From Fukuoka: Beppu Hells, African Safari & Yufuin Day Bus Tour

Depart from Hakata Station
and tour Oita’s highlights in one day

At 8:30 AM, meet your guide, who speaks Chinese, English, Japanese and Korean, at the Lawson convenience store in front of Oriental Hotel Fukuoka near the Chikushi Exit of Hakata Station, and board an air-conditioned coach. The drive to Beppu, known as Japan’s hot spring capital, takes about 2 hours.

Explore Beppu’s Umi Jigoku and Kamado Jigoku

Your first stop is Umi Jigoku (Sea Hell), one of Beppu’s Eight Hells. Formed by an eruption of Mt. Tsurumi about 1,200 years ago, this 98°C cobalt-blue hot spring sends up clouds of white steam. Designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty, it also features a red pond, a tropical greenhouse and a foot bath, and you’ll have about 35 minutes here.

Next, visit Kamado Jigoku (Cooking Pot Hell), named after the tradition of cooking offerings for a shrine festival with volcanic steam. It has six areas including blue ponds, milky hot springs and bubbling mud pools, plus a foot bath, a throat steam bath and the unique chili-sprinkled “Red Devil Ice Cream.” You’ll have about 35 minutes of free time here as well.

Meet animals up close at the African Safari

After a lunch break, head to the 1.15-million-square-meter Kyushu Natural Animal Park African Safari. Ride the lion-faced “Jungle Bus” into the safari zone, where lions, tigers, elephants and giraffes roam just a few meters away. In the interactive zone you can meet kangaroos, miniature horses and guinea pigs, and you’ll spend about 1.5 hours here.

Enjoy free time in Yufuin hot spring town

In the afternoon, travel to Yufuin, a hot spring town set against Mt. Yufu. Spend over 2 hours exploring and shopping along Yunotsubo Street, lined with cafés, dessert shops and craft stores. You can also visit Lake Kinrin, where a mix of hot and cold spring water creates rising mist. The tour returns to Fukuoka around 6:30 PM and ends at the original meeting point.

※ If the safari park is temporarily closed due to winter road conditions, you will visit an aquarium in Oita instead.
※ Animals live in natural conditions, so sightings are not guaranteed.
※ The schedule may be delayed or adjusted due to bad weather, traffic or holiday congestion.