> ## 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. # Beppu Hell Tour Hotels: Where to Stay for Jigoku Meguri - URL: https://www.nipponstays.com/beppu-hell-tour-hotels/ - Published: 2026-07-13T22:43:35.000Z - Updated: 2026-08-18T22:34:39.000Z - Description: Choosing a hotel for Beppu's jigoku meguri? Kannawa ryokans walk to 5 of 7 hells; the ANA InterContinental pairs luxury with a bus-in city day. - Author: Hideaki - Tags: Beppu, Hotels, #2027-02-beppu-01, Onsen & Ryokan The best base for the Beppu hell tour depends on how much walking you want. Stay in Kannawa — at Kannawaen (from ¥48,000) or the renovated Oniyama Hotel (from ¥14,850 per person with meals) — and five of the seven jigoku are walkable. If you want a resort experience and don't mind busing in, the [ANA InterContinental Beppu Resort & Spa](https://www.agoda.com/ana-intercontinental-beppu-resort-spa%5F2/hotel/beppu-jp.html?cid=1968926&tag=beppu-hell-tour-hotels&ref=nipponstays.com) (from ¥60,000) on the hilltop works for a 2-night stay. The answer changes if budget is the priority: station-front hotels from ¥8,000 put you 15–20 minutes by bus from Kannawa. Of the 5 hotels in this guide, 3 are in the Kannawa district and within walking distance of at least five of the seven Beppu hells (checked July 2026). ## Short Answer: Where to Base for the Hell Tour Choosing Beppu hell tour hotels comes down to one question: do you want to walk to the hells, or bus in from a more comfortable base? Stay in Kannawa to walk to five of the seven jigoku, base at a station-front hotel and take a local bus (around 15–20 minutes), or stay at the ANA InterContinental Beppu Resort & Spa on the hilltop and bus in on your city day. The Kannawa option gives you the most convenience for the hells themselves. The hilltop resort gives you the best overall Beppu experience if you're spending 2 nights. *Some links in this guide are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.* One thing to be clear about before you book: the seven hells of Beppu are **viewing-only hot springs, not bathing spots**. Temperatures reach around 99°C. You walk a circuit, view the geothermal features, and move on. There is no bathing at any of the seven jigoku sites. | Name | Base | Price range | Best for | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- | | [Kannawaen](https://www.trip.com/hotels/beppu-hotel-detail-7630643/kannawaen/?Allianceid=9711325&SID=327049682&trip%5Fsub1=beppu-hell-tour-hotels&trip%5Fsub3=D19118969&ref=nipponstays.com) | Kannawa (walk to hells) | from ¥48,000; varies by season | Immersive Kannawa stay, walk to Umi Jigoku | | [Beppu Kannawa Onsen Oniyama Hotel](https://www.trip.com/hotels/beppu-hotel-detail-1652284/oniyama-hotel/?Allianceid=9711325&SID=327049682&trip%5Fsub1=beppu-hell-tour-hotels&trip%5Fsub3=D19120579&ref=nipponstays.com) | Kannawa (walk to hells) | from ¥14,850 per person with meals; varies by season | Renovated Kannawa ryokan, 6 hells walkable | | [Kappo Ryokan Kannawa Bettei](https://www.trip.com/hotels/beppu-hotel-detail-6306254/kappo-ryokan-kannawa-bettei/?Allianceid=9711325&SID=327049682&trip%5Fsub1=beppu-hell-tour-hotels&trip%5Fsub3=D19118983&ref=nipponstays.com) | Kannawa | from ¥60,000 per room (meals incl.); varies by season | Small luxury ryokan, private in-room onsen | | [Kamenoi Hotel Beppu](https://www.trip.com/hotels/beppu-hotel-detail-706107/beppu-kamenoi-hotel/?Allianceid=9711325&SID=327049682&trip%5Fsub1=beppu-hell-tour-hotels&trip%5Fsub3=D19121048&ref=nipponstays.com) | Beppu Station front | from ¥8,000; varies by season | Budget-friendly, 5-min walk to Beppu Station | | [ANA InterContinental Beppu Resort & Spa](https://www.agoda.com/ana-intercontinental-beppu-resort-spa%5F2/hotel/beppu-jp.html?cid=1968926&tag=beppu-hell-tour-hotels&ref=nipponstays.com) | Hilltop, Kannawa