Beppu Onsen a rustic hot-spring resort. Appreciated since the Edo Period, its soothing waters relieve the fatigue of a long journey. The waters of two public baths work effectively on symptoms such as nerve pains. With quaint streets lined with old-fashioned inns and houses, Hamawaki Onsen is the birthplace of Beppu Onsen. Built in 1991, Yutopia (Utopia) Hamawaki, a multi-purpose health facility, is transforming the town's ancient flavour to a new, modern ambiance. Originally built in 1879, "Takegawara Onsen" is located a short 7 minutes walk from Beppu Station. A fine bamboo thatched roof and elaborate facade is a proud symbol of
Tamagawa Hot Spring strontium and calcium. The hokutolite is about ten times as radioactive as the standard background. There are two lodging facilities available in the area, Tamagawa Onsen, an inn located near the spring (opens from mid April to December, and closed for winter since 2012 due to the avalanche on February 1, 2012, which killed 3 people), and Shin-Tamagawa Onsen, a hotel about a kilometer down from the spring which opens year-round, run by the sane owner of Tamagawa Onsen inn. Tamagawa Onsen inn and the spring area are only accessible by a snowcat in December after the road is closed