Beppu has more hot spring sources and a greater volume of hot spring water than anywhere else in Japan. But sheer volume is only part of the story. Japanese hot springs are classified into 10 types based on their chemical composition, and 7 of those 10 can be found within Beppu’s city limits. This guide is for first-time visitors: it covers the color, smell, and feel of each type, how to choose the one that suits you, and how to bathe safely and get the most out of every soak.
Why Beppu Is Known as an Onsen Powerhouse
Beppu sits in Kyushu, a region with active volcanoes, and the city is home to eight onsen districts known as Beppu Hatto (“the eight hot spring areas of Beppu”), scattered along two fault lines. Groundwater filters through the earth and picks up different minerals before it rises to the surface, so the water can vary a great deal from one district to the next, even within the same city. That’s why Beppu is often called a “department store of hot springs.”
Beppu’s Onsen by the Numbers (Source: Beppu City official website, “Onsen Encyclopedia,” as of the end of March 2025)
- Total hot spring sources: 2,831 (No. 1 in Japan)
- Total flow: approx. 101,856 liters per minute (No. 1 in Japan)
- Types of hot spring water: 7 of Japan’s 10 onsen classifications are found in Beppu
The 7 Types of Onsen You Can Find in Beppu and Their Benefits
Japanese onsen are classified into 10 types by their chemical composition. Seven of them have been confirmed in Beppu. The remaining three (carbon dioxide springs, iodine-containing springs, and radioactive springs) have not been confirmed here.
Here’s a look at the seven types you can try in Beppu, including what each one looks, smells, and feels like.
Simple Onsen: Gentle on the Skin and Easy for First-Timers
Simple onsen contain relatively low levels of minerals, so the water is clear, colorless, and mild. Because it’s gentle on the skin, it’s an easy choice for first-time bathers, people with sensitive skin, and families with children. Traditionally, people have turned to it to ease fatigue and unwind.
Chloride Onsen: Warming Water That Keeps the Chill Away
Chloride onsen contain salt similar to seawater, and the water is usually clear, ranging from colorless to faintly yellow. The salt forms a thin film on the skin, which helps you stay warm long after you get out. Traditionally, these hot springs have been valued for their warming effect by people who tend to feel the cold.
Bicarbonate Onsen: For Smooth Skin After Your Soak
This water helps soften excess oil and dead skin cells on the surface of the skin, which is why it’s sometimes called a “beauty hot spring.” Traditionally, it has been known for leaving skin feeling smooth after a soak.
Sulfate Onsen: Known for a Silky Feel
The water ranges from clear and colorless to faintly yellow, and it can feel slightly silky. Traditionally, it has been valued for helping keep the skin smooth.
Iron Onsen: Water That Turns Reddish-Brown
The water is colorless when it first comes out of the ground, but once it meets the air, the iron oxidizes and turns it reddish-brown.
Acidic Onsen: Strongly Acidic Water With a Kick
This water is strongly acidic, and depending on other components such as sulfur, it can turn milky white or bluish. It can be somewhat harsh on the skin, so keep your soaks short. If you have sensitive skin, ease in and see how your skin reacts.
Sulfur Onsen: Milky Water With an Unmistakable Smell
Sulfur onsen are known for their distinctive rotten-egg smell and water that ranges from milky white to pale blue. You’ll catch the smell all around the Myoban Onsen area. Traditionally, this water has been known to leave the skin smooth, and the area is also famous for yunohana (“hot spring flowers”), mineral deposits produced in special huts called yunohana-goya and used to make natural bath additives.
Which Onsen Should You Try? Find the One That Suits You
If it’s your first time in Beppu, we recommend trying them in this order.
- New to onsen, or have sensitive skin → Start with Simple Onsen. It’s gentle and a good way to get your body used to hot spring bathing.
- Want to shake off travel fatigue → Chloride Onsen. The salt helps hold in the heat and warms you to the core.
- Want to improve your skin’s condition → Bicarbonate or Sulfate Onsen. You’ll likely notice how smooth your skin feels afterward.
- Want to try something distinctive → Iron Onsen. With its iron content, it’s one of Beppu’s more distinctive types of onsen.
