Local Guide
6 sightseeing spots related to hell that you can't miss when you come to Beppu

Beppu is famous for its hot springs. And one of the most popular sightseeing spots is the "Jigoku Meguri (Hell Tour)". Why are there so many spots called "hells" scattered around Beppu? And what exactly is hell?
We will introduce spots where you can feel hell with all of your senses while unraveling the mysteries of hell. Let's experience the great hell that is so close to us.

Why is "hell" famous in Beppu?

In the old days, Beppu used to call dangerous places "jigoku" because of the fumaroles, hot mud, and boiling water that erupted from them. It seems that it was recognized as an untouchable and troublesome land. It was not until 1910 that it was developed and made into a tourist attraction, attracting people to visit.
The various colors of blue, red, and white fascinate the viewer, and each has its own unique characteristics, such as the geysers that gush out vigorously and the hot mud that bubbles up. Many people visit Beppu today to see these precious sights created by nature.

Experience the energy and mystery of nature

Umi Jigoku, with its contrast of cobalt blue, green trees, white steam, and red torii gates
Umi Jigoku, with its contrast of cobalt blue, green trees, white steam, and red torii gates

There are seven different types of hells in Beppu. There is "Umi Jigoku," which attracts people with its cobalt blue beauty; "Blood Pond Jigoku," surrounded by forests and with steam rising from a reddish pond; "Shiroike Jigoku," a quaint white and shimmering aqua-colored hell; and others that allow visitors to enjoy colors that are not usually seen in the area.
There is also "Tatsumaki Jigoku," a geyser that regularly spurts out boiling water, and "Onishihobojigoku," where hot mud gushes out endlessly, creating a mysterious sight. The spectacle that unfolds before your eyes, mixed with the roaring sounds and distinctive smells, will overwhelm you with the mystery and greatness of nature's power.

Focus on each of the specialties that make use of hell

In Oniyama Jigoku, crocodiles are raised using hot springs. The sight of about 80 giant crocodiles crammed together is a sight to behold!
In Oniyama Jigoku, crocodiles are raised using hot springs. The sight of about 80 giant crocodiles crammed together is a sight to behold!

Each hell has its own specialties that harness the energy of hell. In "Umi Jigoku," there is a greenhouse with tropical plants and a variety of lotus flowers; in "Shiraike Jigoku," pirarucu and piranhas, tropical carnivorous fish; and in "Oniyama Jigoku," many crocodiles await visitors.
In "Kamado Jigoku," visitors can take in hell directly into their bodies by drinking or inhaling water from a spring. There are also many hells that sell eggs, which are steamed or boiled in hell, in a variety of ways and tastes. Some hells have footbaths. Even just a few minutes will warm you up.

Local Guide Comment
If you want to conquer all of them, purchasing a common ticket is recommended; of the seven hells, Umi-Jigoku, Shiraike-Jigoku, Oniyama-Jigoku, Onishiboju-Jigoku, and Kamado Jigoku are within a short walking distance from each other.
Beppu Jigoku Meguri (Tour of Beppu Hell)
  • Address 559-1 Kannawa, Beppu City, Oita Prefecture MAP
  • Direction Approx. 15 min. from JR Beppu Station by car
  • Direction Take a bus from JR Beppu Station and get off at "Umi-Jigoku" stop.
  • Business hours 8:00-17:00
  • Closed No holidays
  • Admission Fee Common admission ticket: Adults (high school students and older) 2,400 yen, Children (elementary and junior high school students) 1,200 yen
  • TEL 0977-66-1577（Beppu Hell Association)
  • Parking Free of charge

Enjoy the famous "jigoku-mushi pudding" surrounded by the aroma of sulfur

The caramel has a strong, bitter, adult taste. Enjoy the pudding steamed by the steam of hell while admiring the view of Beppu.
The caramel has a strong, bitter, adult taste. Enjoy the pudding steamed by the steam of hell while admiring the view of Beppu.

