> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.nipponstays.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # ANA InterContinental Beppu Review: Is the Hilltop Resort Worth It? - URL: https://www.nipponstays.com/ana-intercontinental-beppu-review/ - Published: 2026-07-13T22:48:42.000Z - Updated: 2026-08-09T22:31:30.000Z - Description: ANA InterContinental Beppu Resort & Spa review: infinity pool, HARNN Spa, two restaurants — is it worth the price? Yes, but only for 2 nights. - Author: Hideaki - Tags: Beppu, Luxury Hotels, #2027-02-beppu-01, Onsen & Ryokan This ANA InterContinental Beppu review covers the resort that sits above the city on a hilltop overlooking Beppu Bay — Japan's only internationally branded five-star property in Beppu. It's worth the price, but only if you commit to two nights. One night gets you check-in, dinner, and a morning soak. Two nights gives you the infinity pool, the HARNN Heritage Spa, fine dining at Atelier, and a full day to explore the city. Book for one night and you'll leave having used maybe half of what you paid for. *Some links in this guide are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.* The honest limitation upfront: the resort is 20 minutes by shuttle from Beppu Station. It's a deliberate retreat, not a transit base. Plan your city days around the shuttle schedule rather than expecting to walk out the front door into Beppu. The ANA InterContinental Beppu has 89 rooms and suites — including 10 suites — spread across a single hilltop building, with 3 restaurants, a bar, and a 5-treatment-room spa, all confirmed open as of July 2026. ## At a Glance: How the Resort Compares | Name | Area | Price range | Best for | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------ | ----------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- | | [ANA InterContinental Beppu Resort & Spa](https://www.trip.com/hotels/beppu-hotel-detail-27391867/ana-intercontinental-beppu-resort-spa-by-ihg/?Allianceid=9711325&SID=327049682&trip%5Fsub1=ana-intercontinental-beppu-review&trip%5Fsub3=D19118255&ref=nipponstays.com) | Hilltop / Kankaiji | from ¥60,000 (rates vary by season) | Couples, honeymoons, resort-stay focus with fine dining and spa | | [Suginoi Hotel](https://www.trip.com/hotels/beppu-hotel-detail-703533/beppu-suginoi-hotel/?Allianceid=9711325&SID=327049682&trip%5Fsub1=ana-intercontinental-beppu-review&trip%5Fsub3=D19120446&ref=nipponstays.com) | Kankaiji hillside | from ¥15,000 (rates vary by season) | Families and resort feel at a mid-range price; large public onsen | | [Kannawaen (Sanso Kannawaen)](https://www.trip.com/hotels/beppu-hotel-detail-7630643/kannawaen/?Allianceid=9711325&SID=327049682&trip%5Fsub1=ana-intercontinental-beppu-review&trip%5Fsub3=D19118969&ref=nipponstays.com) | Kannawa | from ¥48,000 (rates vary by season) | Ryokan atmosphere, private in-room onsen, onsen-town character | *Rates are approximate starting figures and vary by season, room type, and meal plan.* ![Infinity pool and hillside exterior of ANA InterContinental Beppu Resort and Spa](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c2/d8/c2d85794-51e9-4a95-82a1-758e73652b1c/content/images/2026/07/beppu-02.jpg) The infinity pool on a misty morning — even in cloud, the bay-side edge earns its keep. ## The Property ANA InterContinental Beppu Resort & Spa opened in August 2019 as the first international five-star brand in Beppu. The property has 89 rooms and suites — 10 are suites. The small room count keeps service ratios high; this doesn't feel like a convention hotel. The hilltop position in the Kankaiji district is the defining feature. From most rooms and the lobby, you see Beppu Bay, the city spread below, and steam rising from hot spring vents across the city. Select rooms and suites include a private onsen on the terrace — worth prioritizing for a honeymoon or anniversary booking. - 89 rooms and suites (10 suites); opened August 2019 - Hilltop setting, Kankaiji district, overlooking Beppu Bay - Hotel shuttle from Beppu Station: complimentary for guests, approximately 20 min - Taxi from Beppu Station: approximately ¥3,000, 20 min ## Infinity Pool and Onsen The outdoor infinity pool faces Beppu Bay. The water-meets-horizon effect works well, and the pool is heated to around 27°C year-round. Poolside: 12 sun loungers, a sunken lounge with eight sofas, and a jacuzzi. The pool needs a morning or afternoon of its own to use properly — it shouldn't be squeezed in between check-in and a dinner reservation on the same day. The resort's onsen operates two public baths — one for women, one for men, alternating daily — built with Japanese cedar and Beppu stone. The water comes from Beppu's myoban hot spring, a sulfur-rich, milky-white spring. Both baths have outdoor sections among cedar trees with partial bay views. One firm note: onsen interiors are no-photography zones. This is standard visitor etiquette at Japanese hot spring facilities, not an exception at this property. ## HARNN Heritage Spa Separate from the onsen, the HARNN Heritage Spa has five treatment rooms: two single, two couples, one foot massage room. The couples rooms feature hinoki (Japanese cypress) jacuzzis. Treatments draw on Thai-Japanese techniques and local botanicals. Book spa appointments when you book the room; weekend slots fill quickly. ## Dining: Three Restaurants and a Bar **Atelier** is the fine-dining anchor: a counter-only dinner restaurant using a five-elements concept — wood, fire, earth, metal, water — as the framework for its European-inflected cuisine. Ingredients skew local: Beppu Bay flounder, Kuroge Wagyu from Ajimu, Kabosu sea urchin. Reserve as early as possible; popular service periods book out well in advance. The adjacent **The Bar** covers craft gin, Japanese whisky, and Oita shochu. **Elements** is the all-day dining room (110 seats including a terrace) handling breakfast, lunch, and dinner — this is where breakfast is served, and the easy option on arrival day. **Bungomae Musui** focuses on Oita seafood: seasonal catches from the Bungo Channel coastline in sushi and omakase-style courses. A strong choice for the second dinner night. ## Why Two Nights Is the Minimum This is a concrete argument, not a brochure line: **Night 1 (arrival):** You're arriving from Oita Airport (approximately 50-min bus ride + 20-min hotel shuttle) or from Fukuoka by Sonic (\~2 hours). Check in, get oriented, dinner at Atelier. Maybe a late onsen. Night 1 is travel and landing. **Day 2 (city day):** Breakfast at Elements, shuttle to Beppu Station. Jigoku meguri (the hell tour — viewing-only hot springs, not for bathing) takes 2 to 2.5 hours with the combined ticket (¥2,400 adults; ¥2,200 with a discount coupon). Lunch in Kannawa using jigoku-mushi steam cooking. Afternoon: Takegawara Onsen sand bath (from ¥1,500 for 15 minutes). Shuttle back up by evening for dinner at Bungomae Musui. This day is when you actually see Beppu. **Morning of Day 3 (resort checkout):** Pool session or spa treatment before you leave. This is the morning where the infinity pool earns its place in the itinerary without any rush. One night means you skip either the city or the resort's facilities. Neither is a good use of the rate. ## Getting There **From Oita Airport by bus:** The Oita Kotsu Air Liner runs to Beppu Kitahama and Beppu Station in approximately 50 minutes for ¥1,600\. Six direct buses per day serve Beppu Station; the Oita City route also stops at Beppu Kitahama up to 28 times daily. From Beppu Station, take the hotel shuttle (departures roughly hourly from 10:30 to 16:30) or a taxi. Oita Airport is genuinely far from Beppu — 40–50 km on the Kunisaki Peninsula. The bus is the realistic answer for most travelers. Budget a total of about 1 hour 10–20 minutes from plane to hotel. **From Fukuoka/Hakata by Sonic:** The Limited Express Sonic departs Hakata every 30 minutes and reaches Beppu in approximately 2 hours. From ¥5,680 (reserved seat; fare varies by service; Japan Rail Pass valid). This is the practical access route for international travelers flying into Fukuoka, which has far more international connections than Oita. **Helicopter transfer:** A helicopter charter from Oita Airport may be available for guests with the budget — contact the hotel directly for current operator, pricing, and booking details. I'd treat this as an option to inquire about rather than something to plan around without confirmation. ## Practical Notes - **Remote hilltop location:** The hotel shuttle runs roughly hourly until 16:30 from Beppu Station. Evening returns from the city require a taxi (\~¥3,000). Plan city activities to finish before late evening. - **Book Atelier well ahead:** Reserve when you book the room, not the week before arrival. - **Rates vary by season:** Golden Week (late April/May), summer, and the year-end holiday period push prices up considerably. October–November and February–March typically offer better value and availability. - **Onsen tattoo policy:** The resort operates a private hotel onsen rather than a public bathhouse. Contact the hotel directly to confirm current policy if this applies to