area | from ¥60,000; varies by season | Luxury stay with infinity pool + onsen; bus to hells | ## What Jigoku Meguri Actually Is The seven hells of Beppu are naturally occurring geothermal hot springs — some vivid cobalt blue, one blood-red, one steaming through a muddy grey crust — that have been developed as outdoor viewing parks. You pay, walk a short circuit around each one, read the signage, and then move on to the next site. None of them permit bathing, and none should be touched. Five of the seven hells are clustered in the Kannawa district: - Umi Jigoku (Sea Hell) — vivid cobalt blue - Oniishibozu Jigoku — grey bubbling mud - Shiraike Jigoku — milky white water - Kamado Jigoku — multiple pools with steam demonstrations - Oniyama Jigoku — home to crocodiles in the steam The other two, Chinoike Jigoku (Blood Pond Hell, deep red) and Tatsumaki Jigoku (Geyser Hell), are about 3 km south in the Shibaseki district and require a short bus or taxi hop to reach. ## The Combined Ticket, Timing, and What to Expect The combined admission ticket for all seven hells costs ¥2,400 for adults and ¥1,200 for children, and is valid for the day of purchase and the following day. You can start at any hell and visit them in any order. Individual entry per hell costs ¥400 if you prefer to pick just a few. Budget 2 to 2.5 hours to cover all seven, including the bus hop between the Kannawa cluster and the Shibaseki pair. If you're walking the Kannawa five from a Kannawa ryokan and then catching a bus to Shibaseki, the day comes out around 3 hours total, which fits neatly into a morning or afternoon. A jigoku-mushi (steam-cooked food) lunch at the Kannawa Steam Cooking Center makes a good mid-tour break. The jigoku mushi workshop uses the same geothermal steam to cook eggs, vegetables, and meats — bring cash and expect a wait at peak times. ## Staying in Kannawa: Walk to Most Hells If the hell tour is the main reason you're in Beppu, Kannawa is the logical base. Umi Jigoku is a 5-min walk from Kannawaen; five of the seven hells are walkable from any Kannawa accommodation. In the evenings the steam rising off the streets and the quieter pace give Kannawa a different atmosphere than the station-front strip. **Kannawaen** is a traditional ryokan with all rooms featuring private hot spring baths drawing from the local myoban source. The public bath on the top floor was renovated in August 2024\. Shuttle service from Beppu Station is available with advance reservation. Rates from ¥25,000 per person; varies by season. **Beppu Kannawa Onsen Oniyama Hotel** sits at the heart of the Kannawa geothermal sites, with six of the eight hells in the area within walking distance. The property completed a full renovation in February 2025, adding new room types with private onsen and refurbishing public areas including baths and dining. Rates from ¥14,850 per person with meals; varies by season. Day bathing for non-guests is available from 15:00–17:00 at ¥1,000. **Kappo Ryokan Kannawa Bettei** is the smallest and most upscale Kannawa option — six rooms only, each with a private in-room hot spring bath. Rates run from around ¥70,000 per room including two meals; book 3–4 months ahead as availability disappears quickly on peak weekends. It's within walking distance of the hells and the bus stop for onwards transit. See also: [our full Kannawa onsen ryokan guide](https://www.nipponstays.com/where-to-stay-in-kannawa-onsen/) ## Station-Front Hotels: Bus to the Hells Beppu Station is around 15–20 minutes by local bus from Kannawa and the hells. Buses run regularly from the station's bus terminal, making the station-front a workable base even for a day