Beppu "Hell" Complete Guide|Step into Kyushu’s Most Stunning Hot Spring Otherworld!
Don’t just think hot springs are for soaking! In Beppu, Oita Prefecture, Kyushu, you can witness a spectacular hot spring scene that looks like "hell"—a place you can only admire, not bathe in. Steam rises all year round, as if the entire city is breathing.
🌋 Beppu Hell Tour: Seven Must-See Wonders
Beppu’s “hells” refer to the extremely hot, steaming hot spring sources. The classic “Seven Hells,” each with unique features, will definitely amaze you.
✅1. Umi Jigoku (Sea Hell) - Dreamy Cobalt Blue Wonderland
This is the largest and most popular of the seven. The spring water is a mysterious and clear cobalt blue due to iron sulfate, with temperatures reaching 98°C. When white steam rises, it looks like a fairyland, completely unlike “hell.”
• Highlights: Besides the main pond, the park has a tropical water lily pond, a greenhouse heated by hot spring energy, and a mini version of the red “Akaike.” Don’t forget to visit the second-floor terrace of the shop, a perfect spot to overlook and photograph the blue pond.
• Address: 559-1 Kannawa, Beppu City, Oita Prefecture
• Opening Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
✅2. Chinoike Jigoku (Blood Pond Hell) - The Oldest Crimson Pool
Japan’s oldest natural hell hot spring. The pool water is bright red due to iron oxide, resembling a boiling blood pond, creating a strong visual impact.
✅3. Kamado Jigoku (Cooking Pot Hell) - Experience Multiple Hells in One Stop
This is like a “hell museum,” with several small pools of different colors (blue, red, mud). It offers the richest interactive experiences, including steaming your hands and face with 90°C steam, and even drinking hot spring water.
✅4. Tatsumaki Jigoku (Tornado Hell) - Timed Geyser
A natural geyser that erupts every 30-40 minutes, with water columns reaching several stories high—very spectacular. Be sure to check the next eruption time at the entrance before watching.
✅5. Shiraike Jigoku (White Pond Hell) - Serene Milky Pool
The spring water is transparent when it emerges but turns pale blue-white due to temperature and pressure changes. The park features a small aquarium using hot spring heat to raise tropical fish, creating a quiet atmosphere.
✅6. Oniyama Jigoku (Demon Mountain Hell) - Crocodile Hot Spring Estate
This site uses geothermal heat to raise dozens of crocodiles, with scheduled feeding shows. Seeing crocodiles lying amid the steam feels very unique.
✅7. Oniishi Bozu Jigoku (Demon Stone Monk Hell) - Bubbling Mud Pool
Gray hot mud bubbles continuously, resembling the shaved head of a monk, hence the name. This is one of the few hells with a well-equipped bathhouse (Oniishi no Yu), where you can actually bathe.
💡 Efficient Tour Routes and Tips
🎫 Transportation and Tickets
🚗• How to Get There: From JR Beppu Station, taking the “Kamenoi Bus” is the most convenient way to tour the hells. Highly recommend purchasing the “My Beppu Free” bus one-day or two-day pass, which allows unlimited rides within the designated area, covering all major spots—very cost-effective.
🎫• Ticket Savings Tip: Each hell can be purchased separately (about 400-550 yen), but if you plan to visit multiple, definitely buy the “Beppu Hell Combination Pass,” priced around 2200 yen (adult), which grants access to all seven hells and is valid for two days.
📌 Route Planning
It’s recommended to split the seven hells into two areas for an efficient and relaxed tour:
📍 Morning: Kannawa Area Concentrated Tour (5 hells)
These five hells are close to each other and can be visited on foot. Suggested order: Umi Jigoku → Oniishi Bozu Jigoku → Kamado Jigoku → Oniyama Jigoku → Shiraike Jigoku.
📍 Afternoon: Shibaseki Area Continuation (2 hells)
Take a bus (about 5-10 minutes) from Kannawa to the slightly farther Chinoike Jigoku and Tatsumaki Jigoku, which are adjacent.
• Time Budget: To fully explore all seven hells, allow at least 3-4 hours.
🍱 Must-Try Hell Cuisine
In the geothermal kingdom, you must try dishes cooked with the earth’s energy!
• Hell Steamed Cuisine: In the Kannawa hot spring area, many restaurants offer “hell steaming.” You can personally place fresh seafood and vegetables into special steamers and cook them using natural hot spring steam, tasting the purest freshness. Recommended is the “Geothermal Tourism Labo Enma” restaurant, where you can even enjoy a foot bath while dining.
• Hot Spring Snacks: Each hell sells unique snacks made using hot spring steam. Hot spring eggs and hell-steamed pudding are classic must-tries. At Umi Jigoku, try the “Gokuraku Manju” and pudding dorayaki.
🗺️ What Else to Do in Beppu?
If you have more time, Beppu offers more than just “viewing” hells:
• Truly Soak in a Hot Spring: Visit the century-old Takegawara Onsen to experience the unique “sand bath,” where you bury yourself in hot sand to sweat, enjoying one of Beppu’s three major hot spring specialties.
• Scenic Views: At dusk, go to the Yumeji Observatory, the best spot to admire Beppu’s iconic scene—the entire city with steam rising from hot springs. The night view is especially magical.
• Day Trip Extension: From Beppu, take a bus about 30 minutes to the picturesque hot spring town of Yufuin, experiencing a different kind of leisurely hot spring village atmosphere.
💡 Essential Tips Before You Go
• Best Season: Suitable year-round. Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable climate; winter is the best time to enjoy bathing in hot springs, and if you catch snow, the experience is even more romantic.
• Safety Notice: The hell hot springs are extremely hot and for viewing only. Do not touch the water or steam under any circumstances.
• Dress Advice: Some areas may have a strong sulfur smell; if sensitive, bring a mask. Wear comfortable shoes for walking.