Photo Spot · Kannawa
Kannawa Yukemuri Observatory 湯けむり展望台
Free hillside lookout above Kannawa that delivers Beppu's signature view: dozens of white steam columns rising from the rooftops, with the sea beyond. Part of a nationally protected cultural landscape.
About
Beppu's 'yukemuri' (onsen steam) skyline is protected as a national Important Cultural Landscape; this small observation deck on the slope above Kannawa is where you see it best. Look down over a valley of rooftops threaded by plumes of steam, the Kannawa and Myoban districts layered behind each other and Beppu Bay on the horizon. It's free, has parking and toilets, and is busiest with photographers at sunrise in winter, when cold air makes the steam thick and backlit. A short walk or bus ride uphill from central Kannawa.
Highlights
- The classic Beppu steam-plume panorama
- Free, open around the clock
- Protected Important Cultural Landscape
- Sunrise and twilight light over the bay
Tips
- Come on a cold winter morning for the thickest steam
- A telephoto lens compresses the plumes dramatically
- It's a 20-minute uphill walk from Kannawa; taxi or car is easier
- Evening blue hour, with the town lights on, is equally good
Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-09
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