Beppu Walking Tour: Arts, Crafts & Local Encounters

Summary

Walk Beppu’s creative alleys meeting artists & exploring craft

You’ll step into Beppu’s everyday life: tasting pickles at a local market, watching bamboo artisans work with practiced hands, and relaxing inside a century-old house filled with art and history. With your guide leading the way through hidden alleys and introductions to real locals, you’ll find moments that linger long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed in downtown Beppu was the steam — not from the famous hot springs this time, but curling out of noodle shops and drifting over quiet streets. We’d barely started our walking tour when our guide, Yuki, waved us into a tiny market tucked behind a row of faded lanterns. Inside, old women in aprons were chatting over crates of shiny fish and vegetables I couldn’t name. One of them handed me a slice of pickled daikon (salty-sweet, almost floral), and I tried to say thank you in Japanese — got a laugh for my effort. It felt like we’d stumbled into someone else’s morning routine.

After that, we wandered through alleys where the air smelled faintly of bamboo and rain. The main keyword for this tour is really “meeting people.” At the bamboo craft factory, I watched an artisan split green stalks with hands that looked both gentle and strong — he barely glanced up as he worked, but his apprentice explained everything in slow English. The rhythm of their tools was oddly soothing. I bought a little woven coaster (probably too nice for my coffee mug back home). Sometimes the route changes if places are closed; it didn’t matter to me — just being there felt real.

We ended up at Space Beppu, which is this old wooden house turned art gallery and community space. There was tea brewing somewhere (the smell drifted through sliding doors), and walls covered in photos from decades ago — black-and-white faces staring out at streets that looked both familiar and strange. Some local artists from Kiyoshima Apartment were setting up new pieces; one let me peek at her sketchbook while she talked about moving here from Tokyo. I still think about that moment — how quietly proud she seemed.

I didn’t expect to feel so much just wandering around Beppu’s quieter corners. No big tourist crowds or flashy sights — just small surprises and people who actually live here. If you’re looking for something different from the usual day trip in Beppu, this walking tour gives you stories to take home instead of souvenirs… though yeah, I did buy the coaster.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Local Market and Bamboo Craft

• Visit local fish and vegetable market
• Observe bamboo artisans at work
• Attend bamboo craft workshop (if available)
• Explore Space Beppu art gallery and history room
• Meet artists at Kiyoshima Apartment studio

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included for this Beppu walking tour?

No, hotel pickup is not included; the tour starts in downtown Beppu.

Does this walking tour visit any onsen baths?

No, you will not be shown inside any onsen buildings during this tour.

Are admission fees included in the price?

Yes, admission fees for each facility visited are included.

Will we visit popular tourist spots like the Hells?

No, this tour does not cover major tourist spots such as the Hells.

Is lunch provided on this arts & crafts walking tour?

No lunch is provided; food tastings may occur at markets but meals are not included.

How physically demanding is the walk?

You should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness for this tour.

Can I buy souvenirs during the bamboo factory visit?

Yes, you can purchase unique bamboo products directly from the factory.

Are there opportunities to meet local artists?

Yes, you may meet residents of Kiyoshima Apartment and other local artists along the way.

What’s included

Your experience includes all admission fees for each stop along the route—like entry to the bamboo craft factory and art spaces—plus guidance from a local expert who introduces you to artisans and community members throughout downtown Beppu.