Beppu (別府市, Beppu-shi) is a city in Ōita Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan.

Adjacent municipalities include Ōita (the prefectural capital), Usa, Yufu, and Hiji.

Beppu has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall.

During the Kamakura period, due to its onsens, it began to be used as a health resort for wounded samurai.

Hot spring development as a tourist destination began in earnest from 1879 with the opening of Takegawara Onsen.

The village of Beppu was established on May 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system and was raised to town status on April 11, 1893.

In 1945, after the Allied Occupation, Camp Chicamauga (present day Beppu Park) was established as the regional headquarters.

[5] In December 1957, the camp closed and was transferred to the local GSDF garrison, with the site reopened as a park in 1979.

Beppu has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 25 members.

In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Ōita 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

There are also several colleges and universities within the city: JR Kyushu - Nippō Main Line The economy of Beppu is strongly influenced by tourism with its many hot spring resorts.

[7][8] The eight major hot spring areas are Beppu Onsen, Kankaiji, Kamegawa, Shibaseki, Kannawa, Myoban, Horita, and Hamawaki.

[19] Otobaru Waterfall is a local natural attraction, located in the mountain area of Beppu city, 20 minutes' walk from Wonder Rakutenchi, a traditional amusement park.

[21] Kijima Kogen is a resort which includes an 18-hole golf course and hotel alongside an amusement park.

The competition has been held every year since 1952 and is classed as an IAAF Silver Label road race.