Погода: Беппу, март

Regulars describe early March here as properly cold rather than mild spring - single figures at night, chilly enough by day that a real jacket and layers matter, with thermal innerwear recommended by more than one poster. Our row backs it closely, 15.9C reading as 14C over 7.9C nights feeling 5C, with 112.3mm of rain across 11.1 days. On blossom the timing is precise: early-flowering plums are still out at the start of the month while the cherry has not yet arrived, so a visitor chasing sakura specifically needs to look toward late March into early April instead. The Kyokusui no Utage festival at Dazaifu on the 2nd and narcissus at Uminonakamichi Seaside Park are named as the early-month alternatives. The sea is 14.3C. The record: humidity 76 percent, 7.9 hours of sun, a 14.5 kph wind and AQI 62.

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.