Beppu-yuya Sanso Kannawaen

The world-renowned Beppu Onsenkyo, which boasts the most hot spring sources and the highest volume of spring water in Japan, is a favorite with international travelers. The steam that billows up all over the town is truly a breathtaking sight. While the hot springs of Beppu City are often collectively referred to as Beppu Onsen, they are in fact divided into eight distinct hot spring areas known as the Beppu Hatto. These are Hamawaki Onsen, Beppu Onsen, Kankaiji Onsen, Hotta Onsen, Myoban Onsen, Kannawa Onsen, Shibaishi Onsen, and Kamegawa Onsen.

Sanso Kannawaen is located roughly six kilometers north of Beppu Station. The inn sits in expansive 46,000-square-meter grounds right beside the famous onsen attraction Umi Jigoku (Sea Hell). Between the main building, annex, detached cottages, and the hilltop Sora-kan, the grounds offer a total of 50 rooms. Kannawaen has two private hot spring sources within its premises. The large public baths, as well as the indoor and open-air baths in each guest room, are fed directly from the source with water renowned for its otherworldly and faintly bluish hue.

Three special rooms in the Kannawaen area are particularly recommended. These are a generous 140 to 143 square meters in area, each offering a luxurious setting for a truly elegant stay. All rooms are equipped with both an open-air bath and an indoor bath, fed exclusively from the hot spring source. In addition, the Hakomushi-yu steam bath allows guests to enjoy a soothing soak at any time during their stay. The Take and Tsutsuji rooms also feature a private seasonal pool during the summer, providing a resort-like experience. Each detached cottage is thoughtfully designed to embody Kannawaen’s spirit of hospitality and attention to detail. From the welcoming entrance to the meticulously tended garden, every element has been crafted to offer guests the unique experience of “living in Japan.”

The inn has two restaurants: Musubi, serving traditional multi-course cuisine that highlights Oita’s rich array of local ingredients; and Kaede, where you can enjoy premium Kuroge Wagyu beef prepared teppanyaki-style. Guests staying in the main building, annex, or detached cottages can select either a Japanese or Western-style breakfast. Guests staying in Sora-kan are served a Western-style breakfast at the restaurant Kaede. If you would prefer a Japanese-style breakfast when staying in the Sora-kan, be sure to inform the inn at least two days in advance.

The grounds also feature an impressive Noh theater and traditional thatched-roof building, along with displays of valuable antiques, modern paintings, and other attractions. Guests’ experiences of the inn’s traditional Japanese aesthetic and these works of art are sure to become lasting memories from their stay at this unique Beppu accommodation.

For convenient access to Sanso Kannawaen, guests may take advantage of the free shuttle bus service from Beppu Onsen Station on the JR Nippo Main Line.

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