Okamotoya Ryokan

The baths were a real highlight. Each gender has two smaller indoor baths and one large outdoor one. The water looked cloudy white in the evening, and the indoor pools were hotter. There aren't any family or private baths, but all of them were relaxing places to soak. Our room was spotless, with a wonderful view over Beppu City and the ocean. The staff welcomed us warmly and showed us to a traditional room, and we were given yukata to wear whenever we liked. Rachel spoke great English and helped us get oriented, while the other staff knew a little English too. Meals are included in the boarding fee, and both dinner and breakfast were spectacular, with lots of filling traditional Japanese dishes. Some food is cooked using the onsen steam, and dinner is a fun hour and a half. Okamotoya Ryokan was our first ryokan, and I would happily recommend it. From Beppu Station, it's a 25-minute bus ride followed by a one-minute walk from the stop. The stop is handy for visiting the 7 Hells of Beppu and getting into Beppu city.

The food was tasty and plentiful, and there was a nice sake selection if you wanted to pay extra. I had a spacious, clean room with a great view of the Myoban bridge, and the onsen was relaxing and well kept. I was lucky enough to have it to myself. I stayed alone for one night while traveling in Japan. The bus from Beppu Station took about 15 minutes. Since I don't speak Japanese, an English-speaking staff member walked me through everything. A pleasant place for a relaxing break from busy travel and an onsen experience. I'd recommend it.

The hospitality was even better than we expected, and the meals were delicious. We also loved the beautiful onsen. Great value for money, and it has us wanting to return to Beppu!

The food was poor, and I suspect most of it wasn't fresh. It tasted like frozen ingredients that had been reheated. The bathing area was awful, with some really pathetic shower heads, and the worn wood made the lack of renovation obvious. Worst ryokan I've ever stayed in.