Beppu Bus Guide: Passes, Payment and Practical Tips

JGO! editorial team — WEBMARKS Inc. (Fujisawa, Kanagawa)

For sightseeing by bus in Beppu, check the operator and the return journey before choosing a ticket. Kamenoi Bus accepts cash, nationally interoperable transport IC cards and contactless card payments on its local buses, but its My Beppu Free pass is for Kamenoi routes and cannot be used on Oita Kotsu buses. Pass prices and coverage can change, so check the current seller and the operator’s coverage information before you buy; the official information cited here was checked on 4 November 2026.

The most useful first step is not buying a pass. Write down the places you want to visit, find the outbound and return services, and compare the individual fares with the pass that covers those journeys. A city-centre itinerary may suit the mini pass, while the wide pass is the option Kamenoi directs travellers to consider for trips including the Yufuin or safari directions.

Start with the operator and route

A stop or route search can show services from more than one bus company, so do not choose a ticket based on the destination name alone. Kamenoi’s route information links to Bus Doko Oita, where results may also include Oita Kotsu and Oita Bus services. The company operating each result matters: the My Beppu Free pass cannot be used on Oita Kotsu buses, and it is not a general pass for every bus in Beppu. Check Kamenoi’s route information and its My Beppu Free coverage page before planning around a pass.

Use this sequence to check a journey:

1. Open Kamenoi’s route information and follow its link to the route search.
2. Enter the stop where you plan to board and the stop for your destination.
3. For each result, check the operator, direction and departure time. Do not assume that every result is a Kamenoi service.
4. Search the return journey too, using the date and approximate time you expect to leave.
5. Use the operator’s route-specific timetable and fare information to compare the journeys with the tickets you are considering.

Keep the outbound and return details together. A service found for one date is not automatically the right service for another, and a convenient trip out does not guarantee that the return timing will suit your plans. Before setting off, make sure the route and operator shown in your search match the ticket you intend to use.

For a traveller’s view of a bus-based visit to Beppu’s Hells, see ひとりで国内旅行チャンネル’s Beppu bus trip. Sakura Zensekai’s journey from Beppu Station to Umi Jigoku is another example of a visitor travelling by bus; use the current route search for your own date rather than treating a video as a timetable.

Plan the return before the outbound trip

If you are travelling beyond the area around your accommodation, begin by checking the return service. Look up the practical departures for your date, then decide how long you want to spend at the destination before selecting an outbound bus. This is especially useful when your plans depend on a particular return time: the route search and the operator’s timetable let you check both halves of the journey rather than estimating the trip from the outward leg alone.

A hotel transfer is a separate arrangement from a public bus journey. If you hope to use a hotel’s service, ask the hotel about its own availability and conditions; do not treat a bus pass as a reservation for a hotel transfer. For airport or port connections, check the current timetable from the relevant operator and leave time for the connection. The information in this guide does not establish one journey time or fare for every airport or port service, so do not apply a city-bus estimate to a different connection.

Compare My Beppu Free with individual fares

My Beppu Free is a Kamenoi Bus pass for travel within a specified area. Kamenoi directs travellers making central-city trips to the mini pass and those including the Yufuin or safari directions to the wide pass. Both versions are offered for one day or two consecutive days, and the pass also covers Kamenoi’s Yufurin sightseeing rapid bus according to the operator’s FAQ. Coverage still depends on the ticket area and service, so check the current coverage information for your intended stops before buying.

The current selling prices for each pass type could not be confirmed from the official information cited here. Older price comparisons should not be treated as current: check the price shown by the seller at the time you plan to purchase. Passes and special tickets are not sold on Kamenoi buses, so you need to decide where to buy before boarding.

To compare fairly, add the current individual Kamenoi fares for every planned ride and compare the total with the current pass price for the same passengers, dates and covered routes. If your itinerary includes a service by another company, check that company’s fare and ticket conditions separately; do not count a Kamenoi pass toward a fare it does not cover. If your plans change, redo the comparison rather than assuming that a pass will still be the cheaper choice.

Plushy Travels’ video about using a bus pass in Beppu shows one traveller’s day with a pass. It can provide a visual reference for a pass-based outing, but the correct pass for your trip depends on the current coverage and your own planned stops.

Choose a paper or digital ticket

The format matters if you want to use the attraction discounts listed for the paper pass. Kamenoi’s digital versions do not include those paper-ticket benefits, and the digital ticket is used electronically without exchanging it for paper. The operator announced WEB sales from 1 November 2025 for four versions: mini one-day, mini two-day, wide one-day and wide two-day. Read the digital ticket announcement, digital sales FAQ and paper-ticket benefits before choosing.

The paper-ticket benefits page lists three examples. Showing the paper pass gives a ¥200 adult or ¥100 child discount on the combined ticket for the seven Hells, a ¥100 adult or ¥50 child discount on a Beppu Ropeway round-trip ticket, and 10% off admission at Hyotan Onsen. These amounts are discounts, not the attractions’ entry prices. Check the attraction’s own current price and the pass terms before calculating what the day will cost.

A digital ticket may be convenient if its payment requirements suit you and you do not need the paper-ticket benefits. However, an online group purchase cannot be used separately by different members of the group, according to Kamenoi’s sales FAQ. If anyone may split off during the day, check the seller’s options for buying separately before you pay.

