Become a Local! A Walking Tour of Arts, Crafts & Onsen Culture
Description
Fancy avoiding crowded touristic hotspots and exploring more 'local' areas you likely wouldn't find in a travel brochure? In this exclusive, small-group walking tour, you'll immerse yourself in history & culture whilst strolling through the streets of downtown* Beppu. Experience the work and daily lives of the local artists who live here, visit a bamboo craft factory** and enjoy a rare chance to meet skilled artisans face to face. The tour culminates in a visit to a century-old Japanese house comprising a contemporary art gallery and gift shop. The house also features a history room showcasing historic photographs of Beppu’s past. *Please be aware that: a) this tour does NOT cover popular touristic spots (such as the 'Hells'), but showcases the city's lesser-known cultural streets & alleys, and b) you will not be shown inside an onsen building **Please also note that due to the possibility of businesses varying opening times, the route & places visited may be subject to change.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Witness first-hand a local market selling fresh fish and vegetables, and enjoy a rare chance to interact with local Japanese residents.
Since its establishment in 1908, you'll be able to observe bamboo products being meticulously crafted by skilled artisans, utilising local bamboo from Oita Prefecture. As well as seeing the artisans at work, you'll also be able to purchase bamboo products - ideal, unique souvenirs to take home with you!
This is an irregular and unscheduled workshop. We can only offer this experience when the instructor has availability.
Beppu is without question a paradise for the arts & crafts, and art lovers will jump at the chance to meet the residents of Kiyoshima Apartment - a creator residence & art studio in downtown Beppu. As well as seeing a variety of works on display, you may even be able to witness the artists at work on their various projects.
A quirky community space & shop within a renovated century-old Japanese house, there is something for everyone at Space Beppu. Featuring a history room containing old photographs of Beppu in the past, as well as a small art gallery showcasing further pieces by the residents of Kiyoshima Apartment, you'll be able to relax and unwind in a charming house where the old-fashioned and the modern meet in harmony. 1 drink included to relax at the space.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(40)
This was a great experience. Very informative and enthusiastic guide! Thank you for the great tour. I was able to speak to a local artist, a local performer and a local artisan. It was fascinating to learn about Beppu’s growing art scene. Very authentic and honest details about the city and culture. I recommend this tour!
Audrey was a fantastic guide! She knew the ins and outs of Beppu, showing us places that the typical tourist wouldn't see. For example, we went to a 100 year old bamboo factory where the work was all done by hand, as it had been hundreds of years ago. We learned about the population in Beppu and the culture there. Audrey was very flexible as to how much time we spent in each place and listened to what we wanted to do. I highly recommend her for this tour.
Dear Jan and Marcus, Thank you very much for joining our tour! It was a true pleasure meeting you both. :) I’m so happy to hear you had a great time with us. Wishing you a safe and wonderful continuation of your journey. And you are always welcome back to Beppu anytime! Audreay
Fantastic experience! Friendly enthusiastic guide, thorough interesting details on areas we walked, toured a bamboo craft factory, and at the end supported at their maker shop. Highly recommended! Much love for Space Beppu crew. Thanks for a great time.
This tour was off the beaten path. We were able to visit the last working bamboo factory in Beppu. We also learned about the onsen culture and visited an artist workspace. Lily was our tour guide and we really appreciated her pacing and communication style. We highly recommend this tour.
Wow!!! That was great!!! Very great!! Thank you very much!:) Authentic Japan. Not where "everyone" is, but to the "locals." I like Japan, crafts/art and photography, so it was perfect. Absolute recommendation!! 😍😎🙏
It was a really interesting look into lesser-seen parts of Beppu that really enriched my time in Beppu! Each stop was a unique and interesting experience and although one of the normal tour stops was not available, the replacement was even more suitable for me. It was just me and the tour guide, so I was able to ask lots of questions and have good conversation with the guide. They even returned my wallet to me at their recommended lunch spot after I took off without it.
Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re thrilled you enjoyed exploring the lesser-known parts of Beppu and that each stop felt unique. It’s wonderful to hear that the one-on-one time with the guide made the tour even more special, and we’re glad your wallet was safely returned! We hope to welcome you back for another memorable adventure in Beppu!
Wonderful private walking tour in Beppu. Highlight was visiting a locals house and playing the harp with her. She served tea and we also had an origami lesson. This tour was very art focused.
Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled you enjoyed the walking tour, especially the harp session. It’s great to hear the art-focused experience made your visit memorable. We hope to welcome you again in Beppu!
Fascinating walk through back streets of Beppu and the bamboo factory is not too be missed. Very knowledgeable tour guide Lou.
Thank you for your lovely review! We’re delighted you enjoyed exploring Beppu’s back streets and the bamboo factory. Loi will be thrilled to hear your kind words. We hope to see you again for more unique experiences!
Disappointing tour did not get a view of onsens an important aspect of the town. The art scene is a shack uninhabited aside from 2 artists and a student gathering house.
Dear Wendy, Thank you for your honest review. We are sorry to hear how unsatisfied you were with our walking tour. Having spoken at length with your tour guide, it seems that you were made aware that it would not be possible to enter an onsen. However, upon reflection I do admit that the name of the tour - 'A Walking Tour of Beppu's Arts, Crafts & Onsen' - is indeed misleading, and it will duly be changed. The focus of this tour is not the highlights of Beppu, but rather the city's lesser-known, non-touristic 'downtown' area - a chance to step into the culture and daily lives of the locals who live and work there. The artists' house you were shown is very typical of such Japanese 'downtown' streetscapes, and we are sincerely sorry that it did not impress you.
Hana-san, our guide was so fun. She showed us so many interesting places. I loved the koto lesson. Seeing the beppu project was fascinating. Space beppu has many experiences. We also loved the summer fun with flowing noodles. They went out of their way to make sure we were happy.
Thank you for joining the walking tour and enjoying the flowing noodles! We are so glad to hear you loved the whole experience—the koto lesson, exploring the Beppu Project, and Space Beppu. It was a pleasure guiding you all, and we wish these memories stay with you for a long time. Looking forward to seeing you again! Hana
