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
Sentō Sentō Another type of Japanese public bath is "onsen", which uses hot water from a natural hot spring. In general the word onsen means that the bathing facility has at least one bath filled with natural hot spring water. However throughout the Kansai region of Japan the word "onsen" is also a commonly used naming scheme for sentō. Sentō and supersentō in Kansai that do have access to a hot spring will often differentiate themselves by having "natural hot spring" (天然温泉) somewhere on their signage. There are many different looks for a Japanese "sentō", or public bath. Most traditional "sentō",