Oita Airport (OIT) sits on a peninsula across the bay from Beppu. Instead of the long bus ride around the bay, you can hop on a hovercraft that reaches central Beppu in just 50 minutes.
With kids, it’s one of the more memorable airport arrivals in Japan: arrival hall → free onsen foot bath → hovercraft across the bay. The airport itself becomes part of the adventure.
This guide covers the terminal layout, the famous hovercraft, rental cars and taxis, and exactly how to reach Beppu and Yufuin from the airport with kids in tow.
Why Oita Airport works for families
The airport’s signature feature is the free indoor foot bath, fed with real Beppu onsen water and open to kids.
Combined with the hovercraft service, the airport stops being just a transit point and becomes the first stop on your itinerary.
- Daily international flights: Seoul (Incheon, limited)
- Domestic flights: Tokyo (Haneda + Narita), Osaka (Itami), Nagoya, Sapporo
- Best for: Beppu, Yufuin, Kunisaki, northern Oita
- Distance from Beppu: 50 min by hovercraft / 90 min by bus around the bay
Oita Airport terminal with kids
Oita Airport — main terminal
This is a single-terminal airport, so there are no confusing transfers between buildings with a stroller.
The famous free indoor foot bath sits on the second floor, fed by real Beppu onsen water. There’s a stroller-friendly elevator throughout, a baby room with hot water and changing tables, and a kid-friendly cafe with high chairs.
- Hours: 06:30–22:30 (terminal)
- Price: Free entry; foot bath free, towel ~¥300
Oita hovercraft to Beppu / Oita city
The direct hovercraft skims across Beppu Bay in 50 min to Beppu and 60 min to Oita city.
Kids tend to find the hovercraft fascinating, but toddlers may want ear plugs for the loud takeoff and landing. Strollers are fine, and a reservation is wise in peak season.
- Hours: First 07:30, last 21:30; every 60–90 min
- Price: Adult ~¥4,000 one way; kids half-price
Peak-season seats fill fast: reserve the Beppu hovercraft & activities on Klook →
Oita Airport limousine bus
The limousine bus runs to Yufuin (90 min direct), Beppu (60 min via highway), and Oita city (60 min).
It has a stroller-friendly luggage compartment, and departures are timed to flight arrivals, so you rarely wait long.
- Hours: First 07:30, last 22:00; timed to flights
- Price: Beppu ~¥1,800/adult; Yufuin ~¥3,250/adult; kids half-price
Rental car & taxi from Oita Airport
Major rental counters (Nissan Rent-a-Car, Times, Toyota) sit just outside arrivals, so you can be on the road within 20 minutes of landing.
By car it’s about 30 min to Beppu and 60 min to Yufuin. A taxi to Beppu runs roughly ¥7,000–8,000 — pricey, but worth it late at night with sleeping kids and bulky luggage.
Hovercraft vs Bus vs Car — which is better with kids?
| Option | To Beppu | Cost (adult) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hovercraft | 50 min | ~¥4,000 | Novelty-loving kids, no motion sickness, speed |
| Bus | 60–90 min | ~¥1,800 | Naps, big luggage, predictable comfort |
| Car / taxi | ~30 min | Rental from ~¥6,000/day; taxi ~¥7,000 | Late arrivals, Kunisaki side trips, door-to-door |
- Pick hovercraft if: kids love novelty, no motion-sickness history, time matters
- Pick bus if: motion-sensitive kids, prefer to nap, want to bring large luggage
- Pick car if: late arrival, plan to explore Kunisaki, or want door-to-door with a ryokan
- For Yufuin: bus or car only — the hovercraft serves Beppu and Oita city, not Yufuin
Family-friendly tips
- Foot bath: free, no time limit; bring own towel or buy ¥300 at info desk
- Nursing room: 2nd-floor full-equipment room (microwave, hot water, changing tables)
- Stroller rental: free at info desk, return at airport
- Restaurants: 2nd-floor cafe has Oita toriten + dango juu set; kid menu available
- SIM/WiFi: 1 desk, airport WiFi 60 min free
- Cash + card: most desks take cards; bus + hovercraft accept cash + IC + PayPay
How to choose a base after Oita arrival
- Beppu: 50–60 min by hovercraft or bus — traditional onsen, Hells, sand bath
- Yufuin: 90 min by direct bus — designer onsen town, mountain views
- Kunisaki: 30 min by car — rural temples, peninsula drive
- Oita city: 60 min by bus — central, less touristy than Beppu
Need help narrowing it down? See where to stay in Beppu with kids or where to stay in Yufuin with kids for room picks by neighborhood.
Lock in a family room before prices climb: check Beppu onsen stays on Agoda → or compare Yufuin ryokan on Agoda →
Pair Oita arrival with day-1 activities
A classic family circuit looks like this: foot bath at the airport (free) → hovercraft 50 min to Beppu → ryokan check-in 14:00 → Hells walk 15:00–17:00 → ryokan dinner.
Or take the direct bus to Yufuin and arrive in time for a relaxed bakery walk before dinner. For a longer trip, see our 5-day Oita-in, Fukuoka-out family route via Harmony Land.
Fill day 1 without the planning stress: browse Beppu & Oita family tickets and tours on Klook →
- Getting Around Oita with Kids: Trains, Cars & Family Transport (2026)
- Beppu Family Travel Guide from Fukuoka: A Practical Day Trip with Kids
- Yufuin Family Travel Guide from Fukuoka: A Relaxed Onsen Day Trip with Kids
- Where to Stay in Beppu with Kids: A Family Guide to Oita’s Steam-City Hot Springs (2026)
- Where to Stay in Yufuin with Kids: A Family Guide to Oita’s Designer Onsen Town (2026)
More Oita Family Reads
- The Ultimate Family-Friendly Guide to Oita with Kids
- Family-Friendly Hotels in Oita: Where to Stay with Kids (2026)
- Family-Friendly Food in Oita: Where to Eat with Kids (2026)
Top Things to Do in Fukuoka
Instant confirmation for most tickets
Not sure where to begin? This free guide helps you pick the right Kyushu trip for your family — from a Fukuoka family who actually lives here.
- ✅A simple “which trip suits us?” chooser — by days, ages & interests
- ✅Snapshots of all 7 prefectures — what’s actually worth it with kids
- ✅Instant PDF download — name your price (free), no spam
Onsen, rail, or a full itinerary? It points you to the right deep-dive guide.