you. ## The Right Guest for This Resort ANA InterContinental Beppu makes sense if Beppu is a destination, not a transit stop — a honeymoon, an anniversary, or any trip where the hotel is part of the experience. No other property in Beppu combines an infinity pool, HARNN Spa, two distinct restaurants, and a quality onsen at this level. For travelers who want to base-camp and move around independently, a station-front hotel is the better practical choice. See our [Beppu area guide](https://www.nipponstays.com/where-to-stay-in-beppu/) for the full comparison. ## Final Comparison | Name | Area | Price range | Best for | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------ | ----------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- | | [ANA InterContinental Beppu Resort & Spa](https://www.trip.com/hotels/beppu-hotel-detail-27391867/ana-intercontinental-beppu-resort-spa-by-ihg/?Allianceid=9711325&SID=327049682&trip%5Fsub1=ana-intercontinental-beppu-review&trip%5Fsub3=D19118255&ref=nipponstays.com) | Hilltop / Kankaiji | from ¥60,000 (rates vary by season) | Fine dining, spa, infinity pool, anniversary/honeymoon stays | | [Suginoi Hotel](https://www.trip.com/hotels/beppu-hotel-detail-703533/beppu-suginoi-hotel/?Allianceid=9711325&SID=327049682&trip%5Fsub1=ana-intercontinental-beppu-review&trip%5Fsub3=D19120446&ref=nipponstays.com) | Kankaiji hillside | from ¥15,000 (rates vary by season) | Families, large public onsen, mid-range resort atmosphere | | [Kannawaen (Sanso Kannawaen)](https://www.trip.com/hotels/beppu-hotel-detail-7630643/kannawaen/?Allianceid=9711325&SID=327049682&trip%5Fsub1=ana-intercontinental-beppu-review&trip%5Fsub3=D19118969&ref=nipponstays.com) | Kannawa | from ¥48,000 (rates vary by season) | Ryokan feel, private onsen, proximity to hell tour and steam town | *All rates are approximate starting figures and vary by season, room type, and meal plan.* ## Trip Essentials for Beppu Things worth booking before you land, all in English: - **eSIM** — [Airalo's Japan eSIM](https://airalo.tpm.lv/2TWpibQS?ref=nipponstays.com): install it at home and data works as soon as you switch off airplane mode at Oita Airport. - **Tickets and day trips** — [Klook](https://klook.tpm.lv/irphi0kL?ref=nipponstays.com) covers Beppu hells tours and Kyushu rail passes; booking ahead skips the ticket-window line. ## FAQ ### Is ANA InterContinental Beppu worth the price? For a two-night stay where you use the pool, spa, and both main restaurants, yes. For a single-night stopover, the rate is harder to justify when you won't use most of the facilities. The resort earns its price over two nights. ### How do I get from Oita Airport to ANA InterContinental Beppu? Take the Air Liner bus to Beppu Kitahama or Beppu Station (approximately 50 minutes, ¥1,600), then the hotel's complimentary shuttle from Beppu Station (departures roughly 10:30–16:30, approximately 20 minutes). Total time from airport: approximately 1 hour 10–20 minutes. ### What restaurants are at the ANA InterContinental Beppu? Three restaurants plus a bar: Atelier (counter-only dinner, European-influenced cuisine with a five-elements concept), Elements (all-day dining including breakfast), Bungomae Musui (Oita seasonal seafood in sushi and omakase style), and The Bar. For Beppu dining beyond the resort, see our [Beppu restaurant guide](https://www.nipponstays.com/best-restaurants-in-beppu/) and our [luxury onsen resort roundup](https://www.nipponstays.com/luxury-onsen-resort-beppu/). ### Does the ANA InterContinental Beppu offer helicopter transfers? A helicopter charter from Oita Airport has been offered as an option, but it is not listed on the hotel's official pages. Contact the hotel directly (Tel: 0977-66-1000) for operator details, pricing, and booking before planning around it. ### Is the onsen at ANA InterContinental Beppu tattoo-friendly? The resort operates a private hotel onsen rather than a public bathhouse, so the policy may differ from city public baths. Contact the hotel directly to confirm current policy before booking. --- **Information audit:* Last fact-checked July 2026 · Prices checked July 2026 (all rates are “from” floors that vary by season) · *How this guide was researched:* hotel facilities, prices and access details are verified against official and primary sources; we have not personally stayed at every property listed. The author has traveled in this area personally; original photographs on this site are from those trips · How this site verifies information:* [*About NipponStays*](https://www.nipponstays.com/about/)*.*