Beppu Takegawara Hotspring

The handsome old Takegawara Onsen is a Beppu Landmark. Established in 1879, the faÁade of the building was added in 1938, and the elegant high-ceilinged lobby invites lingering. But of course, the real attraction here is the baths. Takegawara’s water is quite hot, and will take some getting used to for hot spring novices. Many visitors, though, come for the sunayu, a pit of steaming coal-black sand in a large wood-framed room with tall windows. After washing yourself, you enter the sand bath and lie down with a towel over your front, and an attendant carefully buries you in the coarse sand for ten to fifteen minutes. Another rinse and a soak in the tub, and you’re ready to go. If you’re hungry, this is a good time to duck across the street to Takeya, serving up the local specialties of dango soup and yaseuma.

More Info.:
Beach Sand Bath
Myobab Onsen Hotspring

Matt Mangham

16-23 Motomachi, Beppu city, Oita

Beppu IC====(15 min. by car, direction to Beppu station)====Takegawara Onsen

Beppu station, east exit====(10 min. on foot)====Takegawara Onsen

Open Hours:
6:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. (Regular bath)
8:00 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. (Sand bath)
Holidays:
3rd Wednesday of December (Regular bath) 3rd Wednesday of each month (Sand bath)

Regular bath: 100 yen
Sand bath: 1,000 yen

Beppu City: http://www.city.beppu.oita.jp/51englishpage/index.html