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Explore the Hells of Beppu, Japan’s Top Hot Spring Destination
Oita Prefecture has approximately 5,000 hot spring sources, accounting for 18.2% of all hot spring sources in Japan and ranking first nationwide.
Beppu Onsen in Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, boasts the highest number of sources and the greatest hot spring output in Japan, with approximately 2,800 sources.
One of the most popular activities here is the "Beppu Jigoku Meguri" (Hell Tour).
The Beppu Hell Tour takes you through seven hot spring sites that have been called “jigoku” (hells) since ancient times. It is said that there are over 100 hells in Beppu, of which seven have been designated as the official “Beppu Jigoku Meguri.”
Each hell has its own unique characteristics—some feature blood-red hot springs while others are as bright blue as a tropical sea.
Exploring these various hot springs is what the Beppu Hell Tour is all about.
Hot Spring Districts and the Hell Tour in Beppu
Beppu City has eight hot spring districts known as Beppu Hatto.
- Hamawaki Onsen
- Beppu Onsen
- Kankaiji Onsen
- Horita Onsen
- Kannawa Onsen
- Myoban Onsen
- Shibaseki Onsen
- Kamegawa Onsen
The Beppu Hell Tour refers to the sightseeing course that visits seven hells located in the Kannawa and Shibaseki hot spring areas.
All 7 Hells of the Beppu Hell Tour
The Beppu Hell Tour consists of seven locations in total, with five in the Kannawa Onsen area and two in the Shibaseki Onsen area.
| Area | Hell | Hours | Admission | Foot Bath | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kannawa Onsen | Umi Jigoku (Sea Hell) | 8:00 am–5:00 pm | 500 yen | Yes | Beautiful cobalt blue hell resembling a tropical sea |
| Oniishibozu Jigoku | 8:00 am–5:00 pm | 500 yen | Yes | The only colorless hell among the seven—perhaps the most hell - like | |
| Oniyama Jigoku | 8:00 am–5:00 pm | 500 yen | - | Impressive surging water and steam with crocodiles on display | |
| Kamado Jigoku | 8:00 am–5:00 pm | 500 yen | Yes | Features beauty spots and sweets—a paradise in some ways | |
| Shiraike Jigoku (White Pond Hell) | 8:00 am–5:00 pm | 500 yen | - | Turquoise blue hell in a beautiful Japanese garden setting | |
| Shibaseki Onsen | Tatsumaki Jigoku (Waterspout Hell) | 8:00 am–5:00 pm | 500 yen | - | Powerful geyser that shoots hot water up to 30 meters high |
| Chinoike Jigoku (Blood Pond Hell) | 8:00 am–5:00 pm | 500 yen | Yes | A stunning crimson hot spring that looks like a sea of blood |
Each of the seven hells has unique features and is well worth visiting.
Why Are They Called “Hells”?
The Beppu Hell Tour is about viewing “hells”—it is different from touring “onsen” (where you actually bathe).
Beppu Onsen has been spewing steam, boiling mud, and hot water for over a thousand years, making it an inhospitable and feared land that people could not approach.
Since ancient times, locals called these troublesome areas—where intense hot water and steam caused damage to crops and even accidents—“jigoku” (hells). The landowners at the time also struggled to manage these hells.
For example, such lands were rich in sulfur and other components, making them completely unsuitable for farming. They were regarded as “useless land” and were feared and avoided by local residents, which is how they came to be called “hells.”
During the Meiji era, entrepreneurs turned this unique landscape into a tourist attraction, creating what is now the Beppu Jigoku Meguri.
Notable visitors have included Japanese Emperor and Crown Prince, poet Akiko Yosano, as well as international celebrities such as Charlie Chaplin, Helen Keller, and George Bernard Shaw.
How to Tour the 7 Hells
In this section, we will explain how long the Beppu Hell Tour takes and how best to visit.
