The hell tour in onsen paradise : Beppu

2019年 03月28日


Japan is the paradise of hot springs gushing from its volcanic soil. There are some natural springs in Beppu (Kyushu Island) for over a thousand years that are far too hot to swim in, called "Jigoku (the hell)".

Beppu is the city of Kyushu that boasts the largest number and variety of hot springs in Japan, also the volume of thermal spring water dischrged is the largest. The temperature of some of them is close to 100 centi degrees. People did not dare to approach too closely, hence their nicknamed "hell". Jigoku Meguri (touring the hell) is popular tourist activity of the city, which provides you a ticket to enter seven hot spring sites, each with their particularities: Umi Jigoku, Chi no Ike Jigoku, Oniishibozu Jigoku, Oniyama Jigoku, Shiraike Jigoku, Kamado Jigoku, and Tatsumaki Jigoku.

 

The hell of the sea: Umi Jigoku

This one is the greatest hot spring out of seven. The dissolution of sulphides in the water gives it a beautiful cobalt blue color. Its heat is used to grow tropical plants in gardens as well as giant water lilies that bloom from early May to late November. At first glance, it may sound too good to be described as "hell", but let's not be fooled by it: the temparature of the hotspring is 98 centi degrees and contains hydrochloric acid!


 
The hell of the blood lake: Chi no Ike Jigoku

It's over 1,300 years old, and it's the oldest Jigoku in Beppu. This hot spring contains suspended clay that gives it an impressive red color. Formerly used clay mud tinged with red to make skin remedies or dye clothes.



The hell of the monk's heads: Oniishibozu Jigoku

The reason why the hot spring is nicknamed so is that the clay bubbles appear on the surface evoke the shaven heads of Buddhist monks. You can enjoy specialties such as a steamed stuffed bun and a pudding from the source. It is also possible to bathe in its water in establishments located not far from the main source.



The hell of the demon's mountain: Oniyama Jigoku

Nicknamed also "Wani Jigoku (the hell of crocodiles)": it raises about seventy crocodiles making use of its heat to heat up breeding farm since 1923. If you want to see feeding the animal, you can watch on every Wednesday and weekends.
The water reaches a temperature of 99 centi degrees!

 

The hell of the white lake: Shiraike Jigoku

Its water is very beautiful bluish white due to the difference of pressure and temperature between the basin and the jet of water which falls inside. The spring is surrounded by a Japanese garden and an aquarium at where many species of tropical fish are raised.


The cauldron: Kamado Jigoku

Water and steam were used to cook offerings to the gods at ancient festivals; it is still possible to taste many specialties cooked with steam, or to bring your own food to steam on the site! There is also a steam room to enjoy the benefits of its steam on the skin and also foot baths available.


Hell of Geyser: Tatsumaki Jigoku

A geyser gushes about twice an hour for about ten minutes. It is surrounded by rocks for security reasons but it has the potential to climb up to 30 meters!
It is possible to see all these hells in half a day thanks to their proximity to each other.

Besides the tour, the city offers a wide range of bathing experiences that anyone can enjoy, including sand baths, where bathers are buried in naturally heated sand by the sea.
The thermal water of the region is renowned for its health benefits such as the fight against skin diseases or disorders articulatory.


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