Hoshino Resorts KAI Beppu, a hot spring inn in Beppu Onsen, Oita Prefecture, is offering the "Beppu Retro Hot Spring Tour" again from December 1, 2026 to November 30, 2027. Beppu is ranked first in Japan for both hot spring output and number of springs, and is said to have more than 100 community hot springs known as Jimo-sen (ジモ泉), which are managed and used by local residents and vary widely in temperature and water quality (Beppu Hatto Onsen-do official website). This year's plan adds a new course for visiting them. After learning the basics of Jimo-sen, guests set out with a Jimo-sen tour set holding the "Jimo-sen Companions," the essentials for bathing. Back in an ocean-view guest room, they can enjoy KAI Beppu's original Jimo Beer and Yukemuri Ice Cream while planning which Jimo-sen to visit next with the "Jimo-sen Tora no Maki" guide. The plan is a way to experience Beppu's hot springs while strolling the retro streets, rather than going to a sauna or a regular public bath.
Background
Beppu Onsen, where KAI Beppu is located, ranks first in Japan for both the number of springs and hot spring output. More than 100 community baths called Jimo-sen are scattered around town, and visitors can experience 7 of the 10 hot spring water types in everyday settings. Beppu's hot spring town flourished through the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa eras, and many retro buildings that recall those days still remain. The look of the Jimo-sen reflects that historic atmosphere.
Even so, some travelers have said things like, "I would like to visit a Jimo-sen, but I'm a little worried because I don't know the bathing manners, local customs, or what to bring," and "Entering a local neighborhood feels like a high hurdle." KAI Beppu developed this plan to ease those worries so guests can set out to visit Jimo-sen with confidence. Following last year's edition, the plan returns with updated content.
Feature 1: Learn the Basics of Jimo-sen With "Tehodoki & Jimo Tour"
Staff who know the area's hot springs well explain the customs of the Jimo-sen and tips for bathing (tehodoki, or "instruction"). Because hot springs are part of daily life here, local residents use the Jimo-sen regularly. The program covers consideration for local users, how to bathe comfortably, and the different features and effects of each type of water quality, helping guests feel ready to enjoy Beppu's hot springs without stress. After learning the basics, guests visit a Jimo-sen on the "Jimo Tour" to deepen their understanding.
Feature 2 (NEW): Original Bamboo Basket for Repeated Free Entry to Takegawara Onsen, and a Jimo-sen Tour Set With a Tenugui Explaining the Rules
Guests receive a Jimo-sen tour set with items needed for visiting the community baths, such as a wash basin and soap. The set also includes an originally designed tenugui (hand towel) that explains Beppu's Jimo-sen rules in an easy-to-follow way, so guests can review the etiquette while soaking in the bath.
New this year is an original KAI Beppu bamboo basket. Carrying it gets guests into the historic Takegawara Onsen (竹瓦温泉) free of charge, as many times as they like.
Feature 3 (NEW): Cooling Down With an Ocean View, and the "Jimo-sen Tora no Maki" for Planning the Next Bath
After visiting the Jimo-sen, guests can cool down in their guest room. To refresh after the bath, the plan offers "YUAGARI PILS," a craft beer made by BEPPU BREWERY, along with "Yukemuri Ice Cream" (steam ice cream), topped with a meringue cookie that resembles the steam rising from Beppu's hot springs. This "Jimo Beer" and "Yukemuri Ice Cream" set gently cools the body after a hot soak. All rooms at KAI Beppu face the ocean, so guests can relax in private while watching the waves change.
Also new is the "Jimo-sen Tora no Maki," a guide that covers a map of the Jimo-sen in the Beppu area, the features of each bath, and a chart to help find the hot spring that suits you. Planning the next bath against the backdrop of the blue sea is part of the experience.
Recommended Jimo-sen From KAI Beppu
Takegawara Onsen (竹瓦温泉) — 5-minute walk from KAI Beppu
Founded in 1879 (Meiji 12), the bathhouse is said to have been named Takegawara ("bamboo tile") because the original building had a bamboo roof and it was later rebuilt with a tiled roof. The current building dates from 1938 (Showa 13). The lobby has a high ceiling that keeps the feel of the early Showa period, and there is a lounge area for relaxing after the bath.
Kamiya Onsen (紙屋温泉) — 15-minute walk from KAI Beppu
A historic hot spring that has been running since the early Meiji era. The water can be drunk, and local residents regularly come to collect it. It remains a well-loved community bath that reflects Beppu's hot spring culture and history.
Shibu-no-yu (渋の湯) — 17 minutes by car from KAI Beppu
The water is rich in metasilicic acid, an ingredient also used in cosmetics for conditioning the skin. Visitors can also see the Yumedake (湯雨竹), a structure that cools the hot spring water to a suitable temperature without diluting it. This traditional method uses natural forces and preserves the water's original components. Unlike Takegawara Onsen, which is within walking distance of KAI Beppu, Shibu-no-yu is in the Kannawa Onsen area, offering a different atmosphere and hot spring culture within the same city.
Sample Stay Schedule
Day 1
- 2:00 PM — Check-in
- 2:00 PM — Tehodoki (introduction from staff)
- 2:30 PM — Jimo Tour
- 4:00 PM — Unwind with Jimo Beer and Yukemuri Ice Cream
- 5:00 PM — Onsen Culture Iroha (hot spring culture basics)
- 6:00 PM — Enjoy the night stalls in the dramatic evening hot spring town
- 7:30 PM — Dinner
- 9:15 PM — Local cultural activity: "Toji Jug Band" (湯治ジャグバンド)
Day 2
- 7:00 AM — Modern Toji Exercises (現代湯治体操)
- 7:45 AM — Breakfast
- 9:30 AM — Back to the Jimo-sen
- 12:00 PM — Check-out
Plan Overview
| Plan name | Beppu Retro Hot Spring Tour (別府レトロ湯めぐり旅) |
| Period | December 1, 2026 – November 30, 2027 (some dates excluded) |
| Price | ¥3,500 per person (tax included; accommodation not included) |
| Included | Tehodoki & Jimo Tour, Jimo-sen Companions (bathing essentials in the tour set), Jimo Beer, Yukemuri Ice Cream |
| Capacity | 5 groups per day (1 to 10 guests) |
| Reservations | Required at least 7 days in advance via the official website |
About KAI Beppu
Located in Beppu Onsen, which has the most hot spring sources and the highest output in Japan, KAI Beppu is designed to recall the lively hot spring town. Washi paper lanterns decorate the interior, and a stone-paved "Yu no Hiroba" (hot spring plaza) adds to the atmosphere. Guest rooms are wrapped in sea views that look like paintings and change dramatically with the passing hours.
- Location: 2-14-29 Kitahama, Beppu, Oita 874-0920
- Rooms: 68 rooms in total
- Check-in / Check-out: 2:30 PM / 11:00 AM
- Rates: From ¥32,000 per person per night (based on 2 guests per room; service charge and tax included; dinner and breakfast included)
- Access: About 10 minutes on foot from JR Beppu Station; 45 minutes by car from Oita Airport
- Website: https://hoshinoresorts.com/ja/hotels/kaibeppu/
