Nogami Honkan in Beppu

Nogami Honkan has a convenient location—an easy walk downhill from Beppu Station and surrounded by plenty of food options. It’s also within walking distance to Beppu Tower, where you can enjoy nice views of the city and the sea. We went during the day, but I imagine the night view would be beautiful too. Staying here gave us a feel of the quieter, local side of Beppu. While the town itself is calm with fewer people, tourist spots can still get busy with tour groups.

However, compared to other traditional inns (ryokan) we’ve stayed in around Japan, the service here felt minimal. We didn’t get the warm or inviting welcome typical of Japanese hospitality. The room was quite dusty, the in-room shower was dated and run-down, and the road noise was noticeable even on level 4. The room had a smell when we first entered, and I had to use lavender disinfectant spray and essential oils to make it more comfortable. The sea view from the room was a plus, though.

Facilities were basic. The private onsen costs 500 yen, while the public onsen is free, but both felt quite run-down and not very well maintained. There are vending machines on each floor, plus free water, coffee, and tea machines, which were convenient for our family of four.
Breakfast was included and was one of the highlights. We enjoyed grilling our own fish and cooking our own eggs and toast right at the table with all the ingredients and utensils provided.

Overall, it was an okay stay mainly for the location and local experience, but the condition of the rooms and onsens, along with the lack of warm service, made it feel below the standard of other Japanese inns we’ve visited.