Beppu Digital Nomad Guide - Tips & Local Information
TRANSPORTATION
| Topic |
Details |
| 🚉 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) |
| 🚕 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) |
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏥 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 📱 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🎟️ 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🌅 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 📦 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) |
ESSENTIALS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏙️ 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 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 |
BUSINESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 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 |
🧭 CONTINUE EXPLORING BEPPU