Grand Mercure Beppu Bay Resort & Spa

I’m very grateful to Mr. M. Tatewaki for helping me find a room at the last minute. His professionalism, warmth, and attentiveness made a difficult situation much easier. He treated me with real compassion and kindness, and thanks to his understanding I was able to get shelter when I truly needed it. His support and service meant a lot to me.

The main drawback is the location, about 7km from Beppu’s main sightseeing area, Kannawa. Without a car, a taxi costs around Y3000 each way. With one, parking around Beppu isn’t too difficult. The rooms looked dated, maybe from the 1970s, but they were perfectly acceptable. About 80% of the guests seemed to be on tour groups, and seven large tour buses were parked outside each evening. There’s a lot going for the hotel too: good views, parking, roomy rooms, friendly and helpful staff, a pool and onsen, ping pong room, kids’ activities, and a huge buffet for breakfast and dinner in a huge dining hall. There’s also a bath in the room and a 7-11 convenience store a short walk away.

The dinner and breakfast buffets were both awesome. I was on a tour, so the location didn’t cause me any trouble. The hot spring area is fairly small, though I liked the drinks they had outside the spa: water, vinegar, juice, and amazake, which is a very light alcohol.

I really enjoyed the welcome lounge, especially the free alcoholic drinks offered at two times during the day. The hotel is right by the sea, with beautiful views, and the room was large and comfortable. Having an onsen made the stay even more relaxing. It felt comfortable and well served, with a little touch of luxury. Highly recommend it if you’re after a restful stay with some nice extras!