Beppu — Japan's Onsen Capital★★
Beppu (別府) on the east coast of Kyushu is Japan's hottest city — literally. With over 2,800 hot springs and the highest thermal water output in the world (after Yellowstone National Park), the city literally steams from every crevice. In the morning, Beppu is enveloped in a surreal cloud of steam hovering over the rooftops.
The "Hells" of Beppu (Jigoku Meguri)
The most famous attractions are the seven hells — hot springs too hot for bathing (up to 98 °C) and instead admired as natural spectacles. Combo ticket: ¥2,200 for all seven.
- Umi Jigoku (Sea Hell): An unreal cobalt blue pond — the most beautiful of all the hells. Tropical lotus flowers bloom in the garden, heated by the thermal water.
- Chi no Ike Jigoku (Blood Pond Hell): Blood-red colored water due to iron oxide — eerie and fascinating.
- Tatsumaki Jigoku (Tornado Hell): A geyser that erupts every 30–40 minutes.
- Oniyama Jigoku (Demon Mountain Hell): Here, crocodiles are warmed with the thermal water — bizarre, but typically Japanese.
Bathing in Beppu
Besides sightseeing, Beppu is primarily for bathing. The city has eight onsen areas with different thermal waters:
- Takegawara Onsen: A historic wooden bathhouse (1879) where you can bury yourself in hot volcanic sand (Sunayu, ¥1,500). Surreal and relaxing.
- Hyōtan Onsen: Family-friendly onsen resort with various pools, steam baths, and waterfall showers (¥820).
- Jigoku Mushi Kōbō: "Hell Steam Kitchen" — here you cook your own food (eggs, corn, seafood, vegetables) in natural steam vents. An unforgettable experience for ¥500 + ingredients.
Getting there: Special train "Sonic" from Fukuoka/Hakata (2 hrs, JR Pass included) or bus from Ōita Airport (45 min.).
💡 Tipp
Plan a full day for Beppu: visit the hells in the morning, have hell-steamed cuisine for lunch, and enjoy a sand bath in Takegawara in the afternoon. The hells are in two groups — five side by side in the Kannawa area, two slightly further away. Local bus or taxi recommended.
