Photo: kawanet / CC BYThe building dates to 1879 and was rebuilt in 1938 in a temple-roofed style that has become the emblem of the town. Inside, the ordinary bath costs a few hundred yen and is used by people from the surrounding streets.
The sand bath is the reason to come. You change into a yukata, lie in a shallow trench, and attendants shovel geothermally heated sand over you until only your head shows. Ten minutes is the recommended limit. The heat is even and the weight is unexpected — the sensation of being pressed down is most of the experience.
The heat is even and the weight is unexpected — the sensation of being pressed down is most of the experience.
Booked before you sail — there is no tour desk at the pier. Booking through these links supports the site.
5.0★ · 21 reviewsFrom US$32 per person.
See dates and book →
5.0★ · 14 reviewsFrom US$565 per person.
See dates and book →
5.0★ · 12 reviewsFrom US$486 per person.
See dates and book →You change into a yukata, lie in a shallow trench, and attendants shovel geothermally heated sand over you until only your head shows. Ten minutes is the recommended limit. The heat is even and comfortable; the surprise is the weight of the sand, which is most of the sensation. You shower before and after.
About ten minutes on foot — it sits in central Beppu near the shore. The bathhouse dates to 1879, rebuilt in 1938, and the ordinary bath costs a few hundred yen while the sand bath is around ¥1,500 with a yukata included.
No typing needed — jump straight in:
Just docked? — the gangway toolStart from your shipThe ride from every berthAsk the editorGlossary