Time Required for the Hell Tour
The Beppu Hell Tour takes approximately 3 to 5 hours, including travel time.
All hells share the same operating hours: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. If you plan to visit all hells in one day, you need to complete the tour within these hours.
Transportation Options for the Hell Tour
The hells within each area (Kannawa or Shibaseki) are within walking distance of each other.
However, traveling between Kannawa and Shibaseki takes about 5 minutes by car, and walking is time-consuming due to the hilly terrain.
Additionally, if you are staying near JR Beppu Station, it takes about 20 minutes by car from the station to the Kannawa area.
Considering these factors, using transportation other than walking is more efficient.
You have the following transportation options:
- Car (rental car or taxi)
- Sightseeing bus
- Chartered taxi
1. Traveling by Car
Using a rental car or taxi, you can reach the Kannawa area from JR Beppu Station in about 20 minutes.
Traveling between Kannawa and Shibaseki also takes only about 5 minutes by car.
The major advantage is that you are not bound by public transportation schedules.
2. Traveling by Sightseeing Bus
A scheduled sightseeing bus for the Beppu Hell Tour operates twice daily. The bus tour includes a guide and visits all the hells. Since you do not need to manage time or routes yourself, it is an easy and efficient way to enjoy the hell tour.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Duration | Approx. 3 hours |
| Price (Adults) | 4,500 yen |
| Price (Junior High) | 3,500 yen |
| Price (Elementary & Under) | 2,300 yen |
This sightseeing bus fare includes admission to all hells, so the effective bus cost is only 2,100 yen (for adults).
There are 2 departure points with the following schedule:
| Departure Point | Morning | Afternoon |
|---|---|---|
| Kitahama Bus Center | 9:10 am | 1:50 pm |
| Beppu Station Stop #4 | 9:20 am | 2:00 pm |
Advance reservations are required to board the sightseeing bus. You can reserve by phone or online up to 2 months in advance.
| Method | Details |
|---|---|
| Phone | Kamenoi Bus Kitahama Bus Center 0977-23-5170 (8:30–17:00) |
| Online | Kamenoi Bus Sightseeing Bus (Beppu Jigoku Meguri Course) - Highway Bus.com |
3. Traveling by Chartered Taxi
A chartered taxi is a service that takes you around specific tourist attractions. Unlike regular taxis where you pay for each trip, you pay upfront for a set duration of exclusive service.
Using a chartered taxi means you are not as constrained by schedules as with buses, and you avoid the hassle of finding or hailing a taxi for each move.
Here are some major taxi companies offering hell tour services in Beppu:
| Taxi Company | Phone | 2 Hours | 3 Hours | 4 Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kamenoi Taxi | 0977-23-2221 | 10,640 yen | 15,960 yen | 21,280 yen | - |
| Minato Taxi | 0977-23-5115 | 11,210 yen | - | - | Large and extra - large vehicles available. Contact for details. |
| Beppu Oita Joint Taxi | 0977-22-2111 | 10,640 yen | 15,960 yen | 21,280 yen | 5,320 yen per hour |
At around 20,000 yen for 4 hours, if 4 people share the cost, it comes to about 5,000 yen per person.
When we contacted the taxi companies, they said most customers complete the tour in 2–3 hours, so you may pay less depending on your usage time.
The Most Efficient Route for the Beppu Hell Tour
Based on actually touring all seven hells, here are strategies for visiting them efficiently.
Start from Tatsumaki Jigoku
The most efficient approach is to start from Tatsumaki Jigoku (Waterspout Hell).
The main attraction at Tatsumaki Jigoku is a powerful geyser that erupts at 30–40 minute intervals.
This means you may have to wait up to 40 minutes depending on when you arrive.
However, the eruption timing changes daily and cannot be predicted in advance—it is not announced on the official website either.
Therefore, we recommend calling Tatsumaki Jigoku before heading there to ask about the eruption timing. They will tell you approximately how many minutes until the next eruption. Alternatively, you can ask the staff at the entrance reception.