Located at the highest elevation among Beppu's hot spring resorts, the Myoban area has long been visited by visitors for its therapeutic waters. The area is filled with the scent of thick sulfur, and the hot-spring huts are a picturesque sight.
One of the main attractions of the area is this store. The famous "jigoku-mushi pudding" is, as the name implies, a pudding steamed in hot spring steam. The ingredients are simple: eggs, milk, cream, and sugar. The bittersweet caramel and gentle sweetness of the pudding make it a favorite among locals and tourists alike.

A wide variety of original menus that cannot be made without hell

Many menu items are made from eggs steamed or boiled in hell. They are characterized by a salty taste and a faint sulfur smell.
Many menu items are made from eggs steamed or boiled in hell. They are characterized by a salty taste and a faint sulfur smell.

This is a spot where you can take a break while enjoying the spectacular view of Beppu Bay and the large concrete bridge. You can eat in or take out. The famous "Jigoku-Mushi Pudding Soft" is made by mixing the whole "Jigoku-Mushi Pudding" with vanilla soft serve, and you can enjoy the rich taste of the pudding.
Other popular items include egg sandwiches filled with ingredients made from jigoku steamed eggs, onigiri (rice balls) with half-boiled jigoku-boiled eggs, and hot egg udon noodles with the tenderness of hot spring eggs boiled in hot spring water and a sweet and salty sauce. There are so many things to eat, it is hard to choose just one.

Local Guide Comment
This is a popular spot with a line out the door at any time. There is a wide variety of attractive menus that make use of the hells. Enjoy them along with the unique view of hell.
Okamoto-ya Shop
  • Address 3 sets of Myoban, Beppu City, Oita Prefecture MAP
  • Direction 20 minutes from JR Beppu Station by car.
  • Direction Take a bus from the West Exit of JR Beppu Station and get off at "Jizoyu-mae" bus stop.
  • Business Hours 8:30-18:30
  • Closed No holidays
  • TEL 0977-66-6115
  • Parking Free of charge

Experience the cooking process of "jigoku-mushi" (steaming in hell)

Assorted Colored Seiro Steamers
Assorted Colored Seiro Steamers" for 1,800 yen. A set of seafood, vegetables, and meat is steamed in about 12 to 13 minutes.

One of the most popular gourmet foods in Beppu is "jigoku-mushi" (steamed in hell). This is a cooking method that uses hot spring steam to steam food, and is gaining popularity because it is healthy and adds flavor to the food. There are many Properties where you can experience jigokumushi, but the unique feature of the "Jigokumushi Kitchen" is that the lid is transparent. Visitors can observe the food being steamed in hell.
Vegetables, seafood, and meats are changing their vivid colors as they are enveloped by the steam. The food being pulled out of the steamy cauldrons of hell looks glossy and tasty. Be sure to enjoy the nutritious and delicious steamed food.

Enjoy a full day at a comprehensive theme park of hot springs!

It is truly a hot spring paradise. The place is crowded with people of all ages, genders, and nationalities, even on weekdays.
It is truly a hot spring paradise. The place is crowded with people of all ages, genders, and nationalities, even on weekdays.

This hot spring is one of the largest in Beppu and is a long-established Property that has been in operation for over 100 years. The hot water is changed every day, and every room is clean and shiny. The high ceilings are open and airy, and you can enjoy the free-flowing hot-spring water to your heart's content.
In the women's bath, there is a rock bath that has remained unchanged since the establishment, and in the men's bath, there is a waterfall bath that falls from a height of 3 to 4 meters. Enjoy various types of hot springs, including a steaming hot spring and Outdoor hot spring. The family baths are also very popular, where you can insert coins to enjoy fresh hot water and monopolize the steaming baths.

