Beppu

For the surname, see Beppu (surname).

Beppu (別府市, Beppu-shi) is a city in Ōita Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan. As of March 31, 2017, the city had a population of 122,643^[1] and a population density of 980/km² (2,500/sq mi). The total area is 125.13 km² (48.31 sq mi). Beppu is famous for its hot springs.^[2]

Beppu 別府市
City
Top upper left: Downtown Kitahama hot spring area, Top middle: View of Beppu from Jyumonji Hill, Top lower left: Tsurumi Volcano, Top right: Beppu Tower, Bottom left: Main street near Beppu Station, Bottom right: Sunrise in Beppu Bay
Flag Emblem
Location of Beppu in Ōita Prefecture
Beppu Location in Japan
Coordinates: 33°16′46.3″N 131°30′0.1″E / 33.279528°N 131.500028°E / 33.279528; 131.500028Coordinates: 33°16′46.3″N 131°30′0.1″E / 33.279528°N 131.500028°E / 33.279528; 131.500028
Country	Japan
Region	Kyushu
Prefecture	Ōita Prefecture
Government
• Mayor	Yasuhiro Nagano
Area
• Total	125.13 km^2 (48.31 sq mi)
Population  (March 31, 2017)
• Total	122,643
• Density	980/km^2 (2,500/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address	1-15 Kaminoguchi-chō, Beppu-shi, Ōita-ken 874-8511
Website	www.city.beppu.oita.jp
Symbols
Flower	Ōmurasaki (Rhododendron x pulchrum)
Tree	Sweet Osmanthus and Camphor Laurel

Geography

Beppu is situated at the west end of Beppu Bay, around the east central prefecture. The north, west, and east of the city are the mountains or highlands with elevations of several hundreds meters above sea level. Most of those mountains are Quaternary volcanos. Particularly, such mountain as Mount Tsurumi is relatively new, and fumarolic activities are observed. Besides Mount Tsurumi, Mount Yufu, Mount Ohira and so forth shape a range of mountains.

The west area of the city includes a number of scenic locations such as Yufugawa Canyon, which has been selected as one of One Hundred View of Oita, and/or some designated areas of Aso Kujū National Park, with a large amount of forests.

The east area of the city consists of an alluvial fan as well as alluvial plain, made with rivers flowing into Beppu Bay, namely Asami River, Haruki River and Sakai River. The main urban area of Beppu has been formed within this relatively narrow land which spans approximately 5 km from east to west and 10 km from north to south.

There are a large number of faults on the north and south of the alluvial fan, surrounding the urban area. Given the short distance from the sea shore on the east coast to the west part of the city with altitude of several hundreds meters or higher, the city has many slopes mainly on the east-west direction.

Neighboring municipalities

• Oita
• Usa
• Yufu
• Hiji

History

The city was founded on April 1, 1924, with its population of 36,276.

Hot springs

See also: Beppu Onsen

Beppu is famous for its onsen (hot springs). It has eight major geothermal hot spots, sometimes referred to as the "eight hells of Beppu" among many others.^[3] Six of these are located close by within in the Kannawa district up the hill, and two are in the nearby Shibaseki district down the hill. Beppu is also divided into eight major hot spring areas known as Beppu Hattō (別府八湯).

Beppu Hattō hot spring areas

Some hot springs in the Beppu area are Beppu Onsen, Kankaiji, Kamegawa, Shibaseki, Kannawa, Myoban, Horita, Hamawaki, among others.

In addition, Oniyama Jigoku, known as "monster mountain hell" for the large numbers of crocodiles bred and kept on the grounds surrounding this hot spring, is nearby.^[4]

•  

  Natural iron hot spring, Beppu, Japan

•  

  1937 travel poster, Beppu hot springs

•  

  Kannawa area of Beppu city

•  

  A hot spring-well in Beppu

Visitor attractions

Beppu is part of the course of the annual Beppu-Ōita Marathon, which traces a path between Beppu and its neighboring city of Ōita. The competition has been held every year since 1952 and is classed as an IAAF Silver Label road race.^[5]

