Experience · Kyushu

Beppu Jigoku Meguri (Hells of Beppu)

Beppu & YufuinMostly outdoors
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Overview

Overview

A Beppu sightseeing classic: touring the seven hot spring sources known as jigoku (hells) in the Kannawa and Kamegawa areas of the hot spring town of Beppu. The hells each differ in color and form, from the cobalt-blue Umi Jigoku and the red Chinoike Jigoku to Tatsumaki Jigoku, which erupts at regular intervals. A combined ticket covers all seven, and you can tour them in about 2.5 hours including travel.

Address
559-1 Kannawa, Beppu, Oita 874-0045 (Umi Jigoku) and other locations
Closed
None (open year-round)
Time needed
About 2.5 hours (7 sites, including travel time)
Highlights

Highlights

Umi Jigoku is a hot spring said to have formed in an eruption of Mt. Tsurumi about 1,200 years ago, and its vivid cobalt-blue water is a highlight. Oniyama Jigoku uses geothermal heat to keep about 70 crocodiles, and Shiraike Jigoku displays tropical fish. In the Kamegawa area, Chinoike Jigoku is a pond of red mud, and Tatsumaki Jigoku is a geyser that erupts every 30–40 minutes. Umi Jigoku, Shiraike Jigoku, Chinoike Jigoku, and Tatsumaki Jigoku are designated national Places of Scenic Beauty.

Hours

Opening hours

Opening hours8:00–17:00

Same for all hells (per the Umi Jigoku official website and an Oita Prefecture introduction article)

Hours vary by day and season. Check the official website before you go.

Tickets

Prices & tickets

Combined ticket (7 sites) adults (high school and older)¥2,400

Valid for 2 days

Combined ticket (7 sites) children¥1,200
Individual admission adults¥500

Per site

Individual admission children (elementary & junior high)¥250

Per site

Prices include tax and may change. Check the official website before buying.

🎫 How to buy tickets
  • →If you'll visit 3 or more sites, the combined ticket is cheaper (individual admission is ¥500 per site)
  • →The combined ticket is valid for 2 days, so you can split the tour over two days
  • →Group and disability discounts available
Tickets & tours for this attractionPR
Tips

Tips for travelers

  • ✓The efficient route is to walk the 5 Kannawa sites (Umi, Oniishibozu, Kamado, Oniyama, Shiraike), then go by bus or car to the 2 Kamegawa sites
  • ✓Tatsumaki Jigoku erupts every 30–40 minutes, so check the next eruption time and wait
  • ✓Oniishibozu Jigoku has the only bathing facility among the seven hells
  • ✓At Kamado Jigoku, you can try a foot stone sauna, drink hot spring water, and inhale the steam
  • ✓Day tours combining it with African Safari or Yufuin are also available
Access

Getting there

From major stations & airports
  • Beppu Station: Kamenoi Bus No. 2, 5, 9, 24, or 41 bound for Kannawa to Umi Jigoku (stop 3, Beppu Station West Exit) (About 20 min)
  • Beppu Station: Taxi to Umi Jigoku (About 15 min)
  • Beppu Station East Exit: Kamenoi Bus No. 26 or 26A to Chinoike Jigoku
  • Fukuoka / Nagasaki: Highway bus to Kannawa-guchi; Umi Jigoku is a short walk away
Direct buses & boats
Kamenoi Bus's scheduled sightseeing bus Beppu Jigoku Meguri departs from stop 4 at Beppu Station East Exit
Getting back
  • The 5 Kannawa sites can be visited on foot, but the 2 Kamegawa sites (Chinoike and Tatsumaki) are about 3 km away, so travel by car or bus
  • Each hell has parking. About 5 min from Beppu IC to Umi Jigoku
Open in Google Maps ↗
Weather

Weather & what to wear

Summer

Most of the tour is outdoors, so take heat precautions in summer.

