A solo day trip for 10,000 yen! ~Oita edition~

So, this time we will introduce a model itinerary for a one-day trip to the hot spring town of Beppu, Oita Prefecture, that is both fun and cost-effective. What's more, we will cover all the "food," "activities," and "souvenirs," while following the rule of casually enjoying the trip on a budget of 10,000 yen or less (including local transportation costs *excluding airfare).

The person taking the trip is popular photographer Moronnon. As a photographer, she is very busy and has a hard time finding time off, so we asked her to capture the city of Oita in photos while also sharing a model itinerary that you can enjoy even on a day trip!

Photographer Moronnon

Instagram: @moron_non
Twitter: @moron_non
YouTube: Moronnon TV
Born in 1993. A photographer who captures a bright and pop worldview. He takes portrait, travel, and corporate advertisement photos. He shares the joys of photography and holds courses at seminars around the country and on his own YouTube channel.

Our trip to Oita begins!

It takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes by plane from Haneda Airport to Oita Airport, and about 55 minutes from Itami Airport. This time, Moronnon took a day trip to Oita with a schedule departing and arriving from Haneda Airport.

After arriving at Oita Airport, take a commemorative photo with Oke-chan, the mascot character of Oita Prefecture. Let's go around Oita's attractive spots, including hot springs, in one day.

First visit to the hot springs at the "free foot bath" at Oita Airport

Since I had some time before the airport bus to Beppu City departed, I killed time at Oita Airport. As expected from "Oita, the hot spring prefecture," there is a foot bath area inside the airport, which you can use for free.

"You can enjoy a hot spring as soon as you get off the plane!"

Located in the arrival lobby, you'll be surprised to be greeted by a hot spring right away. The authentic foot bath is made of cypress wood and uses natural spring water to gently warm your feet, allowing you to feel refreshed as soon as you arrive.

The foot bath area is equipped with a simple changing room, and vinyl socks are also provided so that you can bathe even with your socks or stockings on, making it a convenient place to stop by.

Also, if you ask the airport staff, they will help you take photos, so you can take a commemorative photo here as well. After getting off to a good start in the foot bath, we will move to Beppu city by airport limousine bus.

Oita Airport Footbath

Approximately 50 minutes by airport limousine bus

Get off at "Beppu Kitahama" bus stop and walk for about 10 minutes

Enjoy Oita's specialty, Toriten, at Grill Mitsuba!

After arriving in Beppu city, Moronnon headed to Grill Mitsuba. It is a long-established Western restaurant founded in 1953, and is loved by locals of all ages. At the restaurant, he enjoyed the local Oita dish, Toriten.

Toriten is literally chicken tempura, but the taste varies depending on the restaurant. At Grill Mitsuba, the chicken is simply seasoned, coated in batter, lightly fried, and coated with a homemade sweet sauce.

"The sauce soaks into the fluffy batter, making it plump and juicy! It's bite-sized, so you can eat it all in one go."

Moronnon finished her meal in no time. When she said to the owner on her way out, "It was delicious!", he kindly sent her off, saying, "Have a great time!"

Grilled Mitsuba

Approximately 5 minutes on foot

Beppu city has a retro atmosphere throughout the city. If you walk down the shopping street called Yayoi Tengu Street from the back alley where Grill Mitsuba is located, you will see the store you are looking for.

Buy jewel-like pickled zabon souvenirs at "Sanmi Zabonten"

We arrived at the "Sanmi Zabon Shop." Zabon is a citrus fruit native to Southeast Asia and China, and the snack "Zabonzuke" made from it is a Beppu specialty product. Founded in 1945, the shop is a popular zabonzuke specialty store known for its "good taste, good aroma, and good aftertaste," and continues to protect the history and traditions of zabonzuke.

The shop's zabon pickles are handmade one by one and contain no additives. Unlike regular zabon pickles, they are not sprinkled with sugar, so they are transparent in appearance. In addition to being eye-catching like jewels, they are also recommended as a snack with tea or with Western liquor, making them a very popular souvenir.