If you need to wait more than 30 minutes, you can make efficient use of your time by visiting Chinoike Jigoku (Blood Pond Hell) first. However, Chinoike Jigoku has many attractions including a foot bath and shops, so if you want to fully enjoy it, waiting at Tatsumaki Jigoku is the safer choice. The two hells are adjacent and only about 2 minutes apart on foot.
By starting from Tatsumaki Jigoku—the only hell where waiting time may occur—you can then visit the remaining hells at your own pace.
Contact Tatsumaki Jigoku: 0977 - 66 - 1854 (8:00 am–5:00 pm)
Plan Your Route Around Meal Times
Planning around dining locations is also recommended. Of the seven hells, Chinoike Jigoku has a restaurant and Umi Jigoku has a cafe. Planning your visit around lunchtime makes it easy to coordinate meal times.
Additionally, Kamado Jigoku, Tatsumaki Jigoku, and Oniishibozu Jigoku have shops selling light snacks, so touring the hells while eating is also a great option.
| Area | Hell | Hours | Dining Options |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kannawa Onsen | Umi Jigoku (Sea Hell) | 8:00 am–5:00 pm | Cafeteria Umi |
| Oniishibozu Jigoku | 8:00 am–5:00 pm | Shop "Hitoyasumi Kobiri" - wide variety of sweets, light meals, drinks, and alcohol | |
| Oniyama Jigoku | - | - | |
| Kamado Jigoku | 8:00 am–5:00 pm | Shop selling sweets and light meals | |
| Shiraike Jigoku (White Pond Hell) | - | - | |
| Shibaseki Onsen | Tatsumaki Jigoku (Waterspout Hell) | 8:00 am–5:00 pm | Fresh gelato and juices made with local ingredients |
| Chinoike Jigoku (Blood Pond Hell) | 8:00 am–5:00 pm | Restaurant "Gokurakutei" |
Save 1,300 Yen with the Discount Combined Pass
If you plan to visit all seven hells, be sure to purchase the “Combined Pass.”
The Combined Pass allows one entry to each hell (valid for 2 days including the purchase date).
| Category | Price | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Adults | 2,400 yen | High school students and above |
| Children | 1,200 yen | Elementary and junior high students |
Even Better: “Beppu Jigoku Meguri Combined Pass Special Discount”
The Beppu Jigoku Association, which operates the Hell Tour, offers a discount coupon for the Combined Pass.
Adults receive a 200 yen discount, meaning you can purchase the Combined Pass for 2,200 yen.
Getting the discount is easy—simply show the discount coupon below (display this screen on your smartphone) when purchasing the Combined Pass at any ticket counter. The discount applies to up to 5 people per coupon.
Buy the Combined Pass for 5+ Hells; Pay Individually for Fewer
If you pay admission separately at each hell:
500 yen × 7 locations = 3,500 yen
However, purchasing the Combined Pass with the discount costs only 2,200 yen, saving you 1,300 yen.
The Combined Pass can be purchased at the ticket counter of any hell, so be sure to buy it at your first stop.
Even if you do not visit all seven hells, visiting five or more makes the pass worthwhile.
Conversely, if visiting fewer than five, paying individually is cheaper.
Key Points for the Beppu Hell Tour
The Beppu Hell Tour is a 3–5 hour sightseeing course through seven unique hells.
Here are three key tips for your visit:
- Choose your transportation - Car for flexibility, sightseeing bus for convenience, chartered taxi for comfort
- Buy the Combined Pass - Save 1,300 yen when visiting 5+ hells
- Allow plenty of time - Plan within the 8:00 am–5:00 pm operating hours
Each of the seven hells offers unique attractions and is worth seeing. With many jaw-dropping, otherworldly sights, this tour truly lives up to its name of “Hell Tour.” Try to visit all seven and complete the full tour!
