Kannawa Onsen: A Visitor's Guide to Beppu's Steam Town

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

Kannawa Onsen is one of Beppu's eight hot spring towns. It is known for hot spring steam: you can bathe in it, cook with it and watch it rise from the famous Beppu Hells. From Beppu Station, a Kamenoi Bus takes about 20 minutes to reach Kannawa ⓘ Beppu Hells official; Enjoy Onsen.

1What is Kannawa Onsen?

Beppu is not one hot spring. It is a group of eight hot spring towns called Beppu Hatto. Together they have close to 3,000 hot spring sources and the largest volume of hot spring water in Japan ⓘ JNTO.

Kannawa is the town most visitors picture when they think of Beppu. Steam comes up from the ground in many places. Locals use it to heat baths, warm sand and cook food. The main sights are close together, so you can explore much of the area on foot.

Here is what Kannawa offers:

• Steam bathing at the city-run Kannawa Mushi-yu.
• Classic hot spring bathing at Hyotan Onsen, including a sand bath and waterfall-style baths.
• The Beppu Hells, colorful hot spring pools for viewing, not for bathing.
• Jigoku-mushi, a local way of cooking with natural steam.

We could not find an official count of public bathhouses in Kannawa itself. If you want a full list, ask at your accommodation or check the Beppu City Enjoy Onsen site.

2How to get to Kannawa Onsen

Most visitors go from Beppu Station by local bus. Follow these steps.

1. Go to Beppu Station West Exit. Buses for Kannawa leave from here. Enjoy Onsen names stop 3 (Enjoy Onsen).
2. Find the right Kamenoi Bus. Enjoy Onsen lists routes 2, 5, 7 and 41. The Beppu Hells site lists routes 2, 5, 24 and 41. Routes 2, 5 and 41 appear on both lists, so they are the safest choice. Check the sign at the stop or ask the driver "Kannawa?" before you board.
3. Ride for about 20 minutes. Expect about 19–25 minutes, depending on traffic and route ⓘ Enjoy Onsen; Beppu Hells official.
4. Get off at Kannawa. The Hells and bathhouses in Kannawa are within walking distance of each other ⓘ Beppu Hells official.
5. Plan your return. Buses run back to Beppu Station. Times vary, so check the timetable at the stop when you arrive.

We did not find the bus fare in official sources. Check the fare inside the bus or on the Kamenoi Bus website.

Coming from Fukuoka? The Nishitetsu highway bus "Toyonokuni" runs between Fukuoka and Beppu. It stops at Kannawa-guchi. The adult fare is 3,250 yen one way, and you must reserve a seat (Nishitetsu). This can save you a transfer at Beppu Station. See our Beppu day trip from Fukuoka guide for full options.

3Kannawa Mushi-yu: the herb steam bath

Kannawa Mushi-yu is a steam bath run by Beppu City. It is unlike a normal onsen. There is no pool of water. You lie down in a hot stone room instead ⓘ Beppu City.

How it works. You crouch through a wooden door about 1 m high. Inside is a stone room of about 8 tatami mats. The floor is covered with sekisho, a sweet-smelling herb. The room is heated by the hot spring underneath. Up to 4 people can use each side at a time ⓘ Beppu City.

What to wear. You can rent a yukata for 220 yen. You can also wear your own T-shirt and shorts. A towel costs 310 yen if you did not bring one ⓘ Beppu City.

Price. 700 yen for junior high school students and older ⓘ Beppu City.

Free foot steam bath. There is also a foot steam bath that costs nothing. It is a good way to try steam if you are short on time ⓘ Beppu City.

Opening hours.

• Regular hours: 6:30–20:00, last entry 19:30.
• Temporary hours from 1 October 2026 to 31 January 2027: 7:30–19:30, last entry 19:00.
• Closed on the 4th Thursday of each month. If that day is a public holiday, it closes the next day instead.

ⓘ All from Beppu City. The temporary hours apply at the time of writing, so check the city page before you go.

Address: Kannawa-kami 1-kumi ⓘ Beppu City.

4Hyotan Onsen: a classic Kannawa bathhouse

Hyotan Onsen opened in Kannawa in 1922 (Hyotan Onsen). It has received three stars in the Michelin Green Guide seven times in a row ⓘ JNTO. It is a larger facility with many ways to bathe.

What you can try:

• Main bath. Indoor and outdoor hot spring bathing.
• Takiyu. Baths where hot water falls from above, like a small waterfall. It feels like a massage on your shoulders.
• Sand bath. You lie in sand heated by steam of about 100°C. Read our Beppu sand bath guide for what to expect.
• Family bath. A private bath for your group.

(Facilities from Hyotan Onsen.)

Prices and hours:

Reception is open from 9:00 to 1:00 (the next morning) (Hyotan Onsen). This makes Hyotan a good choice for an evening bath after a day of sightseeing.

5Which Kannawa bath should you choose?

Both places use Kannawa's hot spring, but the experience is very different. This table compares them using official information.

Sources: Beppu City; Hyotan Onsen.

If you have time, do both. Try the steam room in the day, then soak at Hyotan in the evening.

6The Beppu Hells in Kannawa

The Beppu Hells (jigoku) are hot spring pools that are too hot or too strange to bathe in. You walk around them and look. Each has its own color or character.