Moronnon sampled a variety of zabon pickles, all with completely different flavors depending on how they were made: the lightly sweet "Bekko," the chewy "Shiroyuki," and the rich, flavorful "Kohaku."

"It's interesting to compare the tastes because they are completely different!"

So I bought a set of three as a souvenir.

Sanmizabon Shop

Approximately 20 minutes by bus

Experience bamboo crafts for the first time at the Beppu City Traditional Bamboo Crafts Industry Center!

Take a bus from Beppu Station and head to the Beppu City Traditional Bamboo Crafts Center. This is a spot where you can casually enjoy Beppu City's traditional craft of bamboo crafts in a short amount of time.

During the Edo period, when people began flocking to the hot spring resort of Beppu to receive medical treatment, they began to take home bamboo kitchen utensils such as rice baskets and rice strainers that they had used during their stay as souvenirs, and bamboo crafts have become known as standard Beppu souvenirs.

The experience involves making bamboo bells. With guidance from the instructor, you will make the bells using only natural bamboo, without using glue or wire. You will weave colorful, thin bamboo pieces together to make the bells, which can be difficult until you get used to the strength and weaving method. Although you will struggle at first, you will gradually realize, "This is how I think it will work!" and begin to make the bells without the instructor's help.

This is what we ended up with.

"Craftsmen are amazing. This is an experience that will become a memorable souvenir."

They look very satisfied with the cute, round bamboo bells in their hands. The experience takes about 40 minutes, so it's easy to incorporate into a quick trip.

Inside the museum, you can learn about the works and history of bamboo crafts, so we recommend that you take a look at them before you go home after your experience. Since only bamboo is used, the crafts are delicate when made, but the finished products are sturdy. Why not experience the world of bamboo crafts and experience the traditional techniques?

Beppu City Bamboo Crafts Traditional Industry Center

Approximately 10 minutes by taxi

Be amazed by the cobalt blue steam rising from the hot springs of "Umi Jigoku"

Now, we head to the Kannawa area, a particularly famous hot spring area in Beppu. For over 1,000 years, Kannawa has been spewing steam, hot mud, and boiling water, and it was a hated place that no one could approach, which is why it came to be called "Hell." As you walk, steam rises from the ground and buildings, creating a scene that is truly typical of a hot spring area.

It's difficult to visit all of these hells in one day, so this time we decided to go to the particularly eye-catching "Umi Jigoku". Umi Jigoku is characterized by its cobalt blue color, which is caused by iron sulfate dissolved in the hot spring ingredients. Moronnon was excited as he pressed the shutter.

"What a mysterious color! The amount of steam changes depending on the weather on the day, so you can enjoy a different view depending on the day you visit."

Although I couldn't enter Umi Jigoku, I found a free foot bath within the facility. I enjoyed the foot bath to soothe my feet as I still had a lot of walking to do. The Kannawa area is dotted with facilities like this where you can easily enjoy hot springs at an affordable price, making it a paradise for hot spring lovers. After relaxing my feet, I headed back to the area around Beppu Station.

Sea Hell

Approximately 15 minutes by bus

Get your hands on kabosu at Beppu Station Market, where you can feel the local vibe

Just a short walk from Beppu Station is the Beppu Station Market, the local kitchen. With a collection of greengrocers and delicatessens, it is a spot that supports the food needs of Beppu residents. When you step inside the market, you will feel a calm, nostalgic atmosphere.

Moronnon stopped at Takada Seika, a shop that sells colorful vegetables and fruits. Kabosu, a specialty of Oita Prefecture, was on sale for the incredible price of 200 yen per kilogram.

The store owner told me, "Kabosu is refreshing when served with sashimi or other dishes, and if you like alcohol, it's delicious squeezed into shochu," so I bought some without hesitation.

