WANDER COMPASS BEPPU — Attraction in Beppu

I wandered into Beppu Station in Oita Prefecture with the intent on at least doing a bicycling tour, whether with guides or on my own with a rental bicycle. I wandered into this unique and cool looking tourist information center by chance and so glad I did! Wander Compass Beppu staff were ready to assist me with all my questions, and I ended up booking the “Cycling&Detox to be Photogenic” tour (see my separate review on that tour).

Wander Compass staff Kazu gave me some recommendations where I could eat before I started my bicycle tour. He pointed me to a small little market called Conon Market where they were having a special fair to celebrate both Tanabata (July 7 - Star Festival) and the special food of Oita Prefecture, shitake mushrooms (which I love).

At the Conon Market, I met Wander Compass staff Tomomi (she was fun, super nice, really friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable about Beppu!) totally by chance, and was introduced to her friends and Wander Compass co-workers who were also in the area with her to check out the fair. This is where and when I realized how close and friendly everyone is in this little community in Beppu, and knew I was in for a great day; these are the kinds of small but meaningful experiences I look for when coming to Japan!

I’ve met so many great and friendly people throughout my travels in Japan, but I felt it was so much more with the folks at Wander Compass and the people of Beppu City. I am so thankful and lucky to have met Tomomi, Haruka and Hinata (my fantastic tour guides!), and all of the nice people I met during my time in Beppu. I highly recommend you check out Wander Compass when you come to Beppu! They are much more than your average tourist information center and can help you find the best activities or tours for your needs! At minimum, you’ll leave the office with more information for what you want to do in the area, but if you book a guided tour or activity with them, I think you’ll really enjoy your experience. Oh, and they have some helpful things in their office for your needs such as a 500 yen soft drink bar and currency exchange machine. Check out Wander Compass if...

I was very happy when I left but now after following their recommendations I am very angry! So first of all the onsen recommendation they gave me was horrible. The onsen was super dirty (many dead insets in the water) and the whole facility looked like it was never ever cleaned. Also it was super old.and that for 1500yen+coin locker 100yen +200yen for a towel.

Ok well the next day I took a bus to the monkey park which they recommended using the bus pass they told me it's best to buy. But I couldn't use it the bus driver said and I had to pay again.Nobody told me that the busses are restricted with the pass.I paid 220yen and the bus driver told me I just paid 120yen and have to pay 100 more. He just saw the 220yen in my hands!!! I told him so and he insisted that it was 120yen and I told him again I know it was 220yen. He looked at me and told me to go but he treated me like I am a criminal although I paid twice now. I went to the monkey park but it was closed. They told me during this season there are no monkeys because they are in the mountains. While this is fine I ask myself WHY THIS WAS RECOMMENDED TO ME!!!I had to wait almost one hour to get back paying again. I was so fed up with this town that I decided to go to Yufuin where I visited a stunning very clean onsen with a good view. It was my third time in Beppu but I had a good time before when I did not follow their recommendations.I had a horrible time crying at the bus station due to this tourist...

Hoping this guy really just had a bad hour to himself. Never met a tourist information rep as rude and UNWELCOMING, as this English speaking middle aged japanese man. Was dismissed multiple times :(

We bought the Jigoku tour on Klook but didn't realize it would be quite inconvenient... Tourist buying mistake aside, this man openly AND in front of me, spoke in Japanese to his colleagues about how annoying my request was (to help print a qr code for a tour they sell). The Jigoku tour specified that they don't scan QR codes.

He belittled me for ordering online multiple times, repeating that I could've and should've ordered at any other local place (we arrived at 6am...), gave me no other alternative options to have a photo/pdf printed at the office even after I suggested multiple alternatives. Only after did his japanese-speaking only colleague come over and offered a practical solution.

I knew nothing of Beppu, and after this ordeal we just wanted more information on what else we could do or explore here to support their tourism efforts, all the reviews here looked good. I asked the man this follow up question and was dismissed again! No need to write anymore reasons and detailed explanations - he remained consistent.

I'm shocked by this one man's on the job behaviour, considering everywhere else that promotes 'tourism' has been respectful, kind, and given great service! Hoping it's a one-off situation, or maybe I had...