wellness
Takegawara Onsen
Historic 1879 bathhouse offering unique hot sand baths heated by natural geothermal springs.
Typical duration
60 min
Price
¥1,500/€10 sand bath; ¥300/€2 regular bath (≈ €0.01–8.8 / $0.01–9.5)
From port
1.5 km / 0.9 mi
Transfer time
15 min
Indoor / Outdoor
indoor
Queue risk
medium
🕐 Best time to visit
Early morning to avoid queues; weekdays less crowded
Takegawara Onsen is one of Beppu's most iconic bathhouses, housed in a striking Meiji-era wooden building dating from 1879. Its star experience is the sunayu (sand bath), where staff bury you in naturally heated volcanic sand for about 15 minutes — the warmth envelops your body and is deeply relaxing. A regular onsen bath is also available at a much lower price for those who want a simpler soak. The bathhouse is tattoo-friendly, which is unusual in Japan and makes it particularly welcoming for international visitors. The building itself is worth seeing even from the outside, with its dramatic wooden facade and traditional tile roof.
Getting there from the port
Take the free port shuttle to JR Beppu Station, then walk 10 minutes south through the Kitahama shopping area.