Held each year in early April, the Beppu Onsen Festival is a three-day event giving thanks for the abundant geothermal waters that made Beppu famous as Japan's premier onsen resort city. The festival parade winds through the city centre with colourful floats, traditional performing arts groups, and mikoshi portable shrines, accompanied by music and dance. A highlight is the yumugi ceremony and special free-bathing events at select public bathhouses (sento) across the eight onsen districts known as Beppu Hatto. The steam-shrouded streets and active hells (jigoku) of Beppu provide an atmospheric backdrop unlike any other Japanese spring festival.
- Type
- Festival
- Category
- Matsuri
- Season
- Spring
- Month
- Early April
- Region
- Kyushu
- Prefecture
- Oita
- City
- Beppu
Highlights
- ◆Thanksgiving ceremony for Beppu's geothermal hot spring waters
- ◆Grand city parade with floats and mikoshi portable shrines
- ◆Free public bathing events at historic Beppu sento bathhouses
- ◆Set against the iconic steam-venting streets of Beppu
- ◆Gateway to exploring the famous Beppu Hells (jigoku meguri)