjoy the hot spring comfortably. I went on a sunny day, so I chose the outdoor hot spring. The huts of the hot spring are made of wooden boards, and the floor is made of unpolished natural stone. It naturally blends in with the surrounding scenery and makes you feel very peaceful.
Enjoy the Onsen
When you enter the hot spring area, there is a wooden shelf for your clothes and personal belongings on. Shower gel and shampoo, two small chairs, and small basins are available. There is no shower inside, so you will need to use a tub to rinse your body with hot spring water, which is the traditional way to enjoy hot springs in Japan. When you’re done, you can go into the hot springs.
The hot spring here is a simple spring, with some white hot spring sediment floating in the water. It has a faint smell of sulfur. When I was there the hot spring temperature was comfortable; I won’t feel cold even in winter.
From the hot spring, you can enjoy the forest in the distance and the eaves of the traditional Japanese houses nearby along with the blue sky. The water gushes out from the spout of the hot spring and makes a gurgling sound. The constant gushing of water ensures that the hot spring is always at the preferred temperature.
After bathing in the hot spring, you don’t need to take a shower. You may choose to just towel off.The locals believe leaving the hot spring elements on your body for the skin and health.
After coming out of the hot spring, you may feel thirsty or hungry. At this point, you can go back to the main house to enjoy the hot spring steamed eggs and pudding.Do not forget to drink plenty of waters.
Okumyoban Sanso’s pudding is steamed with hot spring steam.
The eggs are steamed in the natural hot spring steam at 130 degrees celsius. Eggs absorb the hot spring ingredients which gives them a unique color and flavor. I recommend eating the eggs with a sprinkle of salt.
I was curious as the owner was ladling a water basin into a container and filtering it. She said she was making the original “Yunohana”, a local hot spring powder. They make it by hand in a traditional way. The pure, and natural hot spring powder is produced by directly filtering the hot spring water, and drying the filtered material in the hot spring steam stove.
You can buy this powder”Yunohana” here and take it back to your home; simply sprinkle it into your bath to experience the hot springs of Beppu.
This hot spring also has overnight accommodations. You can experience the traditional Japanese house and enjoy its hot springs and steamed food. It is tranquil at night, and you can enjoy the starry sky in the hot spring. If you stay at this accommodation, you can also use the steam cooker for cooking any food you choose to bring.
If you want to come to enjoy Okumyoban Sanso, please visit Wander Compass Beppu which is located at Beppu station, the staff will give you the information to get there. Why don’t you enjoy Onsen at Okumyoban Sanso?
Basic Info
OPEN ： 10:00〜20:00 (Close on Tuesday)
FEE ： 550 yen per person
TATTOO ： Allowed
