OitaLeisure

Kita Kōka Shopping Street (北高架商店街)

Flow of the course

Previous stop: Beppu's iconic communal bathhouse, with its striking 1938 karahafu-style roof

About 15 min from the previous stop

About 35 min here

About 10 min to the next stop

Next stop: Head to the lantern-lit Yakushi Festival at Hamawaki Onsen, said to be the birthplace of Beppu hot springs

About this spot

This small, roughly 50-meter shopping street runs beneath the elevated tracks directly connected to JR Beppu Station. Distinctive shops line the street, from cafes and general goods stores to fashion retailers, and its unique artsy, retro atmosphere is popular with young people and tourists alike. Taking a walk through here to grab a meal and do some shopping before heading to the evening's festival grounds at Hamawaki Onsen (浜脇温泉) lets you avoid the crowds later in the evening and move around more comfortably. Its short, easily walkable distance from Beppu Station also makes it easy to stop by.

Tips

Within walking distance of Takegawara Onsen. The area can get crowded with festival-goers after evening, so visiting at this time is a good bet. It's reassuring to bring extra drinks.