By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team
When you think of Japan, you think of hot springs, and when you think of hot springs, you think of Kyushu — a place world-renowned for them. Revered as the “Paradise of Hot Springs,” this region boasts not only breathtaking natural scenery but also uniquely diverse hot springs and comfortable ryokan, making it the best in all of Japan. Among them, Beppu’s hot spring output ranks second in the world, only behind Yellowstone National Park in the United States. This time, MOOK Scenic Spots is proud to introduce the exceptionally unique “Eight Hells of Beppu.”
The uniquely distinctive hells of Beppu (Image source / Kyushu Tourism Promotion Organization)
A thousand years ago, steam, hot mud, and water at around 100 degrees Celsius violently erupted from the ground here — a place so intense that people couldn’t approach it, hence the name “hell.” There’s the cobalt-blue Sea Hell, the blood-red Blood Pond Hell, as well as the Oniishibozu, Mountain, Kitchen, Oniyama, White Pond, and Tornado Hells — eight hellish hot springs in total.
One of the Eight Hells of Beppu – Blood Pond Hell
As the name suggests, Blood Pond Hell features waters that are a vivid blood-red. It is Japan’s oldest natural hell, and from afar, it looks just like an enormous pool of blood — even the steam that rises is tinged red.
The blood-red Blood Pond (Image source / Kyushu Tourism Promotion Organization)
One of the Eight Hells of Beppu – Tornado Hell
Tornado Hell is a natural geyser that erupts periodically due to underground water heated over 105 degrees Celsius and high pressure. It erupts every 30 to 40 minutes, with each eruption lasting about 6 to 10 minutes.
A fountain that can erupt up to 50 meters high (Image source / Youtube)
One of the Eight Hells of Beppu – Sea Hell
With its mysterious porcelain-blue water, what appears to be cool seawater is actually a scorching 98-degree hot spring. It was formed 1,200 years ago during an eruption of Mount Tsurumi.
The serene yet searing Sea Hell (Image source / Kyushu Tourism Promotion Organization)
One of the Eight Hells of Beppu – Oniishibozu Hell
Gray hot mud forms bubbles of various sizes that boil and make noise, resembling a bald monk’s head. Coupled with the fact that the area is called Oniishi (Demon Stone), it earned the name “Oniishibozu (Demon Monk) Hell.” Within the facility, there is also an intermittent spring known as the “Demon’s Snore,” where 100-degree steam bursts out with a loud roar, sounding much like a snoring demon.
Bubbling Oniishibozu (Image source / Kyushu Tourism Promotion Organization)
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