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Beppu Onsen is one of Japan's leading hot spring resorts, and the ""Jigoku Tour"" is a popular tourist spot where you can enjoy the unique scenery of the seven unique hells.

This area has been feared as ""Hell"" for over 1,000 years, due to the eruptions of steam and hot mud, but the efficacy of the hot springs has attracted attention and it has developed into a tourist destination. In particular, Kannawa Onsen has a legend that the monk Ippen Shonin (1239-1289) calmed the hell and opened a hot springs resort, which is said to have laid the foundation for the hot spring resort.

Also, Aburaya Kumahachi (1863-1935), known as the ""father of Beppu tourism,"" made many contributions, including the construction of inns, the establishment of the current Kamenoi Bus, and the development of transportation infrastructure, and a bronze statue of him was erected in front of Beppu Station. He also introduced Japan's first regular sightseeing bus with a female guide, and made the ""Jigoku Tour"" a tourist attraction. In this way, Beppu Onsen grew into one of Japan's leading hot spring resorts.

The Beppu Jigoku Tour is divided into the “Kannawa Onsen Area” and the “Shibaseki Onsen Area,” with a total of seven hells to enjoy.

In the Kannawa Onsen area, five hells are within walking distance, centering on “Umi-Jigoku“(sea hell), and the historic inns and retro townscape with steamy atmosphere are attractive. Many restaurants offer “jigoku-mushi” (food steamed with hot spring steam), allowing visitors to fully enjoy the atmosphere of a hot spring resort.

On the other hand, the Shibaseki Onsen area is located a little away from the Kannawa area and offers a quiet atmosphere and natural scenery. Here you will find “Chinoike Jigoku“ (Blood Pond Hell)” and “Tatsumaki Jigoku“ (Tornado Hell).

If you visit all these areas at once, the tour takes about 3 hours. If you also want to enjoy walking around the hot spring resort area and eating, it is recommended to spend a full day.

Of the seven hells, four, “Umi Jigoku,” “Chinoike Jigoku,” “Tatsumaki Jigoku,” and “Shiraike Jigoku,” have been designated as national scenic spots, and “Tatsumaki Jigoku” is known as the oldest natural hell in Japan. By visiting both areas, you can fully enjoy Beppu Jigoku Tour!

Let us introduce you to the seven hells you can visit on the Beppu Jigoku Tour.

The two areas can be visited from either direction, but since the areas are approximately 3 km apart, bus or car transportation is recommended!

If using a bus, it is smooth to walk around the Kannawa Onsen area from the top of the hill to the bottom of the hill (the following order is recommended). In particular, it is ideal to visit the most popular Umi-Jigoku (sea hell) early in the day, as it is large and has many sights to see.

If you are visiting by car, parking lots are available at all the hells.

For a more in-depth visit, it is recommended to take a regular sightseeing bus. A bus guide will take you on a tour of the Jigoku.

One of the major attractions of the Beppu Jigoku Tour is that visitors can enjoy footbaths and day-trip hot springs along with sightseeing for a relaxing time.

First of all, there are “Umi Jigoku,” “Onishibozu Jigoku,” “Kamado Jigoku,” and “Chinoike Jigoku(Blood Pond Jigoku)” as places where visitors can enjoy footbaths. Kamado Jigoku, in particular, offers three types of footbaths, including sand footbaths and footbaths filled with pebbles. Onishibozu Jigoku also has a day spa, Onishi-no-Yu (Onishi no Yu), located on the second floor, which is especially popular for its observation baths. There are indoor and outdoor baths, as well as family baths (private baths), and towels are available for purchase, so visitors can come empty-handed!

In addition to the Jigoku Meguri (Hell Tour), there are plenty of spots to enjoy Beppu's unique scenery, such as the hot spring resort area and the spectacular view from the observation deck. You can enjoy the charms of the hot springs and capture the spectacular scenery on your camera.

In this section, we will introduce tourist facilities and photo spots where you can maximize your enjoyment of the hot spring attractions and take pictures.

At each Jigoku, you can enjoy unique dishes and sweets that can only be found there. For example, you can experience flavors that you can't find anywhere else, such as pudding steamed with hot spring steam, ""hot spring eggs"" boiled in hot spring water, and ""jigoku-mushi "" cooked using the heat of the hot spring. The dishes that take advantage of the characteristics unique to hot spring areas are visually impressive and add to the enjoyment of eating them.

There are also plenty of souvenirs to take home with you as a memory of your visit to the jigoku, including limited items that you can't get anywhere else. These souvenirs will make you feel the charm of the places you visited. Be sure to check them out when you visit.

There are various ways to access the Beppu Jigoku Tour, and you can choose the one that best suits your travel style. Here are some of the most popular methods.

[Regular sightseeing bus]

The tour will take you around all the hells in about 3 hours, and you can enjoy a tour guided by the bus. The price includes a ticket to see the hells, so it is recommended for those who value convenience. (Guidance in Japanese only) Please purchase your ticket in advance.

Ticket sales locations: Kamenoi Bus Kitahama Bus Center, WANDERCOMPASSBEPPU

[Route Bus]

If you purchase the “My Beppu Free Free Ticket ‘Mini (Beppu City) Ticket’” for unlimited rides on Kamenoi Bus, you can access not only the Jigoku Tour but also other sightseeing spots. Recommended for those who wish to tour freely at their own pace. A special discount on the common ticket for Beppu Jigoku Tour is also available, as well as a ticket that includes a free ride and an experience plan.

Ticket sales locations: Kamenoi Bus Kitahama Bus Center, Kamenoi Bus Kannawa Waiting Area, Kamenoi Bus Yufuin Station Nasu Center, etc.

[Rental Bicycles (Oita Cycle Share)]

Bicycles can be rented at cycle stations located around Beppu Station and tourist attractions, and can be freely used to tour the area. You can also return bicycles at different stations.

[Car rental and private cars]

All hell is equipped with parking lots. Recommended for families and those with a lot of luggage.

Please refer to the following information to enjoy a memorable trip!

For details on specific operation schedules, courses, and fees, please click on the links below.