InterContinental Hotels will open its first onsen resort in the Japanese city of Beppu in 2019.

The city of Beppu, on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu, has more than 2,400 natural springs, and has long been a favourite with locals as an onsen retreat.

The ANA InterContinental Beppu Resort & Spa will include a public onsen bath, spa and pool, and the 89 bedrooms will each feature their own private onsen with water from a local hot spring.

The resort, which will be situated on 82,000sq m of land overlooking the city and bay, is being developed by Tokyo Century Corporation with the support of Oita prefecture and Beppu City.

“As InterContinental’s first onsen resort, ANA InterContinental Beppu Resort & Spa will be a globally unique luxury resort, and I’m confident it will be a highly sought-after destination for both domestic and international travellers,” said Hans Heijligers, chief executive of InterContinental Hotels Group ANA.

Oita prefecture has become increasingly popular in recent years as a tourist destination, and that’s expected to grow as it prepares to host the 2019 Rugby World Cup.