Beppu Jigoku Tour — A Guide to Visiting Seven Unique Hot Spring Hells

Beppu, on the eastern coast of Oita Prefecture, produces more hot-spring water than anywhere else in Japan. At the heart of Beppu's volcanic theater are the Jigoku (Hells): a set of seven distinct boiling hot-spring pools, each with a different geological character, color, and mythology, arranged in two clusters and accessible on a single fascinating day-tour.

History and Origins of the Hell Tour

Across the Kannawa and Kamegawa districts of Beppu, jets of steam, hot mud, and scalding water have erupted violently for more than a thousand years. Because the sight was so wild, people feared this place and called it an unapproachable Hell. From the Taisho era onward, these springs were developed as tourism resources and came to be enjoyed as the Hell Tour. Umi Jigoku, Chinoike Jigoku, Tatsumaki Jigoku, and Shiraike Jigoku are designated Places of Scenic Beauty for their colors and forms.

The Seven Hells and Their Highlights

Today's Hell Tour visits seven Hells: Umi Jigoku (Sea Hell), Oniishibozu Jigoku, Kamado Jigoku, Oniyama Jigoku, Shiraike Jigoku (White Pond Hell), Chinoike Jigoku (Blood Pond Hell), and Tatsumaki Jigoku (Tornado Hell).

The iconic Umi Jigoku is a cobalt-blue pool of boiling water containing iron sulfate, so vivid it looks unreal; a greenhouse heated by the spring nurtures tropical water lilies. Chinoike Jigoku is a lurid crimson from iron oxide in the hot mud, said to be Japan's oldest natural hell. Tatsumaki Jigoku features a geyser that spouts scalding water at regular intervals. Others include Oniishibozu Jigoku, where gray mud boils, the milky-white Shiraike Jigoku, and Oniyama Jigoku, which keeps crocodiles—each with its own character.

Access & Basic Information

The Hells are split into two areas. Five of them—Umi, Oniishibozu, Kamado, Oniyama, and Shiraike—cluster in the Kannawa area and can be walked between. The other two, Chinoike and Tatsumaki, lie toward Kamegawa and require a further bus ride from Kannawa. A combination admission ticket lets you view all seven efficiently.

From JR Beppu Station, the usual approach is a Kamenoi bus to the Kannawa bus stop. A one-day route-bus pass, or a regular sightseeing bus that runs without reservations, makes it easy to reach the scattered Hells. Hours, fees, and the contents of passes and combination tickets can change, so check the official website for the latest details.

Practical Travel Notes

• Best season and time: Enjoyable year-round, but the cold season makes the steam and vapor look more dramatic. Mornings just after opening are relatively quiet.
• Time needed: To see all seven, allow roughly three to four hours including travel between areas.
• Avoiding crowds: Daytime on weekends and holidays gets busy, so early morning is ideal.
• Nearby real spots: The Kannawa area is dotted with steam-cooked jigoku-mushi restaurants and casual hot-spring experiences such as foot-steaming and hand baths. It pairs well with the Beppu Ropeway and the various springs of the Beppu Hatto.
• Budget sense: Besides the combination admission ticket, you can also tour using a route-bus pass or the regular sightseeing bus. Adjust your budget by combining transport and admission options.

A Word of Advice

The seven Hells fall into two groups: the walkable Kannawa cluster and the slightly distant Kamegawa cluster. To tour efficiently, combine the admission ticket with a route-bus pass, or use the regular sightseeing bus. Steam-cooked jigoku-mushi cuisine is a local specialty, so enjoy the blessings of the springs with your taste buds too.

📚 Sources

For information on the Beppu Jigoku Tour, the main references are the official site of the Beppu Jigoku Association, which operates the hells, and the tourism guidance published by the Beppu City Tourism Association. Details of the combined admission ticket, the one-day bus passes offered by operators such as Kamenoi Bus, and the regularly scheduled sightseeing buses can be checked through each operator's official information. Fees, opening hours, and the contents of the bus passes and combined tickets may change, so please confirm the latest details through official sources before you visit.

Visitor Checklist

• Estimated time: Allow about 3 to 4 hours to tour the five hells in the Kannawa area and the two hells toward Kamegawa, including travel between them.
• What to bring: Beyond a combined admission ticket, you can also tour using a one-day bus pass or the scheduled sightseeing bus, so prepare fares to match your chosen transport. In the cold season the steam looks dramatic but it gets chilly, so bring an extra layer.
• Suggested route: First tour the walkable Kannawa area (Umi Jigoku, Oniishibozu Jigoku, Kamado Jigoku, Oniyama Jigoku, Shiraike Jigoku), then take a bus toward Kamegawa for Chinoike Jigoku and Tatsumaki Jigoku, and finish with jigoku-mushi steamed dishes in Kannawa.
• Crowd tips: Midday on weekends and holidays gets busy, so early morning right after opening is best.