focused on jigoku meguri — you'd just build the bus time into your morning. **Kamenoi Hotel Beppu** is a 5-min walk from Beppu Station (West Exit), with public hot-spring baths and sauna. Rates from ¥8,000; varies by season. Good if you're combining Beppu with onward travel or arriving by the Limited Express Sonic from Fukuoka/Hakata (\~2 hours). The station's bus terminal connects directly to Kannawa for the hells. ## The ANA InterContinental Beppu: Luxury Base, Bus to the Hells The [ANA InterContinental Beppu Resort & Spa](https://www.nipponstays.com/ana-intercontinental-beppu-review/) sits on the hilltop between the city and the Kannawa onsen district, which means the hells are accessible by bus — roughly 10–15 minutes depending on traffic. This is not a walk-to-the-hells base, but the resort offers everything else a 2-night Beppu stay benefits from: the infinity pool with Beppu Bay views, two public onsen (myoban water, alternating daily between men's and women's), five spa treatment rooms, and three dining venues. The resort opened in 2019 and has 89 rooms and suites. Atelier — the dinner-only venue — seats 21 at a counter and offers French-inspired cuisine using local Oita ingredients; reservations are essential. Elements provides all-day dining including breakfast and a terrace with mountain views. The property received a Michelin Key Hotel selection in 2024. The practical case for the InterContinental as a hell-tour base: designate one full city day for jigoku meguri, Takegawara, and Kannawa walking. Bus to Kannawa in the morning, cover the hells and lunch, then return to the resort for the infinity pool before dinner at Atelier. Your arrival night fills naturally with check-in, the pool, and the onsen. Two nights, nothing rushed. Helicopter transfer from Oita Airport to the resort is an option. For current operator details, pricing, and availability, contact the hotel directly; this service is not bookable through standard channels. Rates from ¥60,000 per room; varies by season. Book dining at Atelier well ahead. ## Getting to Beppu for the Hell Tour The realistic access options: - **From Oita Airport:** The Oita Kotsu "Air Liner" bus takes approximately 50 minutes to Beppu Kitahama / Beppu Station; fare is ¥1,600\. Six direct buses per day serve Beppu Station. Oita Airport is genuinely far from Beppu — the bus is the realistic option, but 50 minutes each way eats into a short itinerary. - **From Fukuoka/Hakata:** Limited Express Sonic runs to Beppu in approximately 2 hours. If you're already in Fukuoka, this beats flying via Oita door-to-door. Verify current fares at JR Kyushu before travel. For a hell-tour day, arriving at Beppu Station and busing to Kannawa by 9:00 leaves enough time to cover all seven hells, jigoku-mushi lunch, and some Kannawa wandering. See: [our Beppu 2-day itinerary](https://www.nipponstays.com/beppu-2-day-itinerary/) ## Fitting the Hell Tour into a 2-Night Plan One night in Beppu is not enough. Arrival from the airport eats your first afternoon; check-in, settling in, and one dinner take the evening. That leaves exactly one full day for everything: the hells, Takegawara, Kannawa, and whatever resort amenities you came for. In practice, one of those things gets cut. Two nights makes it workable: Day 1 is arrival, check-in, and a first dinner. Day 2 is the full city day — jigoku meguri in the morning, jigoku-mushi lunch in Kannawa, Takegawara in the afternoon (see: [area overview](https://www.nipponstays.com/where-to-stay-in-beppu/)). That schedule holds whether you're walking from a Kannawa ryokan or busing in from the hilltop resort. ## Practical Constraints - **No bathing at the hells** — viewing only. Combined ticket (¥2,400 adult, ¥1,200 child) valid