We had a wonderful time at In Bloom Beppu! Our family (me, my husband, and 5-yr old daughter) stayed in the 7 person room for a 3 day 2 night stay. There was another couple who was staying in the smaller room during the same time, but the booking is restricted to just those two rooms at any one time, so it feels very intimate and comfortable.
As other reviewers have mentioned, the house itself is very beautiful and it is in a very convenient location (less than 10 minutes walk with a 5 yr old from the Beppu station). But more than that, it was Hanada-san and his assistant Akari's warmth and enthusiasm for Beppu that made our stay so great!
We didn't have too much for an itinerary when we went, so we mainly decided where to go when we got there. But there is surprisingly a lot to do around Beppu - above and beyond the jigoku and the onsens in that area, the city itself is very pleasant to walk around. Both of our mornings there, we went to cafes recommended by Hanada-san on his "Senpo Map" and he also took us on a personalized tour of Beppu on the second afternoon. We also spent both nights eating local food and drinks with Hanada-san, Akari, and the other two guests.
If you are going to Beppu (or anywhere in the area, like Yufuin), I strongly recommend staying here. You can go to any of the onsen/jigoku from any location, but it's nice to stay at a place with such warmth and community. Thank you Hanada-san and Akari-chan for a great trip!!