Check the cancellation terms for your exact booking

Kamenoi’s official sales FAQ lists a cancellation fee of ¥110 per confirmed booking. Its separate instructions for using the electronic ticket say cancellation before use is free. Those statements appear on different official pages, so do not assume that one rule applies to every ticket or booking. Read the conditions attached to the particular ticket and purchase before confirming it, and contact the seller if the wording does not make your situation clear.

Pay on Kamenoi local buses

Kamenoi local buses accept cash, nationally interoperable transport IC cards and contactless credit-card payments. Cash payment does not provide change, and the operator says ¥2,000, ¥5,000 and ¥10,000 notes cannot be exchanged on board. Check the current fare and prepare a suitable way to pay before you ride; the operator’s local-route FAQ sets out these payment conditions.

If you plan to use an IC card or contactless card, check the current operator instructions for your particular card and payment method. Do not assume that the payment options or boarding procedure are identical across all bus companies simply because a route search shows them in the same results. Follow the signs and driver’s instructions on the bus you board.

A bus pass is different from paying a single fare. Kamenoi says free passes and special tickets cannot be purchased on board, so buy the appropriate ticket in advance at a listed counter or through the official online sales service. Read the ticket’s conditions for how to show or use it, and do not wait until you are already on the bus to decide whether to purchase one.

For a traveller’s view of a Kamenoi bus in Beppu, see ACG Travel Videos’ video. Use the operator’s current fare and payment information for your own journey rather than relying on a video to establish present-day payment rules.

Ticket counters, luggage and accessibility

Kamenoi lists ticket counters with different locations, hours and product details. Wonder Compass Beppu is behind platform 4 at Beppu Station’s east exit, while the Kitahama Bus Center and Kannawa waiting room are other listed locations. Check the official ticket-counter listing before travelling to a counter, because a particular location may not sell the product you need.

Kamenoi lists card purchases at the Kitahama, Kannawa and Yufuin centres. The counter information above does not give hours for the Yufuin centre, so check the official listing for details before relying on it. The Wonder Compass exclusions are important if you need nimoca, a commuter pass or a highway-bus ticket: it does not sell those products. A local free pass and a highway-bus ticket are not interchangeable, so identify the product you need before choosing a counter.

Luggage, strollers and wheelchairs

Kamenoi says suitcases can be brought onto its local buses. Foldable bicycles are allowed, while pets must be in a cage. For a stroller, the operator’s guidance is to fold it and hold the child on your lap; check the local-route FAQ if you need to confirm the rule before travelling.

Wheelchair users should tell the driver when boarding. Kamenoi notes that boarding may not be possible if the wheelchair space is already occupied, and that some stops are unsuitable because of pavement width or slope. Its route information links to a list of stops where wheelchair boarding and alighting are possible. Check both the outbound and return stops, since accessibility at one stop does not establish that another stop on the same journey is suitable.

If a delay affects an onward connection and you need evidence of the delay, Kamenoi says delay certificates are available at its offices or bus centers. Ask the operator which location is appropriate for your journey. 横浜五郎のひとりじょうず’s local-bus itinerary around Beppu’s hot springs offers a traveller’s view of moving around the area; use official route and accessibility information to plan your own trip.

Frequently asked questions

Can I buy a Kamenoi pass on the bus?

No. Kamenoi says free passes and special tickets are not sold on board. Buy one at a listed counter or through the official online sales service before travelling, and check which ticket format and coverage suit your route. The ticket-counter page lists physical sales locations, while the official sales FAQ covers digital-ticket questions.

Can I use My Beppu Free on an Oita Kotsu bus?

No. Kamenoi’s coverage information says My Beppu Free cannot be used on Oita Kotsu buses. Route-search results may show services from more than one operator, so check the company name for every journey before relying on the pass. Confirm your intended stops and services on the coverage page.

Does the digital pass include the paper-ticket attraction discounts?

No. Kamenoi lists the attraction benefits for the paper ticket and says they are not available with the digital version. The paper-ticket page gives examples including discounts on the seven-Hells combined ticket, a Beppu Ropeway round trip and Hyotan Onsen admission. Compare the costs for your actual itinerary, and check the attractions’ current admission prices before estimating your total.

Can I pay cash on a Kamenoi bus?

Yes. Kamenoi accepts cash, but cash payment does not provide change, and ¥2,000, ¥5,000 and ¥10,000 notes cannot be exchanged on board. Check the current fare and prepare a suitable amount before boarding. If you prefer not to use cash, the operator also lists nationally interoperable transport IC cards and contactless card payments for its local buses.

Can I bring a suitcase, bicycle, pet or stroller?

Kamenoi says suitcases may be brought onto its local buses, and foldable bicycles are permitted. Pets must be in a cage. The operator’s stroller guidance is to fold the stroller and hold the child on your lap, so check its FAQ if you need to confirm arrangements for your specific trip.

Can a group share one digital purchase and use the tickets separately?

No. Kamenoi’s digital sales FAQ says a group purchase cannot be used separately. If group members may travel independently or split up during the day, check the available purchase options before checkout rather than assuming a single group purchase can be divided. The cancellation terms also need checking for the exact booking: the FAQ lists ¥110 per confirmed booking, while separate instructions say cancellation before use is free.

What should wheelchair users check before travelling?

Tell the driver when boarding, as Kamenoi instructs. Boarding may not be possible if the wheelchair space is already occupied, and some stops are unsuitable because of pavement width or slope. Check the operator’s list of stops where wheelchair boarding and alighting are possible for both ends of your journey using its route information.