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| Beppu 別府市 |
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  Beppu
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| Coordinates: 33°16′46.3″N 131°30′0.1″E / 33.279528°N 131.500028°E | |||
| Country | Japan | ||
| Region | Kyūshū | ||
| Prefecture | Ōita | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Hiroshi Hamada | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 125.13 km2 (48.3 sq mi) | ||
| Population (January 2008) |
122,297 | ||
| - Density | 977/km2 (2,530.4/sq mi) | ||
| City Symbols | |||
| - Tree | Sweet Osmanthus and Camphor Laurel | ||
| - Flower | Ōmurasaki (Rhododendron x pulchrum) | ||
| Website | City of Beppu | ||
| Phone number | 0977-21-1111 | ||
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1-15 Kaminoguchi-chō, Beppu-shi, Ōita-ken |
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Beppu (別府市 Beppu-shi) is a city located in Ōita Prefecture on the island of Kyūshū, Japan. On January 31, 2008, the city had an official population of 122,297 and total area is 125.13 km² for a density of 977 persons per km².[1]
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Hot springs
The city was founded on April 1, 1924, and is famous for its onsen (hot springs), which are regarded as sacred. Beppu is Japan's onsen capital with the largest volume of hot water in the world apart from Yellowstone in the United States and the largest number of hot spring sources in Japan. Beppu contains nine major geothermal hot spots, which are sometimes referred to as the "nine hells of Beppu". Beppu is also divided into eight major hot spring areas, otherwise known as Beppu Hatto. The eight areas are Beppu, Kitahama, Kamegawa, Shibaseki, Kannawa, Myoban, Horita and Hamawaki. Beppu is considered a tourist town by the Japanese. Like many other Japanese cities, Beppu is sandwiched between the sea and the mountains.
Hot spring areas
- Beppu Onsen
- Kankaiji
- Kamegawa
- Shibaseki
- Kannawa
- Myoban
- Horita
- Hamawaki
Asia Pacific University
Recently, Beppu has been undergoing an urban renewal. In 2000, the city subsidized the creation of the Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, an international university which focuses on International Relations and Business. The university has an enrollment of 5,633 students originating from 98 countries and regions[2], making it one of the most culturally diverse universities in Japan.
The international student population has also invigorated the local restaurant scene with Jamaican, Indian, Nepali, Lithuanian, Papua New Guinean and Indonesian restaurants. In restaurants operated by locals too, food from various different countries served by Japanese-speaking international student waiters and waitresses, such as at the McDonalds on Route 10, have now become a common sight.
Sex museum
Since the 1980s, Beppu has been known for its sex museum (Beppu Hihokan) which commemorates the resort town's sex industry with waxwork exhibits. The Hihokan was founded by an aficionado of sex-related artifacts, many of which are on display. A very large tableau of many Samurai in erotic couplings with Geisha has a supported glass over it with fogged areas to hide the genitals. There is also a small shop area before the exit.
Other visitor attractions
Besides the various onsen, at the edge of the city at the border with Ōita, Beppu also has an aquarium called Umi Tamago (lit. "Sea Egg" but in English "Oita Marine Palace")[3] featuring dolphins at the base of Takasaki yama (Mt. Takasaki), which is known for its large population of wild monkeys (Japanese macaques).
Twin cities
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This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2008) |
Beppu has twin town relationships with:
Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
Bath, United Kingdom
Beaumont, Texas, United States
Mokpo, South Korea
Rotorua, New Zealand
Furnas, Portugal
Buildings
References
External links
- Beppu official website
- Beppu Navi homepage
- Beppu travel guide from Wikitravel
- Information about the "hells" hot springs
- Backyard Beppu Onsen
- Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
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