Local Guide Comment
The steamed eggs from hell in the courtyard are an exquisite egg that many customers enjoy. Try the drinking spring and hot spring inhalation.
Hyotan Hot Spring
  • Address 159-2 Kannawa, Beppu City, Oita Prefecture MAP
  • Direction 20 minutes from JR Beppu Station by car.
  • Direction Take a bus from JR Beppu Station, get off at "Jigokuhara/Hyotan Onsen" and walk about 3 minutes.
  • Business Hours 9:00 - 1:00 the next day
  • Closed Open daily, but temporarily closed in April, July, and December for maintenance of Property.
  • Admission Fee Adults (13 years and older): 880 yen, children (7-12 years): 380 yen, infants (4-6 years): 260 yen, children under 3 years: free
    Family bath fee: 2,400 yen (60 minutes)
  • TEL 0977-66-0527
  • Parking Free of charge
  • Memo The "Hell Steam Kitchen" is closed on Thursdays. Family bath use can be reserved by phone one week in advance.

A greedy spot where you can enjoy footbath and steaming in hell at the same time!

Jigoku enma zari,
Jigoku enma zari," a set of seafood and vegetables steamed in hell, 3,000 yen; "seafood steamed pizza," 1,500 yen

This Property offers a variety of experiences utilizing hot springs, such as jigoku-mushi (steaming in hell), ashiyu (footbath), and family baths. Especially popular is the jigoku-mushi (steamed food from hell) served at a footbath table. This style is rare in Beppu. The menu is also unique, and this is the only place where you can enjoy jigoku-steamed seafood pizza. The creamy cheese and fluffy dough are very creamy.
The blue tiles and plates embedded in the jigoku kettle are a uniquely photogenic sight. Be sure to experience the excitement of removing the ingredients from the cauldron.

Enjoy a private bath with a view of the steam

The family bath is as large as a Public hot spring. Enjoy a moment of relaxation and forget about time in a bath full of a sense of seclusion.
The family bath is as large as a Public hot spring. Enjoy a moment of relaxation and forget about time in a bath full of a sense of seclusion.

We also recommend the family bath, a half-open-air bath where you can enjoy the breeze and monopolize the spacious bathroom while gazing at the bamboo and the steam. In the magnificent stone bathtub, the spring water is generously poured over the bathtub. The baths feature high-quality hot spring water that is rich in hot spring ingredients, including metasilicic acid, which is said to be an ingredient of beauty baths. The temperature of the water is around 42 degrees Celsius, so soak in comfort and relieve your daily fatigue.
Visitors can also experience hot spring dyeing using geothermal heat and bamboo crafting, a traditional Beppu craft. This is a spot where children and adults alike can enjoy the benefits of hell all day long.

Local Guide Comment
Ingredients for jigoku steaming include a set of vegetables and meat or seafood, as well as lobsters, sea breams, and turban shells. Experience a unique and rare way of jigoku steaming.
Geothermal Sightseeing Labo Enma
  • Address 228-1 Aza Furomoto, Kannawa, Beppu City, Oita Prefecture MAP
  • Direction Approximately 13 minutes from JR Beppu Station by car
  • Direction Take a bus from the West Exit of JR Beppu Station, get off at "Kannawa" and walk about 5 minutes.
  • Business Hours 10:00-22:00 *The restaurant may close early depending on conditions.
  • Closed Closed on regular holidays (monthly holidays are listed on the website)
  • TEL 0977-75-9592
  • Parking Free of charge *Limited number of cars available

A one-of-a-kind experience of being steamed by the steam of hell!

Lying down in the stone room covered with Sekishou, a medicinal herb, you will be surrounded by a refreshing aroma that will make you feel comfortable.
Lying down in the stone room covered with Sekishou, a medicinal herb, you will be surrounded by a refreshing aroma that will make you feel comfortable.

If you want to feel hell directly with your whole body, we recommend the "Mushi-yu," a natural mist sauna that uses hot spring steam. In particular, at the Kannawa Mushi-yu, visitors can experience a traditional and unique style of steaming bath where they lie down in a stone chamber covered with a herb called sekisho.
First, rinse off your body in the indoor bath, then change into a yukata (Japanese bathrobe) and enter the stone chamber. The stone chamber is about 1 meter high and dimly lit, with a temperature of 50-60°C and a humidity of 55-65%. As you lie down, you are enveloped in a smooth and gentle warmth, and a moment of tranquility passes.

