Best Restaurants in Beppu: Fine Dining, Sushi & Local Food

For the best restaurants in Beppu, book Atelier at the ANA InterContinental Beppu Resort & Spa for a special-occasion dinner — courses from ¥15,000 per person feature Oita wagyu and seasonal local produce in a counter-only open kitchen. If that's above budget, Toyotsune Honten near Beppu Station serves the defining Oita dish (toriten, chicken tempura) from ¥900 for a lunch set. The answer changes if you're based in Kannawa: jigoku-mushi steam cooking at Jigoku Mushi Kobo Kannawa is the right call for lunch on hell tour day.

Of the 5 dining venues covered in this guide, 2 — Atelier and Bungomae Musui at the ANA InterContinental — require advance reservations, while the other 3 accept walk-ins; prices range from ¥900 per person at Toyotsune Honten to ¥15,000 per person at Atelier (checked July 2026).

Short Answer: One Night at the Resort, One Night in Town

Finding the best restaurants in Beppu means looking in two directions at once: up the hill to the ANA InterContinental Beppu Resort & Spa, and down into the city near the station. My suggestion for a 2-night stay is to use both. Reserve Atelier at the resort for your first evening — it's the kind of meal you come to Beppu for. Then on your city day, head into town for toriten (Oita's chicken tempura), sushi from the bay, and jigoku-mushi steam cooking up in Kannawa. You won't run out of options, and you won't repeat yourself.

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See our Beppu area guide for where to base yourself to reach each of these easily.

Fine Dining at the Hilltop Resort

The ANA InterContinental Beppu Resort & Spa, which opened in 2019 with 89 rooms and suites, runs three dining venues with quite different characters.

Atelier (and The Bar)

Atelier is the place to spend serious money and get value for it. The counter-side seats face an open kitchen; the concept draws on Japan's five elements (earth, water, fire, wind, void) and translates that into a seasonal course built around Oita's best produce. A spring menu example: Beppu Bay spring squid, Oita wagyu beef consommé, and charcoal-grilled Bungo wagyu in different cuts. Expect the menu to shift seasonally.

• Seating is counter-only in the atelier section — intimate but worth reserving in advance
• The bar side is more relaxed if you want drinks and smaller plates
• Prices vary by season; book directly through the hotel or via TableCheck
• All-day dining and breakfast happen at Elements, the resort's 110-seat dining room — the hotel's breakfast package is often the most straightforward option before heading out for the hell tour
• Resort guests save themselves the hill logistics — one reason the 2-night structure works: you eat here on night one without worrying about the last bus up

One practical note: the resort's infinity pool and onsen are on-site, and many guests find the evening flows naturally from the pool and bath into dinner at Atelier. That's genuinely hard to replicate if you base yourself down at the station — it's the concrete reason the ANA InterContinental Beppu review consistently recommends two nights rather than one.

Bungomae Musui

Bungomae Musui is the resort's sushi omakase counter — eight seats plus a private room, focused entirely on seafood from the Bungo Channel and the broader Oita coastline. The omakase format changes with what the channel is producing: expect seasonal nigiri shaped around prime local catch, with fish sourced to the specific microenvironments of Oita's coast. The lunch omakase course starts from ¥8,000 per person (tax included, service charge separate); dinner pricing varies. Reservations are essential — book via TableCheck before your trip.

• Children 12 and under are not admitted in Musui — plan accordingly if travelling with family
• Smart casual dress code applies; the counter seats give a clear view of the chefs at work
• A non-alcohol and tea pairing is available if you want a drinks accompaniment without sake

In-Town Dining Near Beppu Station

If you're spending day two in the city — jigoku meguri in the morning, Takegawara sand bath in the afternoon — the Kitahama waterfront area near Beppu Station is your dinner district. It's walkable from the station (the main strip runs roughly parallel to National Route 10, about a 5-min walk from the West Exit).

Toriten: Oita's Defining Dish

Toriten is bite-sized chicken tempura seasoned with ginger, sake, and garlic — lighter and more fragrant than standard tempura, and served with ponzu or mustard-soy. It's everywhere in Oita Prefecture and Beppu is no exception.

Toyotsune Honten near Kitahama is the most cited address for toriten in the city; a second branch is a few blocks closer to Beppu Station if the main location has a queue. Lunch sets with rice and miso typically run from ¥900; prices vary by season and menu.

Sushi and Bay Seafood

Beppu Bay produces good seafood, and the sushi near the station reflects that.

• Waon — a family-run place next to Beppu Port, known for fresh sushi and its own take on Oita specialties. Accessible by a short walk from the waterfront.
• The Kitahama district also has several counter-sushi options; ask your hotel concierge which are taking reservations on a given evening

One specialty worth noting: sakura nigiri (raw horse meat served as nigiri) appears on menus at a few Kitahama spots. It's a regional curiosity — worth trying if you're curious, easy to skip if not.

Kannawa's Steam-Cooked Meals (Jigoku Mushi)

Jigoku mushi — "hell steaming" — is Beppu's most distinctive cooking method. Geothermal steam venting from underground at around 98°C is used to cook food in baskets placed over the vents. The result is naturally seasoned, with nothing added except the steam itself.

