This is a hike from hot spring to hot spring in the charming rural of Oita. We will also hike the magnificent gorges, gorgeous valleys, a pretty plateau, and the volcanoes. Staying over at traditional Japanese inns and meeting the friendly locals, also known among the Japanese as the horse-eating barbarians. If you have always wanted to experience hot spring (onsen) hopping the immersive, authentic, and traditional way then this trip is for you. Come and join me in this "hot" journey.
Highlights
- Experience Beppu, the hot springs capital of Japan that has 2,300 hot springs sources and its eight "hells", designated as National Scenic Beauties of Japan
- Visit Yufuin the floral onsen village.
- Try cooking an egg and pudding steamed in these natural hells
- Experience the many different hot springs baths, the cheesy and strange in Beppu, the rural and therapeutic in Nagayu, and the stylish baths in Yufuin
- See an active volcano Mount Aso, the largest ancient caldera in the world
- Boat the mysterious and beautiful Takachiho Gorge.
- Walk Kokonoe Yume Otsurihashi, a suspension footbridge, Japan's longest pedestrian bridge
- Hike to the volcanoes, the Kuju mountains ranges, one of the 100 famous Japan's mountain.
- See the sunrise and Aso's landscape from Daikanbo.
We will start our hike in Nakatsu, the birthplace of Fuzukawa Yukichi, the famous educator who is pictured on the 10,000 yen note. To get a glimpse of Yakabei Gorge, we will have to cross this suspension bridge.

Walk across Kokonoe Yume Otsurihashi a suspension footbridge.
Photo by JNTO
We will start the "hot" hot spring trail.

One of the "hell" hot spring in Beppu,
photo by
Fredrik Rubensson licensed under
CC BY-SA 2.0.

Chinoike Jigoku hot spring in Beppu, also called the blood pond hell, it is not for bathing,
photo by
Jordi Sanchez Teruel licensed under
CC BY-SA 2.0.

Another Chinoike Jigoku hot spring in Beppu, and this too is not for bathing,
photo by
Hans-Johnson licensed under
CC BY-ND 2.0.

Misty morning in Yufuin a hip and stylish hot spring towns,
photo by
Miya.m licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

One of the outdoor hot spring bath in Yufuin and for us to enjoy.
Photo by
Welcome Kyushu

One of the outdoor hot spring bath in Shibaseki in Beppu and for us to enjoy.
Photo by
Enjoy Onsen beppuHaving seen and experience some of the hot spring, let's move on to Kuju mountain ranges, and hike among the volcanoes and the waterfalls of Bungo Ono.

A view of Kuju mountain in the autumn,
photo by
Jammy Jammy licensed under
CC BY 2.0
Waterfalls in Bungo Ono

The landscape is full of greenery in summer, on the road to Mount Aso.
Photo by
Miya.m licensed under
CC BY-SA 3.0
Mount Aso is an active volcano in the center of Kyushu. Its ancient caldera the world's largest, with a diameter of up to 25 kilometers and a circumference of over 100 kilometers. Mt.Aso Ropeway began to carry the first passengers in 1958 and was the first passenger lift to an active volcano on the earth. We will take a ropeway up to its crater.

View of Mount Aso an active volcano.
View of Takachiho Gorge photo by Einheit 00 licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
We will make our way back to Hakata city after Mt Aso and Takachiho Gorge, however, for those that wish to continue their journey, I thought Kumamoto not too far from Mt Aso is a good place to extend your journey.
Please take note we are planning for hikes during summer and autumn, therefore the photos used are representing the scenes for both seasons.
Additional Info
Note:
- Price is based on 2020 rates and may subject to change in 2022 according to operators
- Will update in 2022 when the new price is available
- Dates are tentative depending on the travel restrictions nearer to date