Beppu Jigoku Meguri, or the Hells of Beppu, is one of the most distinctive sightseeing experiences in Oita Prefecture. The attraction takes visitors to spectacular geothermal springs where boiling water, steam, and hot mud emerge from deep underground.
The Japanese word jigoku, meaning “hell,” reflects the intense heat and unusual appearance of these natural phenomena. The springs are not ordinary bathing facilities; instead, they are visited for their dramatic colors, powerful geothermal activity, and remarkable natural scenery.
According to the source information, these geothermal phenomena originate approximately 200–300 meters underground. Their water colors and mineral compositions vary, and many of the best-known sites are concentrated around the Kannawa hot spring district.
The Hells of Beppu developed from the area’s abundant geothermal resources. Springs with striking blue, red, and white colors gradually became attractions in their own right, transforming what had once been regarded as troublesome natural features into valuable tourism destinations.
The term jigoku is recorded in the travel account Hōkoku Kikō, written by the scholar Kaibara Ekiken in 1694. This is cited as one of the earliest documented uses of the name for Beppu’s geothermal attractions.
Organized tourism developed further as hot spring resorts and holiday properties expanded. In 1910, Umi Jigoku became the first of the sites described in the source to establish visitor facilities and charge an admission fee. During the early Showa period, sightseeing by automobile became increasingly popular, and additional geothermal attractions were developed.
However, excessive development contributed to declining spring discharge at some sources, and the creation of new attractions had largely reached a limit by the 1920s.
The Hells of Beppu also have an important place in the history of Japanese sightseeing tours. In 1928, Kamenoi Motor Company, now known as Kamenoi Bus, began operating sightseeing buses for the Hells of Beppu.
The service employed Japan’s first female bus guides, who became famous for their rhythmic sightseeing commentary delivered in a traditional seven-and-five-syllable pattern. Their lively presentations helped establish the tour’s popularity.
According to the source, the present sightseeing bus tour continues this long tradition. The guided circuit takes approximately two and a half hours and retains elements of the traditional rhythmic commentary, offering visitors a way to explore the geothermal attractions while learning about their history.
Although Beppu has numerous geothermal attractions, seven sites belong to the Beppu Jigoku Association and are included in its established sightseeing circuit. These are Umi Jigoku, Oniishibozu Jigoku, Kamado Jigoku, Oniyama Jigoku, Shiraike Jigoku, Chinoike Jigoku, and Tatsumaki Jigoku.
Umi Jigoku is famous for its beautiful cobalt-blue water, which contrasts dramatically with the steam rising from the spring. According to the source, the site was formed approximately 1,200 years ago following an eruption of Mount Tsurumi. Despite its inviting blue color, the water reaches approximately 98°C and is far too hot for bathing.
A nearby pond uses hot spring water to cultivate giant water lilies. In summer, when the leaves have grown large, events have been held in which children can sit on the leaves under supervised conditions. Hot spring-boiled eggs are another well-known feature, and visitors can also enjoy a footbath.
Umi Jigoku was designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty in 2009.
Oniishibozu Jigoku is known for its bubbling gray mud, which swells into rounded shapes resembling the shaved heads of Buddhist monks. The unusual movement of the hot mud creates a distinctive spectacle.
The attraction reopened after renovation in 2002 and joined the Beppu Jigoku Association. The site also offers a hot spring classified as a sodium chloride spring.
Kamado Jigoku takes its name from the tradition of cooking rice for offerings at the grand festival of Hachiman Kamado Shrine. The attraction was originally located elsewhere before being moved to its present site.
Visitors can explore six different geothermal features within the complex, making this one of the more varied stops on the circuit. Kamado Jigoku is also known among fans of the popular manga and anime series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, although this association is separate from the site’s historical origins.
Oniyama Jigoku features a pool of greenish-white hot water and an extensive crocodile breeding area. Approximately 100 crocodiles are kept at the attraction, where visitors can observe these animals at close range.
Crocodile breeding began at the site in 1923, adding an unusual animal attraction to the geothermal scenery.
Shiraike Jigoku is known for water that emerges clear but becomes milky white after exposure to the atmosphere. The site was developed in 1931 and now includes a tropical fish exhibition facility.
Its pale water and tranquil appearance offer a striking contrast to the vivid blue of Umi Jigoku and the red water of Chinoike Jigoku. Shiraike Jigoku was designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty in 2009.
Chinoike Jigoku is one of Beppu’s most famous geothermal attractions, distinguished by its deep red water. Historical references to this site appear in the Bungo no Kuni Fudoki, an ancient regional record, and the Man’yōshū, Japan’s oldest surviving anthology of poetry.
The striking red color is associated with iron oxides and other components in the geothermal environment. Visitors can also enjoy a footbath and browse original souvenirs inspired by the attraction.
Chinoike Jigoku was designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty in 2009.
Tatsumaki Jigoku is a geyser that erupts at intervals of approximately 30–40 minutes. During an eruption, hot water can shoot upward with considerable force. The source describes its potential height as reaching approximately 50 meters.
For visitor safety, a stone roof has been installed above the eruption point to contain the spray. The periodic eruptions make this site particularly interesting for travelers who want to observe geothermal energy in action.
Tatsumaki Jigoku was designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty in 2009.
At Yama Jigoku, steam rises from the lower slopes of a rocky hill. The attraction also has a small animal area where visitors can see animals such as capybaras and flamingos.
Bozu Jigoku is known for boiling mud that exceeds 90°C. The site is associated with a former temple called En’nen-ji. According to the source, a major earthquake off the coast of Hyuga in 1498 triggered an eruption that split the ground and released hot mud.
Kinryu Jigoku was once known for producing a particularly large volume of hot spring water. A landscaped attraction was developed there in 1932, featuring numerous Buddhist statues and a botanical garden.
After being closed since 2009, the site was redeveloped and reopened in 2022 as the Jigoku Onsen Museum, offering visitors another way to learn about Beppu’s geothermal environment and hot spring culture.
Myoban Jigoku is located near Okamoto-ya in the Myoban hot spring area. The district has produced yunohana, or natural hot spring mineral deposits, since the Edo period.
The traditional production techniques used to collect yunohana have been designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan, making the area especially significant for visitors interested in traditional craftsmanship and hot spring history.
Otobaru Jigoku is located within the grounds of Rakutenchi, an amusement park in Beppu. It became known as Kannon Jigoku because a statue of Kannon, the Buddhist bodhisattva of compassion, was enshrined there. The geothermal attraction can still be viewed by visitors to the area.
The Hells of Beppu bring together natural phenomena, local history, traditional sightseeing culture, and unusual attractions in a single destination. From the brilliant blue water of Umi Jigoku to the red waters of Chinoike Jigoku and the periodic eruptions of Tatsumaki Jigoku, each site reveals a different aspect of the region’s geothermal activity.
Whether you explore independently or join a guided sightseeing bus, the Hells of Beppu offer a memorable introduction to one of Japan’s most extraordinary hot spring landscapes.
15 minutes by car from Beppu Station