Beppu Onsen Trip from Osaka by Sunflower Ferry｜3 Days and 2 Nights with a Daytime Seto Inland Sea Casual Cruise and KAI Beppu

The Sunflower ferry between Osaka and Beppu usually operates only as an overnight service, but in 2026, it is currently operating a limited seven daytime sailings per year as the “Daytime Seto Inland Sea Casual Cruise.”
The scenery woven together by the islands of the Seto Inland Sea and the bridges connecting the mainland with Shikoku and remote islands is known for being breathtakingly beautiful.
Another appeal is the wide range of onboard experiences.
Events include making an original fragrance based on Setouchi lemon and the Magma Retreat® experience, a restorative hot-stone treatment using the earth’s heat from rare natural lava from Sakurajima processed into hot stones, along with other experiences that make use of natural materials unique to Kyushu and Shikoku.
At the buffet restaurant, you can enjoy dishes made with Kyushu ingredients and local foods long loved in the region, making the trip feel even more exciting through food.

All guest rooms at KAI Beppu offer ocean views overlooking Beppu Bay.
The sea spreads out beyond large windows, giving you an open feeling as if you have become one with the water.
Another highlight is the rich lineup of experiences unique to Beppu.
Time spent learning about Beppu’s onsen culture and the wisdom of modern toji hot spring retreats before soaking slowly in the bath, dishes made generously with local Oita ingredients, and a performance by the local “Toji Jug Band,” which plays sounds heard around hot springs.
Each one is an experience that lets you enjoy the land of Beppu itself with all five senses.
By the time you check out, you should be left with the feeling that you have deeply immersed yourself in something far beyond an ordinary hotel stay.

As the ship sails through the Seto Inland Sea, where Approx. 700 islands of various sizes are scattered, it passes beneath three famous bridges.
First, around 1:20pm, it passes the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, a 3,911-meter-long bridge connecting Kobe City in Hyogo Prefecture with Awaji Island.
Looking up from the water at one of the world’s largest suspension bridges, you will be overwhelmed by its scale and power.
Around 4:50pm, the ship passes the Seto Ohashi Bridge.
This bridge carries a roadway on the upper level and a railway on the lower level, and if your timing is right, you may be able to see a train passing close by.
Then, around 7:10pm, at the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge, the silhouettes of the bridge and islands overlap against the dusk sky and sea, creating a beauty that may leave you speechless.
You can enjoy the view at leisure from inside the ship or feel the sea breeze out on the deck.

Onboard, there are plenty of hands-on events themed around Kyushu’s nature and culture.
In the fragrance-making experience using natural aromas, you create a one-of-a-kind scent based on Setouchi lemon under the guidance of a Kagoshima-based perfumer.
In the Magma Retreat® experience, you can enjoy a new kind of massage using the earth’s heat from rare natural lava from Sakurajima processed into hot stones.
At night, projection mapping is also shown in the atrium.
Enjoying these extraordinary moments while in transit is a luxury only a cruise can offer.
*Event details vary by sailing.

Beppu’s most iconic sights are the steam rising from all around the city and the bubbling “hells” gushing up from the ground.
Created by the power of nature, these hells vary in color, from red to light blue and white, depending on their mineral content, and have distinctive names such as “Chinoike Jigoku” and “Umi Jigoku.”
Simply looking at them lets you feel the scale of Beppu as a destination, making this a classic sightseeing spot.

“Jigoku-mushi,” where ingredients are steamed with hot spring steam, is one of Beppu’s signature food experiences.
Steaming removes excess fat for a healthier finish while bringing out the natural flavor and sweetness of the ingredients.
Because you set the ingredients in the steamer yourself, the fun starts before you even eat.
Both the flavor and the experience are truly unique to Beppu.

One of KAI Beppu’s signature features is “Onsen Culture Iroha,” a program where guests can experience the culture of Beppu Onsen, which boasts the highest number of hot spring sources in Japan.
Events are so plentiful that you could spend the whole day inside without getting bored, including making an onsen mist with hot spring water and Oita aroma oils, onsen shibori dyeing where hot spring water reveals patterns by removing dye, and the Toji Jug Band, which performs using onsen buckets as instruments.
Among the most popular is a tour where guests go out into town with staff to visit “Jimo-sen,” local baths long loved by residents.
After the tour, you are free to explore, so enjoy your own Beppu time by soaking in a hot spring that catches your interest or strolling around the daytime onsen town.

From guest rooms with an entire wall of large windows, you look down over sparkling Beppu Bay.
Lying on the tatami and gazing absentmindedly at the sea is a luxury you can only experience here.
The interiors also feature touches of Beppu throughout, with the local culture found in every detail, including persimmon tannin-colored walls inspired by Chinoike Jigoku and shibori designs by the bedside.
It is also recommended to turn the KAI Beppu original furoshiki amenity into an impromptu bag and take it along on your onsen visits.
For dinner, savor a kaiseki meal featuring Bungo nabe and ryukyu, made generously with seasonal Oita ingredients blessed by both sea and mountains. For breakfast, you can choose between Japanese and Western options.

When the night deepens, head out into Beppu, which shows a completely different side from the daytime.
Streets packed with snack bars and other restaurants and bars glow under neon lights, creating a moody atmosphere.
Let KAI Beppu staff guide you as you fully soak up the local vibe.

On Day 1, board the Sunflower at Osaka Port and fully enjoy the Seto Inland Sea views and onboard events.
Until you disembark the next morning, the time on board is so fulfilling that it hardly feels like simple transportation.

On Day 2, arrive in Beppu in the morning and start with sightseeing around town.
After experiencing Beppu’s unique character through the hells tour and jigoku-mushi cuisine, check in to KAI Beppu.
Spend an unforgettable evening with events that introduce onsen culture and exceptional hospitality.

On the final day, start fresh with modern toji exercises while looking out over Beppu Bay.
Enjoy Beppu’s food and culture to the fullest until check-out, and bring the trip to a satisfying close.

When the “Dramatic Ferry Travel Toji Plan Staying at KAI Beppu,” which combines a Sunflower ferry trip with accommodation at KAI Beppu, is available, booking everything together is the smoothest option.
However, even when the set plan is not available, you can still recreate the same itinerary by booking each part separately.
Booking through the official websites is recommended for both, and since they support English, Chinese, and Korean, they are easy for guests from overseas to use.
One thing to watch is the booking timing for Sunflower daytime sailings.
Reservations open three months before departure, but popular sailings may fill up quickly.
Once your travel dates are set, add the reservation opening date to your calendar too.