Shidaka Lake is located 600 metres (1,969 feet) above sea level.^[6] Otobaru Waterfall is a local natural attraction, located in the mountain area of Beppu city, 20 minutes' walk from Wonder Rakutenchi, a traditional amusement park.^[7] Takasakiyama Monkey Park is located 10 minutes from the center of Beppu by bus. The park is home to more than 1500 Japanese macaques.^[8] Kijima Kogen is a resort which includes an 18-hole golf course and hotel alongside an amusement park. It is located on a plateau en route to Yufuin.^[9]

Beppu has not only usual hot springs but some sand and foot baths as well. One famous spot is "Beppu Kaihin Sunayu, Ashiyu", (”Beppu marine beach sand bath and foot bath"). It is 15 minutes by bus from Beppu station, on Route 10.^[10]

Beppu Park (別府公園) is located in the center of the city, a 15-minute walk from Beppu Station.^[11] Beppu Fireworks Festival, held in late July, is one of the biggest fireworks displays in Oita. Five thousand fireworks are set off from boats floating on Beppu Bay.^[12] Beppu Contemporary Art Festival "Mixed Bathing World" is an art festival held every three years in Beppu.^[13]

The Beppu Ropeway connects Beppu with Mount Tsurumi.

Education

• Beppu University, a private university first chartered in 1954, also has a campus in Oita City.^[14]
• Beppu Mizobe Gakuen College, established in 1986, is a private junior college located in the north of Beppu.
• Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, a private university established in 2000.

Sports

Beppu is home to the Oita Heat Devils basketball team. The team's season was canceled in 2011 due to the earthquake that struck Japan on March 11.^[15]

International relations

The city of Beppu has sister city relationships with the following locations.^[16]

•   Atami, Shizuoka, Japan (since August 5, 1966)
•   Bath, Somerset, England, United Kingdom^[17][18] (since October 31, 1994)
•   Beaumont, Texas, United States (since May 20, 1985)
•   Jeju, South Korea (since January 17, 2003)
•   Mokpo, Jeollanam-do, South Korea (since October 1, 1984)
•   Rotorua, Bay of Plenty Region, New Zealand (since July 10, 1987)
•   Yantai, Shandong, China (since July 26, 1985)

Buildings

• Beppu Tower

References

1. "Statistics: Population". Beppu City Government website (in Japanese). Accessed April 21, 2017.
2. "Discover and Delight in Japanese Hot Springs: Beppu City, Oita". Enjoy Onsen: Japan Hot Spring Beppu. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
3. Hells (Jigoku), Japan-guide.com Retrieved May 20, 2013.
4. "Hells (Jigoku)". www.japan-guide.com. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
5. Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon. ARRS (December 24, 2009). Retrieved on 2010-02-08.
6. . City.beppu.oita.jp. Archived from the original on January 8, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
7. . Oitatravel.com. Archived from the original on April 26, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
8. "Beppu Travel: Takasakiyama Monkey Park". Japan-guide.com. March 14, 2009. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
9. . Kijimakogen.jp. Archived from the original on April 20, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
10. "別府海浜砂湯・足湯（べっぷかいひんすなゆ・あしゆ）|大分県別府エリアの温泉情報｜九州温泉宿予約｜温泉ぱらだいす 九州". Onpara.jp. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
11. . City.beppu.oita.jp. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
12. . City.beppu.oita.jp. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
13. "別府現代芸術フェスティバル2015「混浴温泉世界」". mixedbathingworld.com. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
14. "Beppu-U History". Retrieved February 1, 2012.
15. . Heatdevils.com. Archived from the original on October 1, 2009. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
16. ""Sister City Introduction" Beppu City Official Web". Retrieved July 17, 2010.
17. . The Mayor of Bath. Archived from the original on May 17, 2011. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
18. . Bath and North East Somerset Council. Archived from the original on October 27, 2007. Retrieved December 12, 2007.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Beppu, Oita.

 

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Beppu.

• Beppu City official website (in Japanese)
• (in English)
• Beppu Navi homepage
• Information about the "hells" hot springs
• Information about hot spring baths in Beppu