Beyond the Onsen: Discover a Deeper Side of Wellness in Oita
When we think of wellness travel, luxury spas, yoga retreats and carefully curated menus often come to mind. In Oita Prefecture, on Japan’s southern island of Kyushu, wellness looks a little different.
Here, it might mean starting the morning immersed in a local hot spring, lying beneath naturally heated sand beside the sea, meditating with a Buddhist monk in a forest cave or sitting down to a meal cooked entirely by geothermal steam.
Wellness in Oita isn’t simply an activity – it’s part of everyday life.
Immerse yourself in Beppu’s onsen culture
At the heart of Oita’s wellness story is Beppu, where steam rises from streets, rooftops and mountainsides and hot spring culture has shaped local life for centuries. Oita has the highest number of hot spring sources and greatest volume of hot spring water in Japan. The city of Beppu is home to eight distinct hot spring areas, each with different mineral compositions, creating waters that vary in colour, texture and their traditionally associated wellness benefits.
In atmospheric Kannawa, travellers can experience much more than a traditional onsen soak. Try the historic Kannawa Steam Bath, where natural geothermal steam combines with the fragrant sekisho herb, or experience Beppu’s mineral-rich mud baths and private onsen.
For something completely different, head to the waterfront for sand bathing. Change into a cotton robe, lie back and let attendants gently cover you in geothermally heated sand as you listen to the waves lap onto the beach. Afterwards, wash away the sand and sink into an onsen bath.
Wellness you can taste
Beppu’s geothermal energy even extends to its food. Jigoku Mushi is a traditional cooking technique that uses natural hot spring steam to prepare vegetables, seafood, eggs and other ingredients.
Simple and nourishing, the method allows the natural flavours of the ingredients to shine and provides a fascinating connection between Beppu’s landscape and local life.
Oita’s wider food culture follows a similarly seasonal approach, from beautifully presented ryokan kaiseki dinners to local seafood, vegetables, Oita Wagyu and the prefecture’s distinctive kabosu citrus.
Slow down in the mountains
Travel into southern Oita and the landscape becomes quieter and more rural.
At Fukoji Temple in Bungo-Ono, walk through the forest to a cave for a private meditation experience with a Buddhist monk, focusing on breathing, mindfulness and quiet reflection.
Continue to Nagayu Onsen, renowned for its naturally carbonated hot springs. At Ramune Onsen, thousands of tiny bubbles gently cling to your skin as you soak in cooler water, offering a completely different experience from Beppu’s steaming baths.
Walk, soak and unwind in Yufuin
Surrounded by mountains, Yufuin is made for slowing down. Start the day with a walk around misty Lake Kinrin, hike beneath Mt Yufu, explore galleries and cafés, then retreat to a traditional ryokan.
Change into a yukata, enjoy a seasonal kaiseki dinner and finish the evening soaking in a private open-air onsen surrounded by nature.
For an even deeper experience, venture to the Kunisaki Peninsula, where ancient pilgrimage trails wind through cedar forests, rural villages and centuries-old temples. Here, walking becomes as much about reflection and connection as exercise.
In Oita, wellness doesn’t need to be scheduled into your holiday. It’s woven naturally into the journey – through water, food, movement, nature and traditions that invite you to simply slow down.
Reach out to your Spencer Travel Wellness consultant at wellness@spencertravel.com.au
