Your Hot Spring Vegetarian Japan Extravaganza

Beppu & Yufuin, Oita Prefecture, Japan

Activities

The public baths were a Japanese attraction I was most excited to try out. I travelled by train from Kyoto to Beppu, which is on the island of Kyushu in Southern Japan. Beppu is a popular destination for locals to escape the city and enjoy hot springs. And with over 2,000 onsens (Japanese hot baths), there are many to choose from! From local public baths, to outdoor natural hot springs, and even sand baths, I recommend trying them all. 

Beppu is famous for the Hells of Beppu which are beautiful scenic hot springs. They aren't for bathing, but rather are a unique tourist attraction signature to the town. All walking distance from eachother, the seven hells (AKA "Jigoku") each have their own story. One called Umi-Jigoku has mystically blue water and a lily pond and greenhouse next to it, another called Chinoike-Jigoku has clay so hot that the steam is bright red. Oniyama-Jigoku, the fourth Hell, is called "crocodile hell" where crocodiles were first bred in 1923 using the hot spring's warmth. Today, it still features dozens of crocodiles... And I'm not going to lie, it felt sad seeing so many crocodiles in captivity, so go for a weird attraction but skip it if you aren't into that kind of thing. 

Two train rides away is the town of Yufuin, another hot spring town famous for looking just like a Studio Ghibli movie scene. It offers more boutiques and museums than Beppu, and some travelers come here to hike Mount Yufu. While strolling down the main road of Yunotsubo, Lake Kinrinko is walking distance and offers another peaceful spot to rest and enjoy nature. And a trip to Yufuin wouldn't be complete without visiting an onsen. My favorite one I visited in Yufuin was called Musouen Onsen, and has a beautiful view of the town. The best time to go is first thing in the morning, when the mist still hovers over the houses and the bath was completely empty. This outdoor onsen is connected to a ryokan, but is open to the public for a small fee (about $10 USD). And of course I enjoyed more onsen pudding after my bath at their cafe. 

Lodging 

In Beppu, I stayed in a guesthouse that I found on AirBnb, which was walking distance from the train/bus station. I loved this spot not only for its central location, but also because it felt like home! The host and guests were so kind and welcoming, and made my trip to Beppu even more memerable. 

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/35080841?source_impression_id=p3_1603065697_MZRm8N1i3MwmPAe8

Places to Eat: 

My favorite place to eat in Beppu was at Jigoku Mushi Kobo. For a unique dining experience, you can bring your own groceries or purchase them there, and have the opportunity to steam your food from the heat of the hot springs. I brought fish, mushrooms, eggs, and corn to cook, and it was interesting to see how the hot springs can be used in daily life apart from bathing. 

A must-try local specialty in Oita Prefecture is Onsen Pudding! It's cooked with the volcanic hot springs and has a delicious and rich flavor. You can pick some up when you visit the Hells, and try a hot spring soft-boiled egg too.