Is Beppu safe?
Very safe from crime. The real risks are volcanic gas near vents, scalding water and over-long hot soaks.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 5/5, very safe.
- US travel advisory: Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, updated 2025-05-14.
- Homicide rate in Japan: 0.2 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Japan: 3.6 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 110 · Ambulance 119 · Fire 119 · Tourist police 050-3816-2787.
Safety in Beppu at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Crime | Rare petty theft; nothing targeting visitors. |
| At night | Quiet and safe; the station area has a few izakaya, and most places close early. |
| Solo women | Very safe alone. Some old public baths are men-only or mixed; check signs. |
| Other risks | Volcanic gas and hot water at the hells; Heat shock from long baths; Earthquakes and typhoon rain |
Scams, areas and local laws
Take care
- Hot spring steam fields: follow signs, stay on marked paths
- Soaking after drinking: faintness and falls
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Short-term visitors must carry their passport at all times; police may ask for it.
- Adderall and strong pseudoephedrine decongestants are banned; check medicines before packing.
- Cannabis, including CBD with THC, is illegal; using it has been a crime since Dec 2024.
How Beppu compares in Japan
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Tokyo | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kyoto | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Osaka | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hiroshima | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nara | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Sapporo | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Okinawa | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hakone | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Fukuoka | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kawaguchiko | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Niseko | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Yokohama | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kanazawa | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Takayama | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nagoya | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nikko | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kamakura | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kobe | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hakuba | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Ishigaki | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nagasaki | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Shirakawa-go | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Miyakojima | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hakodate | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Otaru | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Beppu | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Matsumoto | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Koyasan | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Furano | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Sendai | 5/5 · Very safe |
Quick answers
Is Beppu safe for solo female travelers?
Very safe alone. Some old public baths are men-only or mixed; check signs.
Is Beppu safe at night?
Quiet and safe; the station area has a few izakaya, and most places close early.
What is the crime rate in Beppu?
Rare petty theft; nothing targeting visitors. Nationally, Japan records 0.2 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Beppu?
Police 110 · Ambulance 119 · Fire 119 · Tourist police 050-3816-2787.
More about Beppu
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Oita Airport
- Beppu city
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.