☂ Rainy days
Mostly outdoors. You'll need an umbrella on rainy days
Heat
You walk around outdoors, so drink water regularly
Cold
Oniishibozu Jigoku has a footbath and bathing facilities
What to wear & bring
You'll walk around the Kannawa area, so wear comfortable shoes
Facilities

Facilities & services

Food

Food

Must-try
Jigoku-steamed pudding (Umi Jigoku)Onsen eggs (Umi Jigoku)
Where to Stay · Agoda

Places to Stay near Beppu Jigoku Meguri (Hells of Beppu)PR

Prices and availability are shown on Agoda.

Attractions

Attractions in Kyushu

Zoo

Kyushu Natural Animal Park African Safari

Kyushu ・ Usa, Oita

A safari park in Ajimu, Usa City, Oita Prefecture, where you tour free-roaming animals by car or bus. You can explore in two ways: the My Car Safari, driving your own car through the Safari Zone with lions, elephants, and more, or the Jungle Bus, which moves along as you feed the animals. It's about 7 minutes by car from Beppuwan Smart IC, making it easy to combine with sightseeing in Beppu and Yufuin.

Zoo

Aso Cuddly Dominion

Kyushu ・ Kumamoto & Aso

A zoo in Aso City where you can interact with 350 animals of 60 species. It centers on animal shows and close-contact facilities with bear cubs, capybaras, and penguins. It's about 1.5 km from JR Aso Station, and highway buses between Kumamoto and Oita/Beppu stop in front of the park.

Theme park

Huis Ten Bosch

Kyushu ・ Sasebo & Huis Ten Bosch

A theme park resort in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, recreating Dutch townscapes. Attractions, shops, restaurants, and hotels are spread across large grounds laced with canals. It's about a 5-minute walk from JR Huis Ten Bosch Station and about 1 hour 45 minutes by limited express from Hakata, so a day trip from Fukuoka is possible.

Aquarium

Io World Kagoshima City Aquarium

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An aquarium in Honkoshin-machi, Kagoshima City, themed on Kagoshima's seas, from Kinko Bay to the Nansei Islands. It displays about 800 species, and the large Kuroshio tank with its whale shark and the dolphin programs are popular. It's about 15 minutes by streetcar from Kagoshima-Chuo Station, making it easy to drop by while sightseeing in the city.

Aquarium

Kujukushima Aquarium Umi Kirara

Kyushu ・ Sasebo & Huis Ten Bosch

An aquarium in Kujukushima Pearl Sea Resort in Sasebo. It focuses on sea life from the Kujukushima Islands, and its jellyfish exhibit and dolphin shows are popular. The Kujukushima sightseeing boat pier is in the same resort, so you can enjoy it together with a cruise.

Aquarium

Marine World Uminonakamichi

Kyushu ・ Fukuoka & Dazaifu

An aquarium themed on the seas of Kyushu, located at Uminonakamichi in Higashi-ku, Fukuoka City. It mainly shows sea life from the four seas surrounding Kyushu, and also holds dolphin and sea lion shows and a penguin parade. From Hakata Station it's one transfer by JR, and you can also get there by boat from Bayside Place Hakata.

Aquarium

Nagasaki Penguin Aquarium

Kyushu ・ Nagasaki

An aquarium specializing in penguins, keeping 9 of the world's 18 penguin species. It's said to keep the most penguin species in the world and has one of Japan's largest penguin pools. Admission is an affordable ¥800 for adults, and it can be reached by bus from central Nagasaki.

Botanical garden

Sun Messe Nichinan

Kyushu ・ Miyazaki & Nichinan

A park on a hill overlooking the Nichinan coastline, known for its seven Moai statues, reproduced with permission from the Council of Elders of Easter Island. The highlights are the Moai standing with their backs to the sea and the views across the spacious grounds. It's about 40 minutes by car from Miyazaki Airport and can also be reached by local bus from Miyazaki Station.

Aquarium

Oita Marine Palace Aquarium Umitamago

Kyushu ・ Takasakiyama, Oita

An aquarium near Mt. Takasaki in Oita City, themed on becoming friends with animals. Performances by dolphins, walruses, and others are held many times a day, and you can get close to the animals. It can be reached by bus from Beppu Station and Oita Station, making it easy to combine with sightseeing in Beppu.

Hours, prices and access are based on official and other primary sources. They may change, so check the official website before you go.

Last checked: 2026-10-02