Hells of Beppu (Jigoku Meguri)

別府地獄めぐり

Seven hot-spring 'hells' with vivid colors and temperatures approaching 100°C: the cobalt-blue Umi Jigoku, the blood-red Chinoike Jigoku and the geyser-like Tatsumaki Jigoku. They are Beppu's signature attraction.

'Jigoku' (hell) is Beppu's name for hot springs that spout scalding steam and hot water and are too dangerous to bathe in. For a thousand years they were regarded as places to be feared. Today, seven of the hells in the Kannawa and Kamegawa areas are open as tourist attractions. Four of them, Umi Jigoku, Chinoike Jigoku, Shiraike Jigoku and Tatsumaki Jigoku, are designated national scenic sites. A 'Hells Tour Pass' (2,400 yen, or about 450 yen per site) allows visitors to see them all in one trip. Five hells in the Kannawa area are within walking distance of each other. Umi Jigoku (Sea Hell) has cobalt-blue water at about 98°C. It is the largest and most beautiful of the hells, and the grounds include a greenhouse with giant water lilies and tropical water lilies grown in hot spring water. There is a free foot bath. Oniishibozu Jigoku has gray mud that bubbles like the shaved heads of monks. The grounds include the 'Oniishi-no-Yu' bath, where you can soak. Oniyama Jigoku raises about 70 crocodiles using hot spring heat, and feeding shows are held on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Kamado Jigoku (Stove Hell) has six small ponds of different colors, along with a demonstration of steam being blown through smoke. It offers hot spring water to drink and foot baths, and it is the most popular of the hells. Shiraike Jigoku (White Pond Hell) has greenish-white water and includes an aquarium of tropical fish. Two more hells are about 3 kilometers away in the Kamegawa area. Chinoike Jigoku (Blood Pond Hell) has red mud pools rich in iron oxide, and it is Japan's oldest natural hell. It sells 'blood pond ointment' made from the mud. Tatsumaki Jigoku (Spouting Hell) is a geyser that erupts every 30 to 40 minutes, shooting dozens of meters high. It is covered by a roof for visitor protection. A bus takes about 10 minutes between the two areas. Suggested route: from Beppu Station, take the Kameno-i bus for about 20 minutes to 'Umi Jigoku-mae' or 'Kannawa'. Spend about 2 hours on the five Kannawa hells, then take a bus to Chinoike Jigoku and Tatsumaki Jigoku (about 1 hour). The full trip takes 3 to 4 hours. On the Kannawa hot spring street, try jigoku-mushi cuisine, in which seafood, vegetables and eggs are steamed over hot spring vapor. At Jigoku-mushi Kobo Kannawa, you can make your own, from about 500 yen. Onsen tamago (hot spring eggs) and steamed pudding are also popular. Notes: the hells are for viewing only. Do not touch the water or climb over the railings. The steam contains sulfur and can fog up camera lenses. Check the Tatsumaki Jigoku eruption times at the entrance, as queues are long during peak periods. All hells close at 5 p.m., and the last entry is 4:30 p.m.

Hells of Beppu (Jigoku Meguri)

Opening hours

Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby