MURE Beppu

Oita Prefecture is renowned for its hot springs, and a particular favorite is Beppu Onsen, famous for filling the air of the city of Beppu with steam. It boasts the largest number of hot spring sources and the highest volume of hot spring water in Japan, attracting many visitors from around the world.

MURE Beppu, located along National Route 10, can be reached by taking the east exit of Beppu Station on the JR Nippo Main Line, then heading straight toward Beppu Bay for about one kilometer. It is a truly one-of-a-kind hotel with an ambiance that feels like a work of art, where modern concrete architecture blends seamlessly with timber reclaimed from a century-old traditional house.

That traditional old house once stood in Tonami in Toyama Prefecture, a region where winter snow can pile more than three meters high. Toyama Prefecture lies between Ishikawa and Niigata Prefectures, facing the Sea of Japan and embracing Toyama Bay. Through a fortunate connection, the hotel acquired this traditional house that had been slated for demolition and transported its pillars, beams, timber, fixtures, and furnishings by land and sea all the way to Oita Prefecture over 1,000 kilometers away. These reclaimed materials have been incorporated throughout the hotel, filling the interior with a warm and inviting atmosphere.

The most striking example is the magnificent wooden beams that grace the ceilings of the lobby, guest rooms, and private open-air baths. Other historical features and furnishings throughout the hotel were acquired from the old house, such as the ranma (transoms) that top guest room walls, sections of woodwork, sliding doors, and tables and stools made from pieces of wood.

The hotel has 14 guest rooms, each equipped with a bath supplied with 100% natural hot spring water from the hotel’s own source. There are also two private open-air baths on the rooftop terrace. (These require a reservation, so be sure to request a time at check-in.) In addition, footbaths are available in both the first-floor lobby and on the rooftop terrace for free use by guests. The footbaths and rooftop terrace are also open to non-staying guests. However, the hotel kindly asks that they purchase some Japanese sweets or drinks from the lobby café SHU. Café SHU serves rice dumplings with a choice of toppings, silky-smooth warabi-mochi (traditional bracken starch sweets), as well as coffee, lattes, Japanese tea, and more.

Meals are not included with your stay. However, numerous restaurants can be found near the hotel, allowing you to enjoy Oita Prefecture’s local cuisine and Beppu’s culinary specialties while sightseeing. Hotel staff will be happy to recommend some hidden gems. And don’t miss Beppu’s famous and unforgettable jigoku mushi (literally “hell steaming”), a traditional Japanese cooking method that uses the steam from natural hot springs.

Beppu has a wide variety of hot springs with differing mineral qualities, all concentrated within a small area, making it the perfect place to enjoy hot spring-hopping. Be sure to make a reservation at MURE Beppu, conveniently located close to the station and a perfect place to stay on your trip to Beppu Onsen.

Details