"This is a souvenir that will brighten up your dining table. I'll try it in a drink when I get home!"

Afterwards, I continued chatting with the shop owner and enjoyed the local atmosphere.

Beppu Station Market

Approximately 10 minutes on foot

Experience the history of Oita's hot springs at the retro "Takegawara Onsen"

During our trip, we asked the locals of Beppu, "What are some recommended hot springs around Beppu Station?" and the name that came up in unison was "Takegawara Onsen." This hot spring, beloved by the locals, has a historic feel even from its exterior.

Founded in 1879, the bathhouse originally had a bamboo roof, but the later remodeled bathhouse had a tiled roof, hence the name "Takegawara Onsen." The current building was constructed in 1938, and has a gorgeous Karahafu-style roof on the front.

Stepping inside the building, you are greeted with a retro atmosphere reminiscent of a public bathhouse from the early Showa period. Guests can be seen chatting with each other in the lobby, making it a perfect place for locals to relax.

After purchasing an original towel and checking the warnings such as "please pour the water over yourself before entering," we entered the bath. The temperature of hot springs in Oita Prefecture is generally over 40 degrees, so once you soak in the slightly hotter water, the fatigue of your travels will disappear in an instant.

"It has the atmosphere of an old building, and the heat of the water is refreshing (laughs). There are no hot springs with this kind of atmosphere where I live, so it's an experience you can only have when traveling."

After the bath, take a rest in front of the electric fan with a cup of coffee milk or Ramune. Moronon, who usually visits hot spring facilities in Tokyo, was very pleased with the time he spent experiencing the history of Oita's hot springs.

Takegawara Onsen

Approximately 10 minutes on foot

Finish off with a craft beer from "GUESTHOUSE SUNLINE BEPPU"!

The time to board the bus to Oita Airport is fast approaching. To wrap up your trip, stop by GUESTHOUSE SUNLINE BEPPU for a drink! The lobby of the facility also has a cafe bar where anyone can drop in, even if they are not staying at the guesthouse, and you can enjoy a selection of specialty drinks.

This time, we selected a beer with a cute package from the many craft beers lined up in the refrigerator.

The moment you pour it into the cup, a refreshing aroma spreads, and when you sip it, you'll taste a fruity flavor.

"It's a craft beer that's easy to drink even for people who don't like beer, and it really warmed my body after a bath...!"

It's the perfect way to spend some time reminiscing about the places you visited and the people you met today.

"This place also has a hot spring, so next time you come, please be sure to stop by and try it out," said the shop assistant. It was a fitting end to my trip to Oita that left me looking forward to it.

GUESTHOUSE SUNLINE BEPPU

Approximately 50 minutes by airport limousine bus

Arrived at Oita Airport. We had fun in just one day!

The day trip went by in a flash. However, it was packed with content, covering food, activities, and souvenirs, and I thoroughly enjoyed my "solo, day trip, 10,000 yen trip" to Oita.

"I thought Kyushu was far away, but if you fly you can actually make a day trip there! I was also surprised to find that all the hot springs cost less than 500 yen."

When you want to travel freely or when you are too busy to take a long break, a day trip by plane is a great way to use your time effectively and have a fulfilling trip. And if you can enjoy it at a bargain price, you will be able to travel more easily.

Once you are able to travel safely again, why not try taking a day trip solo using the model itinerary introduced in this article as a reference?

Photo: Moronnon

Domestic Discount Fares Skymate

Limited to ages 12 and over and under 25!
Extremely affordable discount fares available for booking from the day of departure (4 hours before departure)

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A solo day trip for 10,000 yen! ~Aomori edition~

I want to go out whenever I feel like it. I'm so busy that I can't take a long vacation... For people like you, we suggest "solo day trips" by plane. The appeal of solo travel is that you can go on a trip whenever you want. Furthermore, since travel time can be greatly reduced by plane, even busy people can take a quick day trip to a slightly faraway area.

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