Beppu Sand Bath: Where to Go, Prices, Hours and What to Expect

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

You can try a sand bath in Beppu at three main places. Takegawara Onsen is a historic bathhouse near the station. SHONIN PARK Sand SPA is on the beach with an ocean view. Hyotan Onsen is in Kannawa. Expect to pay about 1,500–2,500 yen for adults. You wear a cotton yukata and lie still while hot sand covers your body for about 10–15 minutes.

1How a Beppu sand bath works

A sand bath (sunayu in Japanese) is a different kind of onsen. You do not sit in hot water. You lie down in sand that is heated by the hot spring.

Here is the basic idea:

• You wear a yukata. This is a light cotton robe. Each facility gives or rents you one for the sand bath.
• You lie down. Staff show you where to lie.
• Attendants cover you with sand. At Takegawara, sand attendants shovel the sand from your feet to your shoulders (Enjoy Onsen). At the beach, you are buried up to the neck ⓘ JNTO.
• You rest and sweat. The sand feels heavy and warm. Most sessions last about 15 minutes.
• You rinse off. After the sand, you shower. At Takegawara and Hyotan, you can then soak in the regular bath (Enjoy Onsen).

How the sand gets hot depends on the place. At Hyotan Onsen, the sand is heated with hot spring steam of about 100°C (Hyotan Onsen). At the beach sand bath, sodium chloride spring water heats the sand ⓘ JNTO.

If it feels too hot, move your hands or feet a little. This lets some heat out (Enjoy Onsen).

2Where to try a sand bath in Beppu: comparison

All three places give you the same basic experience. They differ in setting, price and opening hours.

Which one should you choose?

• Short on time, staying near the station: Takegawara. It is the cheapest and close to Beppu Station.
• Want the sea view: SHONIN PARK Sand SPA.
• Visiting Kannawa, or want to stay in the sand longer: Hyotan Onsen.

3Takegawara Onsen: the historic city-center sand bath

Takegawara Onsen was built in 1879. It is one of Beppu's oldest bathhouses ⓘ JNTO. Beppu City runs it.

Prices ⓘ Beppu City - Sand bath: 1,500 yen (age 6 and up) - Regular bath only: adults 300 yen, children 100 yen. Children under elementary school age are free.

Hours ⓘ Beppu City - Sand bath: 8:00–22:30, last entry 21:30 - Regular bath: 6:30–22:30 - Closed: the 3rd Wednesday of each month. If that day is a holiday, it closes the next day instead.

What to expect - A session lasts about 15 minutes (Enjoy Onsen). The city page does not list the session length. - There are no reservations. It is first come, first served (Enjoy Onsen). You may need to wait at busy times. - You wear the facility yukata with nothing underneath (Enjoy Onsen). - After the sand, you shower and then use the general bath (Enjoy Onsen). - Soap, towels and a hair dryer are available for a small fee ⓘ JNTO.

Address: 16-23 Motomachi, Beppu ⓘ Beppu City. It is about a 10-minute walk from Beppu Station ⓘ JNTO.

4SHONIN PARK Sand SPA: the beach sand bath

This beach sand bath used to be called Beppu Kaihin Sunayu. It is now the Sand SPA at SHONIN PARK (SHONIN PARK). You spend about 15 minutes in the sand with a view of the ocean.

Prices (SHONIN PARK) - Sand bath + grand bath: adults 2,500 yen, children (6–12) 1,800 yen - Grand bath only: adults 1,500 yen, children 1,000 yen - The sand-bath yukata and a towel are free.

Hours (SHONIN PARK)

Note: Enjoy Onsen lists a later last entry in summer. The facility's own page says 19:00, so plan around 19:00.

Closures and weather - Closed irregularly, twice a month (SHONIN PARK). Check the official site before you go. - Open in the rain. There is a roof for rain and parasols for sun ⓘ JNTO. - It may close during typhoons (SHONIN PARK).

Booking - You can book online in advance. Same-day visits are possible, but you may have to wait (SHONIN PARK). - Mixed groups of up to 10 people can enter together ⓘ JNTO.

Getting there: about 15 minutes by bus from Beppu Station ⓘ JNTO. Address: 795-1 Shoningahama-cho, Beppu. Tel: 0977-75-6360 (SHONIN PARK).

5Hyotan Onsen: the Kannawa sand bath with no time limit

Hyotan Onsen was founded in 1922 in Kannawa (Hyotan Onsen). Its sand is heated with hot spring steam of about 100°C. Unlike the other two places, there is no time limit in the sand (Hyotan Onsen).

How the price works (Hyotan Onsen)

You cannot buy a sand bath only. First, pay for main bath entry. Then rent the sand-bath yukata on top.

• Main bath entry: adults (13+) 1,160 yen, children (7–12) 400 yen, ages 4–6 280 yen, ages 3 and under free
• Sand-bath yukata rental: adults 840 yen, children 540 yen

So an adult pays 2,000 yen in total for the bath and sand bath.