Warm yourself from the core with the blessings of nature

Foot steaming
Foot steaming" is available free of charge. If you place your knees and lower legs in the steam-filled room and cover them with a wooden lid, your whole body will soon be warmed up.

After about five minutes in the steam bath, you will feel a large amount of sweat pouring down your entire body. It is not as suffocating as a sauna, but the amount of perspiration is unbelievable. After about 10 minutes of steaming, you will leave the stone chamber, take off your yukata, and rinse off in the hot spring. The feeling of exhilaration upon exiting the stone chamber is irreplaceable. There is also a space where you can sit on a chair and take an outdoor air bath.
The "foot steamer" on the premises is also a must-stop spot. Even if it takes only five minutes, you will feel amazingly warm and your whole body will be poka-poka.

Local Guide Comment
Completely different from both regular saunas and bathing, the steaming bath is a new Experience. Combined with the delicious aroma of sekisho, you will experience a sensation unlike anything you have ever felt before. Once you experience it, you will definitely want to repeat the experience.
Kannawa Mushi-yu
  • Address 1-gumi, Kannawa-kami, Beppu City, Oita Prefecture MAP
  • Direction Approx. 16 min. from JR Beppu Station by car
  • Direction Take a bus from the West Exit of JR Beppu Station, get off at "Kannawa" and walk about 3 minutes.
  • Business Hours 7:30-19:30 (last admission at 19:00)
  • Closed The 4th Thursday of the month (or the following day if the day falls on a national holiday)
  • Admission Fee 700 yen, rental yukata 220 yen
  • TEL 0977-67-3880
  • Parking Free Parking is available at the municipal hot spring "Hot Spring".
  • Hot spring Sodium-chloride spring (bathtub)

Looking back on 50 years of hot springs and hell

The sound and light effects are beautiful. Photography is also allowed inside the museum, where there are many photogenic spots.
The sound and light effects are beautiful. Photography is also allowed inside the museum, where there are many photogenic spots.

It is said that it takes about 50 years for a single drop of rain to turn into hot spring and come to the surface. This Property allows visitors to experience the magnificent story of how the hot spring seeps into the ground, receives the bounty of the earth through the underground, and reaches us with its various ingredients.
The exhibition and experience zones, divided into four scenes, are full of fresh surprises and learning experiences through the use of light and sound. As you enjoy your visit, you will deepen your understanding of Beppu's hot springs and hell, and come to love and cherish them even more.

The luxury of feeling the large amount of hot water gushing out from the hot spring up close

Hot water spurts out incessantly.
Hot water spurts out incessantly.

In the courtyard of the museum, visitors can get up close and personal with the steam that is gushing out of the hot springs. This Property was once a hell called "Kinryu Jigoku" (Golden Dragon Hell). The fumaroles are still alive and well today. It is a sight to behold forever as the steam rises into the sky, becoming thicker and thinner as the wind blows it into dust, and changing its appearance from moment to moment.
Please experience the unique sight of hell up close and personal with a cup of coffee and a hot spring hot dog from 50CAFÉ, which is located next to the hot spring.

Local Guide Comment
The Property is located in an area where many hells, such as "Umi-Jigoku" and "Oniyama-Jigoku," are concentrated. It will be more enjoyable to visit hells after learning the basic knowledge at the museum. It is also a good place to take a break.
Jigoku Hot Spring Museum
  • Address 321-1 Kannawa, Beppu City, Oita Prefecture MAP
  • Direction Approx. 15 min. from JR Beppu Station by car
  • DirectionTake a bus from the West Exit of JR Beppu Station, get off at "Kannawa" and walk 2 minutes.
  • Business Hours 9:00-18:00 (last admission 17:30)
  • Closed Open irregularly (about 4 days a year)
  • Admission Fee Adults 1,500 yen, Elementary/junior high school students 1,000 yen
  • TEL 0977-84-7858
  • Parking Please use the nearby Hell Tour Parking (Oniyama Jigoku, Kamado Jigoku, Umi Jigoku).

MAP

Hoshino Resorts facilities nearby
Return to article top
The information in this article is current as of the date of the update. Please check before visiting as they are subject to change.