Essentials
- City
- Beppu, Oita Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan
- Population
- 115,000
- Internet Speed
- 95 Mbps average (Starlink and NTT Fiber widely available)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 JPY ≈ 0.0067 USD. 1 USD ≈ 150 JPY. Major banks: Oita Bank, Japan Post Bank.
- Tap Water
- Drinkable (Highly mineralized due to geothermal activity)
- Power
- 100V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets (Flat two-pin)
- SIM Card
- Ubigi (eSIM), Sakura Mobile, or Mobal (Available at Fukuoka Airport or online)
- Banking for Expats
- Sony Bank (English app), Wise, Revolut, and Japan Post Bank (Yuucho)
- Accommodation
- Monthly mansions, Ryokans with long-stay rates, and Airbnb (Approx. ¥80,000 - ¥150,000/month)
- Cashless Friendly
- Improving; Paypay, Suica, and Credit Cards accepted in chains, but local Onsens require cash.
- Short Term Rentals
- Beppu Station Hotel, Grand Base Beppu (Apartment-style), Airbnb
- Budget Accommodation
- Beppu Guest House (¥3,000/night), Khaosan Beppu Onsen Guesthouse (¥3,500/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Kannawa Onsen (Traditional vibe with 'Hell' hot springs nearby)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Beppu Station Area / Kitahama (Walking distance to amenities, transit, and coworking spaces)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Alliance Social Share Office Beppu (¥1,100/day, near station)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Starbucks Coffee Beppu Park (Spacious, reliable WiFi, views of the park)
- Networking Events
- APU (Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University) networking mixers and 'Beppu Startup' meetups
- Social Events for Expats
- Oita International House events and 'English Night' at local bars like The Roots
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- JapanTaxi (GO App), Uber (limited to licensed taxis)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Beppu City Cycle Sharing (COGICOGI) - ¥2,100 for a 12-hour pass
- Best Beach Nearby
- Tanoura Beach (Artificial beach park 15 mins away by bus)
- Top Regional Airline
- StarFlyer and Solaseed Air (Flying from Oita Airport OIT)
- Top International Airline
- Korean Air (via Seoul) or ANA/JAL (via Tokyo/Fukuoka)
- Highway Access
- Oita Expressway (Beppu IC connects to Fukuoka and Kumamoto)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- JR Beppu Station (Sonic Express connects to Hakata/Fukuoka in 2 hours)
- Public Transport Passes
- My Beppu Free (1-day pass ¥1,000; 2-day pass ¥1,600 for unlimited buses)
- Regional Travel
- Oita City (15 mins by train), Yufuin (45 mins by bus), Fukuoka (2 hours by bus/train)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Beppu Medical Center (English speaking staff available)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- LAVA Yoga Studio (near YouMe Town), or private sessions at Onsen resorts
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Anytime Fitness Beppu (¥7,500/month) or Beppu City Gymnasium (¥200/visit)
- Laundry Services
- Coin Laundry 'Wash & Fold' Kitahama (¥1,000 per medium load)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- UberEats and Wolt (Widely available in the city center)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Beppu Reimen (Cold noodles) and Jigoku Mushi (Food steamed in hot spring vapors)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Tane (Organic cafe), Creole Cafe (Some vegan options available)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Okamoto-ya (Famous for Jigoku-mushi pudding at ¥400)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- YouMe Town Beppu and Trial (Discount 24-hour supermarket)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.jp, Rakuten, Mercari (for used goods)
- Grocery Delivery
- Aeon Net Super, Oita Co-op Delivery
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Kitahama District (Small izakayas and international bars like The Roots)
- Local Brewery
- Beppu Brewery (Fresh craft beer brewed with local spring water)
- Wine Bars
- Vin-vie (Wine bar near Beppu Station)
- Street Food Stalls
- Beppu Night Market (Seasonal) and stalls in Kannawa
- Popular International Cuisine
- Purunima (Indian), Bun-bun (Korean BBQ)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- The Seven Hells of Beppu (Jigoku Meguri - ¥2,200 for a multi-pass)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Beppu Art Museum, Beppu City Traditional Bamboo Crafts Center
- Historical Sites
- Takegawara Onsen (Built in 1879, famous for sand baths)
- Religious Sites
- Beppu Ropeway/Tsurumi-dake shrines, Shigira Onsen Shrine
- Annual Events
- Beppu Hatto Onsen Festival (April), Beppu Fireworks Festival (July)
- Cultural Districts
- Kannawa District (Steam-filled streets and historic bathhouses)
- Theater Venues
- Beppu B-Con Plaza (Large scale events and performances)
- Local Markets
- Beppu Ekimae Market (Fresh seafood and local Oita produce)
- Music Scene
- Copper Ravens (Live music venue and bar)
- Street Art
- Kiyotaki Art project (Murals throughout the back alleys of Beppu)
- Cooking Classes
- Jigoku Mushi Kobo (Self-steaming cooking center in Kannawa)
- Art Galleries
- SELECT BEPPU (Art shop and gallery in a renovated old house)
- Historic Buildings
- Beppu Tower (Designed by Tachu Naito, ¥800 entry)
- Local Heritage
- Beppu Bamboo Crafts (Intangible cultural heritage of Oita)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Mount Tsurumi (Accessible via Beppu Ropeway for ¥1,600)
- National Parks Nearby
- Aso-Kuju National Park (1-hour drive from Beppu)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Beppu Bay Promenade (Flat path along the ocean for 5km)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Yukemuri Observatory (View of rising steam over the city)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Lake Shidaka (Mountain lake with swans and seasonal birds)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Lake Shidaka Campground (Requires reservation and fee)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Yamato Transport (Kuroneko), Sagawa Express
- Tech Repair Services
- PC Depot Oita (Short drive away) or small shops near the station
- Table Tennis Spots
- Beppu City Gymnasium (Public tables available for hourly rental)
- Language Classes
- Oita International Plaza Japanese Lessons (Free or low cost)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Beppu City Library (Quiet study rooms available)
- Community Centers
- Beppu Civic Hall (Community workshops and events)
- Gaming Lounges
- Gigo Beppu (Arcade and gaming center)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Pachinko Maruhan Beppu (Casinos are illegal; Pachinko is the local alternative)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ¥250,000 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = ¥7,500,000 / $50,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ¥150,000 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = ¥4,500,000 / $30,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ¥220,000 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = ¥11,000,000 / $73,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ¥130,000 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = ¥6,500,000 / $43,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ¥200,000 per m² (e.g., 75 m² = ¥15,000,000 / $100,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ¥110,000 per m² (e.g., 75 m² = ¥8,250,000 / $55,000)
- Corporate Tax
- Approx. 30% (Combined effective rate including national and local taxes)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 20.42% (Standard rate for non-residents)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents; flat 20.42% for non-residents on Japan-source income
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45% (Plus 10% local inhabitant tax)
- VAT
- 10% (8% for food and beverages excluding alcohol/dining out)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, applicable to 'shell' companies or low-tax jurisdictions
- Property Tax
- 1.4% Fixed Assets Tax (Annual)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Registration and License Tax (0.4% - 2.0%) plus Real Estate Acquisition Tax (3% - 4%)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- New 6-month Digital Nomad Visa (April 2024 launch) allows remote work for income over ¥10 million/year