ANA InterContinental Beppu Resort & Spa by IHG

Look, I’ve stayed at plenty of fancy hotels in Japan, but the ANA InterContinental in Beppu actually gets what luxury means in an onsen town. When you pull up to this place – and yeah, parking is straightforward, which honestly surprised me – you immediately notice they’ve managed to build something modern without completely ignoring that they’re sitting in the middle of Kannawa, where steam literally rises from the streets.

The thing about Beppu is that most visitors just hit the touristy hot spring spots and call it a day, but staying right in Kannawa puts you in the real heart of it all. I mean, you wake up to the sound of bubbling springs and that slightly sulfurous smell that somehow becomes oddly comforting after a day or two. The hotel’s spa – and this is coming from someone who’s done the onsen circuit pretty thoroughly – actually holds its own against the famous public baths down the hill. What I really appreciated was how they’ve integrated traditional bathing culture with that polished InterContinental service standard. The staff clearly knows their stuff about both hospitality and local onsen etiquette, which you don’t always find at international chains.

The rooms themselves are spacious by Japanese standards (you’re not bumping into walls when you open your suitcase), and honestly, the views are what sold me on this place. Depending on which side you’re on, you’ll either look out over Beppu Bay or into the mountains where you can actually see steam vents scattered across the landscape. It’s sort of mesmerizing, especially in the early morning when the mist rolls in. Room service was solid – not groundbreaking, but reliable, and they actually stock local Oita beef if you’re feeling indulgent. The restaurant downstairs does a decent job balancing international expectations with regional specialties, though I’d still recommend wandering down to some of the smaller places in Kannawa for the real local experience.

What really sets this place apart is the location advantage most people don’t realize until they’re here. You’re walking distance from Oniishi Bozu Jigoku and the other “hells” – those colorful hot springs that are more for looking than soaking – but you’re also close enough to the JR station that day trips to other parts of Kyushu are totally doable. The hotel runs a shuttle service that’s actually useful, not just for show. Check-in was smooth, even with my terrible Japanese, and the concierge genuinely knows the area well enough to steer you away from tourist traps. I stayed during Golden Week, which is usually a nightmare everywhere in Japan, but the hotel never felt chaotic or overwhelmed. That 8.7 rating feels about right – it’s excellent without being perfect, and honestly, the imperfections are mostly about Beppu itself being a smaller city rather than anything the hotel’s doing wrong.