There are seven Hells ⓘ Beppu Hells official:

• Umi Jigoku (Sea Hell), with blue water of about 98°C (Enjoy Onsen)
• Shiraike Jigoku (White Pond Hell)
• Oniishi Bozu Jigoku
• Oniyama Jigoku
• Kamado Jigoku
• Chinoike Jigoku (Blood Pond Hell)
• Tatsumaki Jigoku (a geyser)

Four of them, Umi, Chinoike, Tatsumaki and Shiraike, are national Places of Scenic Beauty ⓘ Beppu Hells official.

Where they are. Five of the Hells are in Kannawa and you can walk between them. Chinoike and Tatsumaki are about 3 km away, so most people take a bus or taxi to reach them ⓘ Beppu Hells official. We could not find official walking distances between the Kannawa Hells, but they are close together.

Tickets and hours.

• Open 8:00–17:00, all year ⓘ Beppu Hells official.
• Common ticket for all seven: 2,400 yen adult, 1,200 yen child (from 1 February 2025) ⓘ Beppu Hells official.
• Single Hell: 500 yen (Enjoy Onsen).

If you plan to see three or more, compare the single price with the common ticket. Allow 2.5–3 hours to see all seven (Enjoy Onsen).

7Jigoku-mushi: cooking with hot spring steam

Jigoku-mushi means "hell steaming." Local people cook food over vents of natural hot spring steam, which is about 100°C (Enjoy Onsen). It is simple, healthy and fun to watch.

Two places in Kannawa appear in the official city guide:

Jigoku Mushi Kobo Kannawa - Address: 5-2 Miyuki, Kannawa. - Hours: 10:00–19:00, last entry 18:00. - Closed on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. - You can rent a steam chamber and cook yourself, or let the staff cook for you.

(Enjoy Onsen.) We did not find official prices for this facility, so check on arrival.

Jigoku Mushi Kitchen at Hyotan Onsen - Hours: 11:00–21:00 (last order). - Closed on Thursdays. - You can eat here without bathing.

(Enjoy Onsen.) This is useful if you want a meal after the Hells close at 17:00.

8A simple day plan for Kannawa

Here is one easy way to spend a day. Adjust it to your energy and the opening hours.

• Morning: Take the Kamenoi Bus from Beppu Station West Exit to Kannawa (Enjoy Onsen). Start at the Hells, which open at 8:00 ⓘ Beppu Hells official. Visit the five in Kannawa on foot.
• Late morning: Try the free foot steam bath, or the full steam room at Kannawa Mushi-yu ⓘ Beppu City.
• Lunch: Cook your own jigoku-mushi meal at Jigoku Mushi Kobo Kannawa (Enjoy Onsen).
• Afternoon: Go by bus or taxi to Chinoike and Tatsumaki, about 3 km away, before the Hells close at 17:00 ⓘ Beppu Hells official.
• Evening: Return to Kannawa for a sand bath or soak at Hyotan Onsen, with dinner at Jigoku Mushi Kitchen (Hyotan Onsen; Enjoy Onsen).

If you have tattoos, rules differ between facilities. Read our tattoo-friendly onsen in Beppu guide and check with each place before you go.

9Mistakes first-timers make

• Thinking you can swim in the Hells -> The Hells are for viewing only. Umi Jigoku is about 98°C (Enjoy Onsen). Bathe at Mushi-yu or Hyotan instead.
• Trying to walk to all seven Hells -> Walk the five in Kannawa, then take a bus or taxi to Chinoike and Tatsumaki, about 3 km away ⓘ Beppu Hells official.
• Arriving at Mushi-yu at the regular closing time -> Until 31 January 2027, last entry is 19:00, not 19:30 ⓘ Beppu City. Check the city page for current hours.
• Visiting on a closing day -> Mushi-yu closes on the 4th Thursday, Jigoku Mushi Kobo on the 3rd Wednesday, and Jigoku Mushi Kitchen on Thursdays ⓘ Beppu City; Enjoy Onsen. Check the calendar first.
• Getting on the wrong bus -> Routes 2, 5 and 41 appear in both official guides ⓘ Enjoy Onsen; Beppu Hells official. Confirm with the driver.

10FAQ

Is Kannawa Onsen the same as Beppu Onsen? Kannawa is one part of Beppu Onsen. Beppu Onsen is a group of eight hot spring towns, and Kannawa is one of them ⓘ JNTO.

How long does the bus from Beppu Station take? About 19–25 minutes by Kamenoi Bus from the West Exit (Enjoy Onsen).

How much is Kannawa Mushi-yu? 700 yen for junior high students and older. Yukata rental is 220 yen and a towel is 310 yen. The foot steam bath is free ⓘ Beppu City.

Do I need to buy the Beppu Hells common ticket? No. A single Hell is 500 yen (Enjoy Onsen). The common ticket for all seven is 2,400 yen for adults ⓘ Beppu Hells official.

Can I eat steam-cooked food without bathing? Yes. At Jigoku Mushi Kitchen at Hyotan Onsen you can eat without bathing (Enjoy Onsen).

Can I go straight to Kannawa from Fukuoka? Yes. The "Toyonokuni" highway bus stops at Kannawa-guchi. It costs 3,250 yen one way for adults and needs a reservation (Nishitetsu).

11Related guides

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

Related guides

Beppu Bus Guide: Passes, Payment and Practical Tips

Beppu Day Trip from Fukuoka: Train, Bus, Cost & Plan

Beppu Hells Guide: Tickets, Hours and Access

Beppu Onsen Areas: Eight Districts, Baths and Prices

Beppu Sand Bath Guide: Where to Go, Prices and Hours

Beppu to Yufuin: Bus Options, Fares and Current Service

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