Global Tower (B-Con Plaza)

Global Tower is the soaring, blade-like landmark of B-Con Plaza, the Beppu International Convention Center, and one of the city's most distinctive pieces of modern architecture. Designed by the internationally celebrated architect Arata Isozaki - a native of nearby Oita - the tower rises about 125 metres in a bold, asymmetric semicircular form that has become part of the Beppu skyline. Near its top, at around 100 metres, sits an open-air observation deck that offers one of the most accessible high viewpoints in the city.

What sets Global Tower apart from an ordinary observation tower is that its main deck is open to the air rather than enclosed in glass. This gives the views a rare directness: no reflections, no smeared windows, just the wind and an unobstructed sweep across Beppu. From the deck you look out over the city rooftops threaded with rising onsen steam, across the wide blue of Beppu Bay toward the Kunisaki Peninsula, and inland to the bulk of Mount Tsurumi and the surrounding hills. The nearby greenery of Beppu Park spreads out directly below.

The deck is reached quickly by elevator, and admission is inexpensive, making Global Tower an easy and rewarding stop, particularly for travellers who want a high panorama without the time and cost of the Mount Tsurumi ropeway. It works well in combination with a stroll through adjacent Beppu Park, one of the city's most pleasant green spaces, especially in cherry-blossom season when the park below turns pink.

Late afternoon and dusk are the most rewarding times to ascend, as the low sun lights the steam plumes and the bay, and the city lights begin to come on. Being open-air, the deck can be cold and windy in winter or blustery weather, so dressing accordingly helps; on the other hand, that exposure is exactly what gives the experience its bracing, crisp quality, prized by photographers who want clean, glass-free shots of Beppu.

B-Con Plaza itself is a major convention and events venue, so the base of the tower is a hub of activity during conferences and concerts, but the observation deck operates independently and is open to casual visitors throughout the day. A visit takes only about half an hour, making it simple to slot into a wider itinerary.

As a viewpoint, Global Tower offers a different perspective from the mountain-top grandeur of Tsurumi or the intimate steaming lanes at ground level: a mid-height, city-scale panorama that lets you take in the whole geography of Beppu at a glance - volcano, town and bay - from a piece of bold contemporary architecture by one of Japan's greatest modern designers. For the price and the ease of access, it is one of the best-value views in the city.