- Experienced bathers looking for water with character → Acidic or Sulfur Onsen. The stronger smell and sensation make for a memorable soak.
How to Bathe Safely and Get the Most Out of Your Soak
To really feel the benefits of an onsen, it helps to know the right way to bathe.
- Drink water before you bathe. You tend to sweat more in hot water, and going in dehydrated makes you more likely to feel lightheaded.
- Rinse yourself with kakeyu (scooping hot water over your body) first, then ease in slowly. Don’t immerse yourself up to your shoulders right away. Let your body adjust in stages: feet, then knees, then hips.
- Don’t stay in too long. Acidic and Sulfur Onsen in particular can be somewhat harsh on the skin, so pay attention to how your skin feels and get out early.
- Let your body cool down naturally after you get out. Whether to rinse off in the shower afterward depends on the type of onsen, so follow the guidance at each facility.
Safety note (please read): If you’re feeling unwell, have a fever, have been drinking, are pregnant, or have concerns about your heart or blood pressure, we recommend consulting a doctor before bathing or simply skipping the bath rather than pushing yourself. The spring characteristics described in this article are based on traditional knowledge and are not a guarantee of any medical benefits.
For a more detailed guide to onsen bathing, we also recommend this article: https://enjoyonsen.city.beppu-jp.com/onsen/howtotakeonsen/#Key_Onsen_Manners_A_Quick_Dos_and_Donts_Guide
Practical Info: Where to Try Each Type of Onsen in Beppu
Type of Onsen: Where to Try It
- Simple Onsen: Hamawaki Onsen
- Chloride Onsen: Kannawa Onsen Netsu no Yu (free municipal public bath)
- Bicarbonate Onsen: Kaimonji Onsen
- Sulfate Onsen: Beppu Showaen “Kin no Yu” (open-air bath at a ryokan)
- Iron Onsen: Yumotoya Ryokan (overnight guests have priority)
- Acidic Onsen: Beppu Onsen Hoyoland (indoor mud bath is not open to children of elementary school age or younger)
- Sulfur Onsen: Myoban Yunosato
Please check each facility’s official website for prices, opening hours, and the latest information.
FAQ
Q1. How many hot springs does Beppu have?
A. According to the “Onsen Encyclopedia” on the official Beppu City website (as of the end of March 2025), the city has 2,831 hot spring sources with a combined flow of about 101,856 liters per minute. Beppu is one of Japan’s largest hot spring areas.
Q2. What types of onsen can I try in Beppu?
A. Japanese onsen are classified into 10 types based on their chemical composition, and 7 of them have been confirmed in Beppu: simple, chloride, bicarbonate, sulfate, iron, acidic, and sulfur springs. Carbon dioxide, iodine-containing, and radioactive springs are generally not available in Beppu.
Q3. Which type of onsen should a beginner try first?
A. We recommend starting with a Simple Onsen, which is gentle on the skin. Municipal public baths like Hamawaki Onsen are inexpensive, and they give you a close-up look at how locals bathe.
Q4. Are there times when I shouldn’t bathe in an onsen?
A. If you’re unwell, have a fever, have been drinking, are pregnant, or have concerns about your heart or blood pressure, it’s best to consult a doctor before bathing or skip the bath rather than push yourself.
Q5. Are the benefits of onsen medically proven?
A. The characteristics of each spring type described in this article are based on traditional knowledge and do not guarantee any medical or therapeutic effects. If you have a chronic condition, talk to a doctor beforehand rather than relying on your own judgment.
Q6. I’m not a fan of the smell of sulfur. Will I still be able to enjoy Beppu’s onsen?
A. The Sulfur Onsen in the Myoban Onsen area do have a distinctive smell, but if you start with Simple or Chloride Onsen, which have a milder smell, you can enjoy Beppu’s onsen without any trouble.
Q7. Can anyone use the mud bath facilities?
A. Conditions vary by facility. For example, children of elementary school age or younger can’t use the indoor mud bath at Beppu Onsen Hoyoland. We recommend checking the latest conditions on the official website before you go.
