Must-see attractions in Beppu

Beppu Traditional Bamboo Crafts Centre

Beppu

You may be blown away by the versatility of bamboo, which grows copiously in the Beppu region. In the ground-floor gallery, intricate, refined pieces span…

Onsen Hells

Beppu

Beppu's most-hyped attraction is the jigoku meguri ('hell circuit'; groups of boiling hot springs), where waters bubble forth from below the ground with…

Yama Jigoku

Beppu

Yama is not included in the onsen meguri ticket and must be visited separately. A variety of animals are kept here in enclosures that look uncomfortably…

Chi-no-ike Jigoku

Beppu

Chi-no-ike is named for its photogenic waters, said to be red like blood (chi). The colour comes from iron oxide and magnesium oxide. This is said to be…

Oni-yama Jigoku

Beppu

Oni-yama is especially known for the 80-plus crocodiles that have been bred here since the Taishō period (1912–26). It's one of the Kannawa group's jigoku…

Shira-ike Jigoku

Beppu

One of the Kannawa group's hells, Shira-ike has blue-white water and a Japanese garden. It tends to be the quietest of the neighbourhood's jigoku (hells;…

Umi Jigoku

Beppu

Umi is a steamy blue due to iron oxide in its 98°C water. It's said to be about 200m down to the source. One of the Kannawa group's jigoku (hells; boiling…

Kamado Jigoku

Beppu

So named because it was once used for cooking (kamado means stove in Japanese). One of the Kannawa group's jigoku (hells; boiling hot springs).

Oniishibōzu Jigoku

Beppu

One of the Kannawa group's jigoku (hells; boiling hot springs), Oniishibōzu has bubbling grey mud that looks like a monk's shaved head.

Tatsumaki Jigoku

Beppu

Set in Beppu's smaller group of jigoku (hells; boiling hot springs), Tatsumaki has a geyser that shoots off about every 35 minutes.

Beppu Tower

Beppu

Built in 1957, this erector-set-style tower near the bay has an observation deck with 360-degree views. It's a popular visit for couples.