The 7 Hells of Beppu (Jigoku Meguri)

The "hells" or jigoku (地獄, jigoku) of Beppu (Beppu), one of Japan's most famous onsen destinations. No trip to Beppu is complete without seeing them. One of Beppu's main attractions, the hells are 7 hot spring ponds, each with its own unique character. We recommend visiting all of them for the best experience.

The jigoku ponds can be divided into two main groups. The first group has 5 ponds located in the Kannawa area: Umi Jigoku, Oniishibozu Jigoku, Shiraike Jigoku, Kamado Jigoku, and Oniyama Jigoku. They are all close together, so you can see them in a short time without much walking. The other 2 ponds are located in the Shibaseki area, about 3 kilometers away: Chinoike Jigoku and Tatsumaki Jigoku. Getting there isn't difficult either. You can walk if you enjoy walking, or take the bus to save time and energy, since buses run directly to the entrance of both ponds.