Jigoku Mushi Kobo Kannawa (5-2 Miyuki, Kannawa) is the main public steam kitchen where visitors can cook their own meal. You choose a basket of ingredients — seafood, vegetables, Bungo wagyu, Oita chicken — and the staff sets the timer. The seafood-and-vegetable basket runs from around ¥1,800; a premium basket with Bungo wagyu is around ¥2,400. Hours are 10:00–19:00 (last entry 18:00).

• Expect queues on weekends and around the jigoku meguri peak hours (mid-morning)
• The experience pairs naturally with a Kannawa walking loop: steam kitchen for lunch, then communal baths in the afternoon
• Note that the jigoku meguri hells themselves are observation-only — the coloured pools are not for bathing. The steam kitchen is a separate, unrelated activity in the same neighbourhood.

For more on timing Kannawa with the hell tour, see our Beppu 2-day itinerary.

How to Sequence Dinners Across 2 Nights

A practical two-night plan:

• Night 1 (arrival night): Check into the ANA InterContinental, unwind at the onsen or the infinity pool, and dine at Atelier on-site. No transport back up the hill to worry about. Reserve Atelier well in advance — it has limited counter seats.
• Day 2 (city day): Airport bus or hotel shuttle down to Beppu city. Jigoku meguri in the morning (the combined ticket covers seven hells; open 08:00–17:00, ¥2,400 adults (¥2,200 with a discount coupon)). Lunch at Jigoku Mushi Kobo Kannawa. Takegawara sand bath in the afternoon. Early evening in Kitahama for toriten or sushi.
• Night 2: Return to the resort. Bungomae Musui for a sushi omakase if you have a reservation, or a lighter meal at The Bar next to Atelier. The second night is when the resort actually slows down for you — it's much harder to appreciate on a single night when you arrived tired and leave the next morning.

The city buses from Beppu Station area to the resort run until a certain hour; check the return timetable before you commit to a late dinner in town. The hotel also offers a local shuttle — confirm pickup times directly with the front desk when you check in.

Practical Notes

• Resort restaurant reservations: Book Atelier before you travel, not the night before. It fills up, especially on weekends and during holiday seasons.
• Getting to the resort: Oita Airport to Beppu by the Airliner bus takes around 47–51 minutes; the bus stops at Beppu-Kitahama, a few minutes' walk from Beppu Station. From there, the resort runs a shuttle (confirm times at booking). Alternatively, a taxi or ride service up the hill is straightforward. Helicopter transfer is an option — inquire directly with the hotel for operator and availability details.
• From Fukuoka: The Limited Express Sonic from Hakata to Beppu takes around 2 hours 5 minutes and costs from ¥5,680 for a reserved seat (fares vary by service and season); it departs roughly every 30 minutes during the day and is covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
• Rates vary by season: All prices above are starting points. The resort charges significantly more on peak dates (Golden Week, Obon, New Year). In-town restaurants are less variable, but some set menus change seasonally.
• Onsen photography: The resort's onsen baths, Takegawara, and the communal baths in Kannawa all prohibit photography inside the bathing areas. This is standard visitor etiquette across Japan — leave the phone or camera in your locker.
• Tattoo policies vary: Takegawara Onsen allows guests with tattoos (as of 2026 reports). Kannawa's communal steam bath is also reported to be tattoo-friendly. However, policies can change — check directly before visiting, especially at smaller communal baths.

Trip Essentials for Beppu

Things worth booking before you land, all in English:

• eSIM — Airalo's Japan eSIM: 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.
• Tickets and day trips — Klook covers Beppu hells tours and Kyushu rail passes; booking ahead skips the ticket-window line.

FAQ

Do I need to book the resort restaurants in advance?

Yes, for both Atelier and Bungomae Musui. The counter seats are limited at both venues — book directly through the ANA InterContinental Beppu or via TableCheck before your trip, not on arrival. Bungomae Musui has only eight counter seats, so it fills quickly on weekends and holiday periods.

Can I eat at the resort restaurants if I'm not staying there?

In principle, yes — Atelier and Bungomae Musui are open to non-guests subject to availability. In practice, guests get priority for reservations. If you're day-tripping, call ahead or reserve via TableCheck rather than walk in.

Is jigoku mushi steam cooking suitable for dietary restrictions?

Jigoku Mushi Kobo Kannawa works well for gluten-free and seafood-based diets since you're essentially steaming raw ingredients. Vegetarian options (vegetables, tofu) are available. Check with the counter staff on the day for exact options.

Is the Kitahama dining district easy to reach without a car?

Yes. From Beppu Station, the Kitahama area is about a 5-min walk from the West Exit. Most in-town restaurants are within 10 minutes of the station on foot. From the ANA InterContinental, use the hotel shuttle or a taxi down the hill, then walk within the city area.

What's the minimum budget for a good dinner in Beppu outside the resort?

A satisfying local dinner — toriten set or a few sushi pieces with a drink — runs from ¥1,500–3,000 per person at mid-range places near the station. Jigoku mushi lunch at Kannawa is from ¥1,800 for two baskets and rice. The main cost jump is Atelier at the resort, which is in a different tier.

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.