Oita prefecture has famous place for hot spring called 7 hells. Beppu city in Oita prefecture is famous for hot spring so there are several places for hot spring in Beppu city. In Beppu city, there are 7 spots called 地獄 (Jigoku). 地獄 means hell in Japanese so people who hear the word for the first time must be surprised about that. The reason why they called hell has a long history. A long time ago, boiling water and boiling mud were ejected from underground so people hate this place and called hell. This time we show you the 7 hells with photos so we hope you are interested in this spot !
1.海地獄(Umi-Jigoku)
Umi means sea in Japanese. Here is the most large hot spring in 7 hells and the color is beautiful cobalt blue. The reason for blue color is for Iron sulphates which is the composition of the hot spring. The temperature is about 98 degree and we can see the fantastic appearance around morning until November. The temperature is very hot so we can not get into here but there is a place for foot bath and it is good for break.
2.血の池地獄(Chinoike-Jigoku)
Chinoike means a pond of blood. Here is the most oldest hell in Japan and it is like a boiled pond of Red-mud in a word. The reason for red color is for red mud which is including magnesium oxide and the temperature is about 78 degree. The appearance is like a blood so people named it “pond of blood”.
3.龍巻地獄(Tatsumaki-Jigoku)
Tatsumaki means tornado in Japanese and it is designated as a natural monument in Beppu-si. The appearance is like a tornado so people names so. About 150 degree boiled water spouted from underground so we will be surprised when we see it directly.
4.白池地獄(Shiroike-Jigoku)
Shiroike means a white pond in Japanese. Here is in the Japanese traditional garden so here makes us relax. The temperature is about 95 degree so we are unable to enter here directly but we can enjoy to see it with garden like a photo.
5.鬼石坊主地獄(Oniishibozu Jigoku)
Oniishi means stone of demon, and bozu means shaved head in Japanese. Here was opening as 坊主地獄 (Bozu-Jugoku) after Meiji era but it was closed once and opened as 鬼石坊主地獄 again. The appearance is like a shaved head so people named so. Here is located next to 海地獄 (Umi-Jigoku) and there is also foot bath area.
6.鬼山地獄 (Oniyama-Jigoku)
Oniyama means a mountain of demon and also called crocodile hell. About 80 crocodiles are owned at this hot spring so we can get a close look at them.
7.かまど地獄 (Kamado Jigoku)
かまど means oven in Japanese. A long time ago, people boiled rice by hot steam which comes from this hot spring, so they named it かまど(kamado). There are some shop and we can experience to drink water of hot spring. The water is good for skin and health so here is popular by women.
How did you like it ? We hope you visit the 7 hells when you go to Oita. We think seeing hells makes you enjoy so let’s go there and have a nice trip someday.