Hours - Reception: 9:00–1:00 (Hyotan Onsen) - Sand bath: last admission 22:30. The sand area closes at 23:00 (Enjoy Onsen).

Rules to know (Enjoy Onsen) - The sand bath is only available with main-bath entry. - You cannot combine it with a family (private) bath. - Cash only. You pay at a ticket machine. - Women are asked not to use the sand bath during their period. - Paper underwear is available for an extra charge. Here, you may cover yourself under the yukata.

Temporary closures (Hyotan Onsen): 12 November 2026, and 30 November to 4 December 2026. Check the official site for other dates.

6How to take a sand bath: step by step

The details change a little at each place. This is the general flow.

1. Check hours and closures. Look at the official site on the day. Book online if you go to SHONIN PARK.
2. Pay at the entrance. Bring cash. At Hyotan, buy your ticket at the machine (Enjoy Onsen).
3. Remove jewelry. Take off rings, necklaces and earrings (Enjoy Onsen).
4. Change into the sand-bath yukata. At Takegawara, wear nothing underneath (Enjoy Onsen). At Hyotan, you can rent paper underwear (Enjoy Onsen). Tie up long hair.
5. Lie down where staff show you. Attendants cover you with hot sand.
6. Relax for about 15 minutes. If it feels too hot, gently move your hands or feet (Enjoy Onsen). At Hyotan, you can stay longer (Hyotan Onsen).
7. Get up and rinse off. Shower off the sand.
8. Soak in the bath. At Takegawara and Hyotan, use the regular bath after (Enjoy Onsen). At SHONIN PARK, the grand bath is included in the sand-bath ticket.
9. Drink water and rest. You will sweat a lot.

7What to bring and how to plan your time

What to bring (Enjoy Onsen) - Cash - A drink - A hair tie - A change of underwear

What is provided - Takegawara: yukata provided. Soap, towels and a hair dryer for a small fee ⓘ JNTO. - SHONIN PARK: yukata and towel free (SHONIN PARK). - Hyotan: yukata rental is part of the sand-bath price. Paper underwear costs extra (Hyotan Onsen; Enjoy Onsen).

How long it takes Allow 40–60 minutes for the sand bath. Add 20–30 minutes at Takegawara or Hyotan if you also want a soak (Enjoy Onsen).

Health We did not find official medical guidance on sand baths, for example for heart conditions or pregnancy. If you have any health concerns, ask your doctor before you go. Tell staff if you feel unwell.

Combining with other sights Takegawara is easy to add to a walk around central Beppu. Hyotan fits well into a visit to Kannawa. The beach sand bath is a short bus ride from the station.

8Mistakes first-timers make

• Arriving without cash → Bring cash. Hyotan is cash only, and Enjoy Onsen advises cash for all sand baths.
• Showing up late in the evening → Check last entry. Takegawara's last entry is 21:30. SHONIN PARK's is 19:00 in summer and 17:30 in winter.
• Forgetting about closure days → Takegawara closes on the 3rd Wednesday. SHONIN PARK closes irregularly twice a month. Hyotan has temporary closures in November and December 2026. Check the official sites.
• Wearing jewelry into the sand → Take it off before you change (Enjoy Onsen).
• Lying stiff when it gets too hot → Move your hands or feet a little to release heat (Enjoy Onsen).

9FAQ

How much does a Beppu sand bath cost? About 1,500–2,500 yen for adults. Takegawara is 1,500 yen. SHONIN PARK is 2,500 yen with the grand bath. Hyotan is 2,000 yen (entry plus yukata).

Do I need to book? At SHONIN PARK, you can book online. Same-day visits are possible but you may wait. Takegawara takes no reservations. For Hyotan, check the official site.

What do I wear? A sand-bath yukata from the facility. At Takegawara, you wear nothing underneath. At Hyotan, you can rent paper underwear.

How long do I stay in the sand? About 15 minutes at Takegawara and SHONIN PARK. At Hyotan, there is no time limit.

Can children do it? Yes. Takegawara's sand bath is for age 6 and up. SHONIN PARK has a child price for ages 6–12. Hyotan has child prices for entry and yukata.

Is the beach sand bath open when it rains? Yes. There is a roof for rain. It may close in typhoons.

10Related guides

• Beppu day trip from Fukuoka
• Kannawa Onsen guide
• Tattoo-friendly onsen in Beppu
• Fukuoka yatai etiquette
• Nakasu yatai guide
• How to order Hakata ramen

Sources

• Beppu City, Takegawara Onsen: ^[1]
• JNTO, Takegawara Onsen: ^[2]
• SHONIN PARK official, Sand SPA: ^[3]
• Hyotan Onsen official: ^[4] , ^[5] , ^[6]
• Enjoy Onsen ⓘ Beppu City, Sand Bathing in Beppu: ^[7]
• Enjoy Onsen ⓘ Beppu City, Hyotan Onsen: ^[8]
• JNTO, Beppu Beach Sand Bath: ^[9]

Last checked: 2026-11-02. Prices and hours change. Please confirm on the official sites before you visit.

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