MURE Beppu

A few things to know before you stay: reception closes at 8:30pm, and there’s no staff on site after that. They give you a number to call, but it’s for emergencies only. The room key is a physical key, not a tap card. Keep hold of it and take it with you, because the doors lock automatically and getting locked out after hours would leave you in trouble. Otherwise, The Mure Beppu was one of the nicest hotels I’ve stayed in. The spacious lobby is well appointed and includes Cafe Shu, a dango and coffee shop. There’s an Ashi-Yu foot bath in front of the lobby and Cafe Shu where you can enjoy dango and drinks, and parking is free if you have a car. The rooms are exceptionally spacious by Japanese standards and very well appointed. Each has a large tub supplied with onsen water, so you can soak in it whenever you want. It felt like a real luxury. The tub in our room was big enough for me and my wife, with room for our daughter to join us. There are more Ashi Yu on the roof, plus two private, semi-open-air onsen that you can book for an extra cost. We booked one on the first night for 1.000 yen and had the other onsen to ourselves for an hour. My wife and daughter usually have to bathe separately from me at an onsen, so being able to go together was a treat.

The in-room onsen was nice, though the hotel felt a bit dated. The AC design was a fail: the thermometer is by the door, where the air conditioner can’t reach it, so the room ended up cold.

The room is roomy enough for two large suitcases, with the bath and toilet in separate areas. It even has a private onsen in the bath. The hotel was very clean and had everything we needed, and free parking is included if you have a rental car. Really loved this place in Beppu.

The private onsen was the standout for me, and it’s said to use 100% natural hot spring water. It was so rejuvenating. The place feels luxurious and solidly built, with elegant decor and a layout that made it feel like home. There’s a spacious foyer leading into a very roomy living area, a TV with Netflix and YouTube, and a thoughtfully divided bathroom. They even provide Dyson hairdryers.