Beppu Jigoku isn’t your average onsen stop—it’s more like stepping into Japan’s wildest natural science lab, complete with bubbling mud, steaming ponds, and colors so vivid they look Photoshopped. Each of the “hells” has its own personality: from the bright cobalt-blue Umi Jigoku that looks almost too pretty to be boiling hot, to the bubbling gray mud of Oniishibozu Jigoku that gurgles like it’s alive. Steam hisses through vents all around you, and the air smells faintly of sulfur—definitely part of the experience. The walking paths connect several of the sites, and you can even snack on eggs and pudding cooked using the natural hot spring steam. It’s weird, wonderful, and totally Beppu—a must-see mix of nature, heat, and pure Japanese quirk.

Easiest way to reach Beppu Jigoku is by hiring a car, or booking a day tour. The great thing about a day tour is you will also get to visit other sites in the region like the Ghibli inspired Yufiun Floral Village - This is the tour we would recommend - Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, Yufuin Village, Beppu Ropeway, Kamado Jigoku (with complimentary Onsen Tamago and Lemon Soda) | Depart from Fukuoka