Spot
Family-friendly hotels near Chojabaru
Information checked on 2026-10-26. Hours, admission and facilities can change; please confirm on the official site before you go.
About Chojabaru
Chojabaru is a district at the heart of the Iida Highland in Kokonoe Town, Oita Prefecture, inside Aso-Kuju National Park. It is best known as a trailhead for the Kuju mountain range, and the Ministry of the Environment's Chojabaru Visitor Center has dioramas and videos introducing the Kuju area. Just behind the center spreads the Tadewara Wetland, which is registered under the Ramsar Convention, and a nature trail of about 1.3 km starts from the center. Tadewara sits at an elevation of about 1,000 m and is one of the largest intermediate moors (a type of wetland) in Japan. Chojabaru Onsen in the district is one of the Kokonoe Nine Hot Springs and is popular not only with visitors who come to bathe for their health but also with hikers.
Visiting Chojabaru with kids
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Boardwalks in Tadewara
Boardwalks run through the wetland, and some courses are barrier-free. You can get a close look at rare plants and animals that change with the seasons.
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Visitor Center
Inside, you can see dioramas and a giant satellite photo, and the high-definition theater shows videos of the four seasons in Kuju. It is a good place to spend time indoors.
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Statue of Heiji-go
At the entrance to the Tadewara Wetland stands a statue of Heiji, a famous Akita dog who served as a mountain guide for 14 years. For kids who love dogs, it makes an easy landmark to approach and say hello to.
In winter, there are days with icy roads and snow, so plan on having winter tires or chains ready.
Family-friendly features near Chojabaru
Hotels within 15 km of Chojabaru (16, nearest first)
Of the family-friendly hotels listed on Kids Stay, 16 are within 15 km of Chojabaru. They are sorted from nearest to farthest, with the distance to each.
Sujiyu Onsen Kokonoe Iyashi no Sato Hotel Daikogen
Sujiyu Onsen Ryokan Shirataki
Kashi Bessou Iida Log House T
Kurokawa Onsen Yamamizuki
Rakuten STAY VILLA Aso Kurokawa
Kurokawa Onsen Oyado Nonohana
Kurokawa Mori no Cottage
Kurokawa Onsen Yumerindo Hanadomari
Kurokawa Onsen Yukyo no Hibiki Yusai
Kurokawa Onsen Ryokan Wakaba
Other attractions near Chojabaru
Areas near Chojabaru
Seasonal picks for Sujiyu Onsen and Kokonoe
New Year Holidays With Kids
Skip the crowds and the cold. Choose from three ways to relax as a family: a big resort with meals included, a warm southern island, or a snowy hot spring town
New Year Hidden Gems With Kids
Avoid December 29 to January 1, stay one stop past the famous resort, and spend the day inside your hotel. Here are the hotels and areas that put Japan's domestic travel tricks to work for families over New Year.
Winter Onsen With Kids
Winter onsen towns from north to south, where an in-room bath, a reservable private bath and meals in your room mean you never have to go out
Travel tips
The high elevation tends to make it cooler than the lowlands, so even in summer it is reassuring to bring something to layer on in the morning and evening. Combining the indoor exhibits at the Visitor Center with a boardwalk stroll through the Tadewara Wetland behind it makes it easy to adjust your plans to the weather and how your kids are doing.
Best season
The best times to visit are early summer, when the Miyama-kirishima azaleas bloom, and autumn, when the highland turns red and gold. The fresh green season is also easy for walking, even with small children. The mountain-opening ceremony for the Kuju range is held on the third Sunday of April. In winter, watch out for icy mountain roads.
Getting there
By bus, take the Kyushu Odan Bus (a cross-island route) from Yufuin Station for about 40 minutes or from Beppu Station for about 90 minutes. The nearest stop is Kuju Tozanguchi (Chojabaru). By car, it is about 16 km from the Kokonoe Interchange on the Oita Expressway.
Access and basic information
| location_onAddress | Kokonoe, Kusu District, Oita Prefecture |
|---|---|
| trainNearest station | About 50 minutes by Kokonoe Town community bus from Bungo-Nakamura Station on the JR Kyudai Main Line |
Map
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FAQ
Can we get there by bus?
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Get off at the Kuju Tozanguchi (Chojabaru) stop on the Kyushu Odan Bus. It takes about 40 minutes from Yufuin Station, about 90 minutes from Beppu Station, and about 40 minutes from Kurokawa Onsen. From Bungo-Nakamura Station, the Kokonoe Town community bus takes about 50 minutes.
Is it still fun on a rainy day?
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At the Ministry of the Environment's Chojabaru Visitor Center, you can see a diorama of the Kuju mountain range and videos of the four seasons in Kuju. The exhibits are indoors, so it is an easy place to head to when the weather turns.
Is Tadewara easy to walk?
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The Tadewara Wetland has boardwalks, and some courses are barrier-free. There is also a nature trail of about 1.3 km that starts from the Visitor Center.
What are the nearby lodgings like?
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Of the 16 lodgings within 15 km, 11 have a family bath or a privately reserved bath, and 8 offer a toddler meal menu. 12 lodgings also have in-room baths or rooms with an open-air bath.
Are there hot springs suitable for babies?
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Within 15 km, 8 lodgings have simple hot spring water (a mild type considered gentle enough for babies). Rakuten STAY VILLA Aso Kurokawa, about 8.2 km away, is also one of them.