Погода: Беппу, январь

Fukuoka-forum threads on winter travel describe January as genuinely cold but notably milder than Japan's other major cities this time of year, one regular specifically comparing it favorably to Seoul's harsher winter at a similar latitude. Coastal Kyushu's position keeps extreme cold snaps rarer here than further north, though posters still call proper winter layers essential - a real coat, gloves, scarf and hat. Snow shows up on occasion but isn't the norm, more a light dusting some years than a defining feature. Regulars point winter visitors toward a day trip out to nearby Yanagawa for a canal boat ride, plus the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum and the local motsunabe stew specialty. The record: 10.5C days feeling like 7C, 3.9C nights, 67mm across 9.3 days, 3.1cm of fresh snowfall, a 12.4C sea, 74 percent humidity and 6.6 hours of sun.

Japan's forum rates April as one of the best months nationwide, and Beppu's own posters add a useful altitude note: up at Mt. Tsurumi (1,300m), overlooking the city, temperatures can run a full 10C colder than down in Beppu itself, with cherry blossoms arriving later there than at sea level. Down in the city, sunny days warm up nicely into the mid-20s C, but a light jacket is worth having for cooler mornings, evenings and the occasional spring rain shower. It's a genuinely pleasant month, just don't assume the summit will match the city's forecast.

Forum posters planning Kyushu autumn trips describe October as a comfortable, mild shoulder month for exploring Beppu's onsen district, with proper autumn foliage only starting to appear at higher elevations (around 1,000m) in the final week of October or early November - lower-lying Beppu itself stays greener longer. Posters recommend a one-day bus pass to work through the town's seven signature 'hells' (the tourist onsen viewing ponds, including the striking red 'Bloody Hell Pond'), noting five sit within walking distance of each other while two require the bus. Reviews are mixed on the wider town's upkeep, but the onsen sightseeing itself is consistently rated as worthwhile in October's mild, comfortable conditions.