for two days. - **Bus timing:** Check Oita Kotsu's schedule before planning. Start early to beat tour-bus crowds at Kannawa. - **Tattoo policy:** Beppu's official map lists 100+ tattoo-friendly facilities. Hyotan Onsen and Kannawa Steam Bath accept tattooed guests without restriction. Check individual facilities before arriving. - **Onsen photography:** Bathing areas are no-photography zones at all facilities — hotel, public, and private. This is standard etiquette. - **Cash:** Bus fares, smaller Kannawa facilities, and the jigoku-mushi workshop typically require cash. - **Rates vary by season** at all properties listed. ## Comparison: Hell Tour Bases at a Glance | Name | Base | Price range | Best for | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- | | [Kannawaen](https://www.trip.com/hotels/beppu-hotel-detail-7630643/kannawaen/?Allianceid=9711325&SID=327049682&trip%5Fsub1=beppu-hell-tour-hotels&trip%5Fsub3=D19118969&ref=nipponstays.com) | Kannawa | from ¥48,000; varies by season | Walk to hells, ryokan onsen, traditional atmosphere | | [Beppu Kannawa Onsen Oniyama Hotel](https://www.trip.com/hotels/beppu-hotel-detail-1652284/oniyama-hotel/?Allianceid=9711325&SID=327049682&trip%5Fsub1=beppu-hell-tour-hotels&trip%5Fsub3=D19120579&ref=nipponstays.com) | Kannawa | from ¥14,850 per person with meals; varies by season | Renovated mid-range, 6 hells walkable | | [Kappo Ryokan Kannawa Bettei](https://www.trip.com/hotels/beppu-hotel-detail-6306254/kappo-ryokan-kannawa-bettei/?Allianceid=9711325&SID=327049682&trip%5Fsub1=beppu-hell-tour-hotels&trip%5Fsub3=D19118983&ref=nipponstays.com) | Kannawa | from ¥60,000 per room (meals incl.); varies by season | Upscale 6-room ryokan, private onsen in every room | | [Kamenoi Hotel Beppu](https://www.trip.com/hotels/beppu-hotel-detail-706107/beppu-kamenoi-hotel/?Allianceid=9711325&SID=327049682&trip%5Fsub1=beppu-hell-tour-hotels&trip%5Fsub3=D19121048&ref=nipponstays.com) | Beppu Station front | from ¥8,000; varies by season | Budget-friendly with onsen, bus to Kannawa | | [ANA InterContinental Beppu Resort & Spa](https://www.agoda.com/ana-intercontinental-beppu-resort-spa%5F2/hotel/beppu-jp.html?cid=1968926&tag=beppu-hell-tour-hotels&ref=nipponstays.com) | Hilltop / Kannawa area | from ¥60,000; varies by season | Luxury 2-night stay; infinity pool, Michelin Key, bus to hells | ## 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. Comparing providers? See our [Japan eSIM guide](https://www.nipponstays.com/best-esim-for-japan/). - **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 ### Can you bathe in the Beppu hells? No. The seven jigoku are viewing-only geothermal hot springs at temperatures around 99°C. The combined ticket (¥2,400 adult, ¥1,200 child) covers viewing only. ### How long does the full hell tour take? Allow 2–2.5 hours for all seven, including a short bus transfer between the five Kannawa hells and the two Shibaseki hells (Chinoike and Tatsumaki). Start early to beat group tour arrivals. ### Is Kannawa the best base for jigoku meguri? For pure access, yes — five hells are walkable from Kannawa ryokans. If you want a resort experience, the ANA InterContinental Beppu is 10–15 minutes by bus and works better as a 2-night base. ### Do Beppu's onsen accept tattoos? Beppu's official map lists over 100 tattoo-friendly facilities. Hyotan Onsen and Kannawa Steam Bath both accept tattooed guests without restriction. Check individual facilities, especially smaller public baths, before visiting. ### How do you get from Beppu Station to Kannawa? Local buses from Beppu Station's bus terminal reach Kannawa in 15–20 minutes. Taxis from the station rank take around 15 minutes. --- **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/)*.*