The 7 Hells of Beppu: Which Ones Are Worth It & How to Visit

Last updated on May 14, 2026 by Krysti

Thinking about visiting the 7 Hells of Beppu? After exploring all of them myself, I can safely say: some are far more impressive than others.

When I first started planning my trip to Beppu, the Hells were at the very top of my bucket list.

I couldn’t wait to see the city’s famous geothermal hot springs in person.

Their otherworldly landscapes truly fascinated me, with their boiling mud pits, steaming geysers, and vivid cobalt waters that almost looked unreal.

But once I started visiting them, I quickly realized that they don’t all leave the same impression.

Don’t get me wrong, some of them were definitely worth the hype, but others were … a little underwhelming.

Which is why I decided to write this post: to share my honest experience so you can avoid the same disappointment and prioritize the spots that are truly worth your time.

In the guide below, I’ll walk you through all 7 Hells of Beppu, highlighting which ones are worth visiting, which ones you can safely skip, and how to plan your route as efficiently as possible.

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Where Are the Hells of Beppu?

The Hells of Beppu are located in the city of Beppu, which lies along the northeastern coast of Kyushu Island in Oita Prefecture.

Beppu is situated about 2 hours away from Fukuoka by train and roughly 4 hours away from Nagasaki by bus.

If you plan to fly directly to Beppu, you’ll want to travel to Oita Airport (OIT), which is located just up the coast in the city of Oita.

From the airport, it’s about an hour ride to Beppu via public bus, taxi, or car.

The hells themselves are located in two districts just outside of the city center: Kannawa District and Shibaseki District. Both of which are easily accessible from Beppu Station via bus.

💡 Pro Tip: If you don’t have time in your itinerary to include a separate stopover in Beppu, consider joining a guided day trip from Fukuoka instead! You’ll get to visit some of the hells and check out a few other destinations along the way.

Umi Jigoku

Featuring striking blue-green waters, Umi Jigoku, or the Sea Hell, is one of the most famous and picturesque hells in Beppu.

Named for its azure waters, this hot spring contains high amounts of iron sulfate, which allows it to retain its vibrant color.

Surrounded by lush greenery and geothermal steam, it’s certainly a sight to behold!

While you’re here, be sure to also check out the other attractions that lie within the grounds. 

From colorful gardens to bright red torii gates, a lotus pond, a souvenir shop, smaller orange onsens, and a foot bath, there’s much to be discovered and explored.

My Thoughts: Visit it! Without a doubt, Umi Jigoku is my favorite hell. Not only is it super beautiful, but there’s also quite a bit to do here. So don’t rush yourself, make sure you have enough time to see everything here.

Oniishibozu Jigoku

Consisting of several bubbling mud ponds, Oniishibozu Jigoku is, without a doubt, the most unique hell in Beppu. 

Its name, which means “Shaven Monk’s Head Hell” in English, is derived from the white pools that form around the mud bubbles. These pools are said to resemble the shaven heads of monks.

Aside from its interesting and almost otherworldly hot springs, this hell is also home to a circular foot bath. 

Don’t worry, though – this foot bath isn’t made of mud! Instead, it’s fed by a nearby clear water hot spring.

My Thoughts: Visit it! While it may not be as pretty as some of the other hells, Oniishibozu Jigoku is definitely the most unique. It’s the only hell to have gray/white mud bubbles, which are actually quite interesting to see. On top of this, the foot bath here is really nice, and it usually isn’t as crowded as the one at Umi Jigoku.

Kamado Jigoku

Consisting of several different onsens, Kamado Jigoku, or the Cooking Pot Hell, is named after an ancient myth related to Ujigami, a guardian god for a nearby shrine.

According to legend, worshippers used to steam rice over the hot springs as an offering for Ujigami. This was required once a year during the Kamado Hachimangu Shrine Festival.

Today, the hell continues to cook food using steam from the hot springs – but it does so for its patrons instead.

In addition to this, the hell provides visitors with the opportunity to drink hot spring water, bathe in its steam, and take a foot bath. 

Meanwhile, the onsens themselves vary in size and come in a variety of colors, including blue, green, red, orange, and brown.

My Thoughts: Check it out – if you have time to spare. While I do think that Kamado Jigoku is really pretty, and it offers the most variety in terms of onsens, it also tends to be super crowded. It seems to be the one location that all the tour buses visit, so it gets very busy, very fast. That said, if you can time your visit between tours, it will likely be a much more enjoyable experience.

Oniyama Jigoku

Home to its own group of crocodiles, this hell is aptly named Oniyama Jigoku or Crocodile Hell.

While crocodiles are not native to Japan, the hot springs around Beppu help create an environment that is more suitable for them.

As such, crocodiles are kept and bred in an area just adjacent to the hell’s hot springs.

While here, you can also check out the hell’s main onsen. This pond features milky-green waters and is typically accompanied by an impressive amount of steam.

In addition to this, there’s a small museum located on-site, where you can learn more about the hell and the crocodiles that are kept here.

My Thoughts: Skip it. Out of all the hells, Oniyama Jigoku is my least favorite. To begin with, the pond is really steamy, so you can barely see it. In addition, all the crocodiles are kept grouped together in small enclosures. And, when I was there, many of them appeared to be sick and/or injured. Honestly, it was a bit upsetting to see.

Chinoike Jigoku

Featuring vibrant orange water, Chinoike Jigoku, or the Blood Pond Hell, is said to be one of the oldest naturally occurring hells in Japan.

Dating back more than 1,300 years, this onsen has also been designated a National Site of Scenic Beauty. 

Given its location surrounded by forests and lush greenery, it’s certainly one of the prettier hells in Beppu!

While you’re here, be sure to also check out the hell’s mineral-rich foot bath and its extensive souvenir shop.

My Thoughts: Visit it – if you have time! While I really like Chinoike Jigoku, it is a bit more time-consuming to see, because it’s located in Shibaseki District. That said, if you can fit it into your schedule, I think it’s worth the effort. The hot spring here is really pretty, and the souvenir shop is a great place to pick up some gifts for yourself and your loved ones.

Best Time to Visit the 7 Hells of Beppu

Of course, timing can also play a big role in how enjoyable your visit is.

For the best experience, I recommend visiting the Hells of Beppu in the fall or winter.

Both of these seasons tend to offer pretty mild weather with temperatures that rarely drop below 50°F (10°C) during the day.

On top of this, there are typically fewer tourists, which is a major bonus, as some of the hells are quite small and can become overcrowded.

Spring is another good option to consider, as it also offers great weather. However, you are more likely to encounter larger crowds, especially around cherry blossom season.

And finally, there’s summer, which, in my opinion, isn’t a great time to visit Beppu. 

Summer in Japan is already hot to begin with – add in the constant steam and heat from the hot springs, and Beppu can become unbearably warm.

Where to Stay Near the Hells of Beppu

Beppu Station is a great place to stay!

If you want to stay somewhere near the Hells of Beppu, I recommend booking accommodations in the Kannawa District. 

This area is going to provide you with the easiest and closest access to 5 of the 7 hells. In addition, this district is home to a wide variety of hotels, traditional ryokans, and Airbnbs for you to choose from.

Another option to consider, if you don’t mind being a bit removed from the onsens, is the area around Beppu Station.

This is the area where we stayed – at Super Hotel Beppu Ekimae – and we loved it!

It offered easy access to several restaurants, bars, cafes, and small shops, as well as the train station.

🌟 Interested in spending more time in Beppu? Be sure to check out my Beppu itinerary for additional recommendations on things to do in the city!