Beppu Showaen opened in 1925 in Beppu – the largest onsen town in Japan by volume of hot spring water. There are just 11 houses here, and the baths are fed by a source that guests call the “golden vein.”
In Beppu – the largest onsen town in Japan by total hot water output – this ryokan has been filling private and public baths with water directly from a “golden vein” of a hot spring source located on its grounds for almost a century. Beppu Showaen remains a small, intimate property with just 11 separate houses.
A Nearly Century-Old Ryokan in Japan’s Onsen Capital
Beppu Showaen opened in 1925 in Beppu – a city on the island of Kyushu that remains the largest onsen resort in Japan by total daily hot water output, surpassing even more well-known destinations like Hakone or Kusatsu. For a ryokan of such venerable age, its status as an operating establishment not converted into a modern hotel is rare even by the standards of a country with a rich culture of hot springs.
The “Golden Vein” of the Hot Spring
The water that feeds the hotel’s private and public baths comes from a spring that guests describe in reviews as a “golden vein” – a characteristic referring to its unique mineral composition and the shade of the local thermal water. The land around the ryokan, according to reviews, is literally saturated with such springs, making bathing here not just a relaxing procedure but an introduction to one of the country’s most concentrated geothermal areas.
Just Eleven Houses
The hotel consists of 11 separate houses – a small scale that fundamentally differs from the large resort complexes in Beppu with hundreds of rooms. This structure ensures privacy, which, according to guests’ reviews, sometimes reaches the point of complete absence of other guests nearby—a rare luxury of silence even for an onsen hotel.
On a Hill Near a Waterfall, Away From the Center
The hillside location overlooking a river and waterfall, away from the dense development of Beppu’s central area, enhances the feeling of seclusion – you can hear the sound of falling water directly from your room’s terrace. Getting to the hotel is via a complimentary shuttle from JR Beppu Station, which needs to be booked in advance—the journey from the station takes about 10 minutes by car.
What guests say
Guests mention in reviews that the staff are attentive and helpful, particularly noting the Japanese-style rooms with garden and water views from the source, which they describe as “wonderful.” Another guest described a banquet of more than ten dishes for dinner and a hearty set breakfast, adding that during their two-night stay they didn’t meet another guest – a rare feeling of complete seclusion. There is also honest criticism: one guest noted the lack of heating in the changing rooms and corridors, weak water pressure for hot water in the bath, and that two people from their group fell ill after bathing in the open source and not very warm weather—a detail important for those planning a visit during colder months.
What’s next
Before visiting an onsen, it’s worth checking out the guide “Onsen in Japan: How to Use Hot Springs Properly”.
Prices, service inclusions and program details may change – please check the latest information before booking.
