Sanso Kannawaen is dotted with the main building, annex, detached building, and Sorakan on a vast site of 45,000 square meters. Located on a hill in Beppu City, it has a great view, and there are rooms with a panoramic view of Beppu city and Beppu Bay. There are various room types, such as Japanese-Western style rooms and Western style rooms, so it can be used for various occasions. All rooms have their own hot spring bath, and you can enjoy the "mysterious blue water" that is 100% natural spring water whenever you like during your stay.
The large public bath on the top floor, which was renovated in August 2024 and is exclusively for guests, has various baths such as indoor baths, open-air baths, box steam baths, cypress baths, and ceramic baths, so you can enjoy the hot springs to the fullest. From the open-air bath, you can enjoy a spectacular view of Beppu, which will be a special moment. *The color of the blue water changes depending on the day.
You can choose your favorite plan from Japanese kaiseki and teppanyaki. Please enjoy dinner at the restaurant, where each chef has prepared a meal using carefully selected ingredients.
The grounds include a Japanese garden and a Noh theater, and the traditional beauty of Japan can be felt everywhere. Antiques and modern paintings are on display inside the building, allowing you to enjoy a moment out of the ordinary.
"Hell," a tourist spot in Beppu, is within walking distance, making it an ideal base for sightseeing in Beppu. There is also a luggage storage service before check-in and after check-out, so you can enjoy sightseeing to the fullest. Guests can use the shuttle service from Beppu Station (advance reservation required) and the parking lot free of charge. All rooms are non-smoking, but there is a smoking area within the facility.
"This hotel is perfectly located right in the heart of Beppu's Hells, with attractions literally on its doorstep. All five Hells (Jigoku) are within a 3-5 minute walk, which is incredibly convenient!
While the hotel's exterior is unassuming, its interior is a hidden gem. The Japanese garden in the common areas is beautiful. Our room was spacious with a great view, allowing us to see the steam rising from the Hells. Plus, having a private onsen in the room meant we could soak to our heart's content! We even had the large public bath all to ourselves during our visit.
The Teppanyaki set meal we booked was a good experience, though we wished there was a little more meat.
We specifically requested Japanese-style breakfast when booking, but for some reason, we were given Western-style instead. When we inquired, the staff informed us that it couldn't be changed.
On a very positive note, it was our wedding anniversary trip, and the hotel thoughtfully prepared a small gift and took commemorative photos for us – a very nice touch! Aside from these minor issues, everything else was fantastic.
The only real downside was the hotel's shuttle service to the station. While they offer it, the last departure is strictly before 11 AM. If you miss it, you have to take a taxi. It feels a bit inconvenient to offer a service with such a limited timeframe. For instance, we visited the Hells in the morning and ended up leaving the hotel after 11 AM, so we had to take a taxi to the JR station. An improvement here would be much appreciated!
Overall, my husband, who was visiting Japan for the first time, said it was an excellent Japanese onsen hotel experience. He gives it a big thumbs up!"