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Here is your guide to Shiraike Jigoku, one of the seven hells in Beppu Onsen.
Shiraike Jigoku
Shiraike Jigoku is a geothermal hot spring located in Beppu Onsen, Beppu City, Oita Prefecture. It is one of Beppu’s seven hells, believed to have been spouting for over 1,000 years, with the facility established in 1931 when the first owner discovered this spring in what was once farmland.
Beyond its beautiful pale blue waters, visitors can enjoy a Japanese garden, and the Tropical Fish Aquarium houses giant Amazonian fish. In 2009, it was designated as a National Place of Scenic Beauty along with Umi Jigoku, Chinoike Jigoku, and Tatsumaki Jigoku.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Spring Quality | Boric acid saline spring (containing sodium chloride, silicic acid, and calcium bicarbonate) |
| Temperature | Approximately 95°C (at the eruption point) |
| Hours | 8:00 am–5:00 pm |
| Closed | Open year - round |
| Admission | Adults (high school and above): ¥500 / Children (elementary and junior high): ¥250 |
| Smoking | No smoking area |
| Access | By car: 5 min from Beppu IC / By bus: 20 min from Beppu Station |
| Address | 283 - 1 Kannawa, Beppu City, Oita Prefecture 874 - 0045 |
| Phone | 0977-66-0530 |
| Official Website | https://shiraikejigoku.com/ |
Shiraike Jigoku is located in the southern part of the seven hells on the Beppu Hell Tour.
Welcome to a Beautiful Hell
When you think of hell, you might imagine a frightening, eerie place, but Shiraike Jigoku is quite the opposite. This beautiful pale blue hell welcomes you with open arms.
The most distinctive feature of Shiraike Jigoku is undoubtedly its beautiful pale blue color. The clear water that erupts from underground turns pale blue when it falls into the pool due to decreasing temperature and pressure. This occurs because iron ions in the water oxidize into iron oxide, creating the pale blue coloration.
The pale blue color of Shiraike Jigoku can appear more intensely blue under the influence of the sky’s color, or it can look closer to milky white.
Nevertheless, this is one of Beppu’s seven hells. Even amidst its beauty, the massive amount of steam constantly erupting adds an otherworldly hellish atmosphere.
Viewing Hell from an Elegant Japanese Garden
Around the pool lies a beautifully maintained Japanese garden where you can view the hell in a tranquil atmosphere.
The garden features maple trees, azaleas, ponds, and waterfalls, allowing visitors to enjoy the hell in a peaceful setting.
The Monk Who Tamed the Hell: A Key Figure of Beppu Onsen
Standing quietly in the garden is a statue of Ippen, the monk who founded the Ji sect (a Japanese Buddhist school of Pure Land Buddhism that emerged in the late Kamakura period).
Ippen Shonin was a monk from the late Kamakura period, known for traveling across Japan chanting the nenbutsu (Buddhist prayer) in what became known as the “Ippen Nenbutsu.” In 1276, during his pilgrimage across the country, he arrived at the beach of Beppu (Shonin-ga-hama) and visited what is now known as Kannawa. At that time, Kannawa was called Ara-Jigoku (Wild Hell), a dangerous place where volcanic steam and boiling water erupted.
To calm Ara-Jigoku, Ippen Shonin wrote Buddhist sutras one character per stone and buried them in the hell. It is said that the Wild Hell then calmed down, and Kannawa was developed as a hot spring town.
For this reason, a statue of Ippen Shonin was erected at Shiraike Jigoku, honoring his achievement in calming Ara-Jigoku.
Near Shiraike Jigoku, there is also a hot spring called Kannawa Mushi-yu, said to have been established by Ippen Shonin.
Thus, Ippen Shonin and Shiraike Jigoku share a deep connection.
A Delight for Children: The Tropical Fish Aquarium with Giant Swimming Fish
After being soothed by the beautiful hell and elegant Japanese garden—scenery unlike any other hell—Shiraike Jigoku has another surprise: the Tropical Fish Aquarium, where giant Amazonian fish are kept.
While this combination seems completely out of place with hot springs and Japanese gardens, the rare giant tropical fish that are seldom seen in Japan make it extremely popular with children.
The arapaima, known as the “King of Amazon Fish,” is said to be the largest and most delicious freshwater fish in the world. Its scales are large enough to be used as shoehorns, and indigenous people reportedly rub its tongue with guarana to make an elixir of longevity. Currently, five arapaimas are kept at Shiraike Jigoku, two of which are giant specimens measuring 1.7 meters in length. Visitors can see rare greenish-white and dark red individuals swimming together.
The Tropical Fish Aquarium houses quite a unique collection of giant tropical fish, but thanks to the geothermal heat from Beppu Onsen, these Amazonian fish swim vibrantly.
Arapaima feeding takes place daily at 3:30 pm, where you can watch their powerful movements up close.
A Beautiful Hell Does Exist
The roaring Tatsumaki Jigoku. The blood-red Chinoike Jigoku. All of them display the fierce and eerie qualities befitting the name “hell.” In contrast, Shiraike Jigoku offers the complete opposite—a “beautiful hell where you can feel wabi-sabi.”
This unique character is found in no other hell, and the pale blue hot spring is a must-see.
Please come and experience for yourself this beautiful turquoise mirror called hell.
