The 'Hells' are actually the unique and famous hot springs, where you can dip in the steamy hot waters and let all troubles float away.
The hot spring, or onsen has always been a big part of the Japanese culture.
After a long day’s work, they would love nothing more than to unwind and to take dip in the steamy hot waters and let their troubles float away.
This time we’ll be taking a look at Beppu city of Oita prefecture which is well known for their massive numbers of hot springs as well as its natural steaming ponds!
Beppu is a 2 hour bus ride away from Fukuoka, but if you are from Shikoku like me, then taking the ferry from Yawatahama would be an easier option!
The Tourist Information Center at Beppu Station provides all sorts of discounts and bus passes for tourists, and will give you great advice depending on how much time you have.
The must visit attraction for Beppu City is none other than their Eight Hells.
The ‘hells’ are actually steaming hot springs that naturally emerged after an explosion of a volcano roughly 1,200 years ago.
These hot springs vary from color to type, and are as hot as 99 degrees!
There is a tour bus that stops at each hell pond.
After buying the one day unlimited bus pass for 900 Yen, I headed off to the three must see hells recommended as I didn’t have enough time.
The hells are open from 8.00 am till 5.00pm and are open all year round.
The hells were named after its color respectively, thus explaining why the cobalt blue pond was named the Sea Hell (Umi Jigoku).
And also why the red pond was called the Blood Pond Hell (Chinoike Jigoku).
I was REALLY excited then to see the Shaven Monk Hell (Onishiibozu Jigoku) because of its name, and was surprised when I saw a bubbling mud pond instead!
I found out later that it was because the emerging bubbles looked like a monk’s shaven head that it was named so.
Each hell also has a foot bath area for visitors to relax their feet in.
Don’t worry if you haven’t got any towels, because a vending machine selling them is available nearby!
The Sea hell also allows visitors to boil eggs in the hot spring!
And eat them afterwards of course.
By the time I had finished visiting the hells, it was already time for dinner.
Just down the road of Ideyu-zaka at Kannawa is Jigoku Mushi Koubo, the Steamed Dish Kitchen!
Here, customers are able to experience steaming their own food in the steam of hot springs in deep pots!
This cooking style is dated all the way back to the Edo Period and is not to be missed out on!
Customers can buy tokens for their desired dinner.
I myself ordered the seafood set for 1,300 Yen and a strainer to be used in the steam pots had to be rented for 500 Yen.
On the other hand, the option to bring your own food to steam is also available at the cost of 300 Yen.
It takes roughly 15 minutes for the food to be cooked, and once it’s done, voila! Steamed to perfection!
The last stop, after a whole day of walking, is of course a dip in the onsen!
This can be particularly hard because there are just so many options to choose from!
From hot springs, to hot sand baths, choosing a place was quite tricky, but because I had a discount offer from the Tourist Information Center, I decided to go to the Hyotan Onsen.
If you are feeling shy, (like I was) there are also private baths that you can rent for a slightly higher price.
It was a wonderful experience and my head felt a little dizzy afterwards, (I think I sat in the onsen too long, hehe) but nonetheless a great way to end my adventure in Beppu!
And there you have it!
A one day trip to the hells of Japan, complete with the full hot spring experience.
Check out the links below for more information!
Information
BEPPU JIGOKU MEGURI
Opening Hours: 8.00 am to 5.00 pm (Open All Year Round)
Official Website: http://www.beppu-jigoku.com/ (Japanese Only)
English Pamphlet: http://www.beppu-jigoku.com/images/English0.pdf
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