Yamada Bessou is a small onsen inn in central Beppu, Oita, set in a villa built in 1930 as a private home. The inn calls it a 95-year-old villa where traces of the Showa era show everywhere. It has three rooms, a Showa-retro Western-style drawing room and a garden you can see from the corridor. Before you book, three things matter: breakfast is the only meal; no room has its own bath, so you use the shared onsen; and arriving after 21:00 costs extra.
Yamada Bessou at a glance
| Item | Official information |
|---|---|
| Address | 3-2-18 Kitahama, Beppu, Oita |
| Phone | +81-977-24-2121 |
| info@yamadabessou.jp | |
| Building | Villa built in 1930; site of about 600 tsubo |
| Rooms | 3 (two Japanese rooms in the main building, one loft room in a former storehouse) |
| Check-in | From 15:00; extra fee after 21:00 |
| Meals | Breakfast only (or room only) |
| Baths | Indoor baths for men and women (24 hours), one private open-air bath |
| Extra charge | Bathing tax 250 yen per adult |
| Cards at the inn | Visa, Mastercard, American Express |
| Parking | Free, 8 cars |
From the official site and booking pages, read October 14, 2026.
Which room should you choose at Yamada Bessou?
The two-story main building has one room on each floor, and a storehouse was turned into a Western-style room with a loft in 2022. All rooms are non-smoking and have Wi-Fi.
| Room | Type | Guests | Toilet / bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Myoban (main building, 2nd floor) | Two Japanese rooms, 6 + 8 tatami mats, futons | Up to 5 | Toilet in room; no bath |
| Kankaiji (main building, 1st floor) | Japanese room of 12 mats, futons | Up to 5 | Toilet in room; no bath |
| Kura (former storehouse) | 14.3 sq m living space + loft with 2 single beds | Up to 2 | Shared toilet and bath |
From the official rooms page and booking pages, read October 14, 2026.
What is special about the Kura room?
It is a quiet loft room the inn compares to a secret base. A projector is fixed to the ceiling so you can watch movies, and there is a round table, a fridge and a kettle. There is no TV, and the toilet and bath are shared.
What about the Japanese rooms?
Myoban, upstairs, is the largest room, two rooms joined together for groups. Kankaiji, downstairs, has tatami of shichito rush and snow-viewing shoji screens that look onto the garden. Both are listed for groups, and the booking page asks parties of three or more who want two rooms to book each room separately.
How do the baths work at Yamada Bessou?
The water is Beppu Onsen, described as 100 percent natural and flowing straight from the source, with no artificial hot spring added. The indoor and open-air baths use different spring types.
When can I use the indoor baths?
The separate indoor baths for men and women are open 24 hours and free for guests. Their tiled floors and walls have been handed down through the generations. The inn notes that cleaning and checks close them on some days or hours without a fixed schedule.
How do I book the private open-air bath?
There is one open-air bath, used privately and free for overnight guests. Book a slot when you check in; slots go in check-in order. The official pages give different slot lengths and hours, so ask at the desk which times are open on your night.
Can I bathe with a tattoo?
The official pages do not mention tattoos. Because the open-air bath is used privately, it is worth asking the inn before you book. Our tattoo and onsen guide explains what to ask.
Breakfast at Yamada Bessou
Is there dinner?
No. Plans are room only or with breakfast. The room-only plan points guests to Beppu’s many restaurants and invites them to ask the staff for favorites. A shared fridge, microwave and hot-water pot are available.
What is breakfast like?
A Japanese set breakfast is served in the large hall, starting at 8:00 or 8:30. The proprietress visits producers herself to source seasonal ingredients from Oita and nearby, and the dishes are served mainly on Onta ware from Hita, Oita. The day-visit version lists rice from Ajimu, seasonal grilled fish, rolled omelet, miso soup and a small side dish.
Can the inn handle a special diet?
The official pages say vegetarian meals are possible if you ask in advance. They do not cover allergies or halal, so email the inn with your needs before you book.
Prices and rules at Yamada Bessou
How much does a night cost?
On October 14, 2026, the official plan list, set for two adults in one room, started at 19,250 yen per adult room only in either main-building room (38,500 yen for two) and 20,900 yen per adult with breakfast. The Kura room started at 16,500 yen per adult room only and 18,150 yen with breakfast. Rates rise on some dates. Stays of two nights or more get 10 percent off, and the inn says booking on its official site is cheapest. Guests named Yamada who show ID with that surname get 10 percent off through the “Yamada Wari” plan.
What extra charges should I expect?
The bathing tax of 250 yen per adult is charged separately; the inn applies it from junior high school age. Beppu City sets 250 yen for room-and-meal charges of 6,001 to 50,000 yen before consumption tax, and exempts children under 12. See our onsen bathing tax guide. Late arrival adds 1,000 yen per room from 21:00 and 2,000 yen from 22:00.
What about children?
The booking pages and one plan description point in different directions on children. If you are traveling with kids, email the inn before you book.
What is the cancellation policy?
The official facility page says each plan’s own cancellation rule comes first, and the booking pages show that rule for each plan. The two do not list the same fees, so read the rule on your plan’s booking page before you pay. Our hotel cancellation guide covers the basics.
How do I pay?
The booking page accepts payment at the inn or online by card, with no deposit. Cards accepted at the inn are Visa, Mastercard and American Express. If you book without making a member account, you cannot change the booking; you cancel it and book again.
Getting to Yamada Bessou in central Beppu
The inn is about an 8-minute walk from the east exit of JR Beppu Station, or 3 minutes by car. From the Beppu Kitahama highway bus stop it is a 5-minute walk. By car from Fukuoka, take the Oita Expressway to Beppu IC, turn left, and drive about 15 minutes toward the station. Parking is free for 8 cars. The official pages do not mention a pickup service. Takegawara Onsen is about 10 minutes on foot; for a day out, see our Beppu Hells guide.
What foreign guests should know before staying at Yamada Bessou
- The site has English pages and an English booking page with plans, prices and rules.
- Plan dinner in town: the inn serves breakfast only.
- No room has a private bath; the indoor onsen is open 24 hours.
- Arrive by 21:00 to avoid the late fee, and contact the inn if a delay will push you past 23:00.
- Same-day bookings close at 8:00 on the day of arrival.
Frequently asked questions
Does Yamada Bessou serve dinner?
Do the rooms at Yamada Bessou have their own bath?
What time is check-in at Yamada Bessou?
Can I bathe with a tattoo at Yamada Bessou?
How do I get to Yamada Bessou from Beppu Station?
Bottom line (2026): Yamada Bessou is a three-room inn in a 1930 villa near Beppu Station, with 24-hour indoor onsen and a private open-air bath. Breakfast is the only meal. Book on the official English booking page, and email the inn about checkout, children or tattoos.
Sources
Every fact on this page is from Yamada Bessou’s official pages: home (Japanese), home (English), rooms, hot springs, facility and access; the official English booking page and Japanese booking page; and Beppu City’s bathing tax page. All were read on October 14, 2026. Prices and rules change; check the official site before you book.
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