Eki Ichiba

To see a Beppu few travellers find, head to a long and winding shopping arcade under the tracks out the back of Beppu station. This is where local residents fill their grocery bags with fresh fish and veggies, and also pick up wonderful eki-ben (station lunch boxes) and hot meals to take home. You don't need much English to enjoy this bustling, workaday market, and get a good bargain while you're at it.

It's great fun to wander from stall to stall, savouring the yobuko-ika (squid tempura) or futomaki sushi (rice and seaweed roll). On weekends, you'll find lots of university students stocking up on provisions for the week ahead. During the week many elderly folks who live alone come here to pick up dinner. But you don't have to be an old-timer to take away a well-cooked meal, made to order, and perfect for a picnic on the beach at Kitahama ko-en.