To The South: Beppu Jigoku, Umitamago Aquarium [Trip Day 6] 南へ：別府地獄・うみたまご水族館

Trip itinerary and map

Beppu boasts the largest number of hotspring sources in Japan. Apart from the ones for bathing, there are also a group of colourful hotsprings which are too hot but good for viewing. These are the Beppu Jigoku (hell). Most of them are clustered together in one area, which is just right for a tour on foot.

: Umi Jigoku (海地獄) – “sea hell”

: Bozu Jigoku (坊主地獄) – “Monk Hell”. A creative name referring to the circular bubbles that look like a monk’s shaven head.

: Variety of food cooked with hotspring steam.

: Steamed dumplings.

: Steamed pudding.

: Yama Jigoku (山地獄) – “Mountain Hell”. Not particularly interesting.

: There was also a tiny zoo that was way too small for the animals.

: You can try drinking the hotspring water here.

: The steam from this one was really thick.

: I really don’t see the point but the excuse for keeping crocodiles there was the hotspring could be uesd to provide heated water for them.

: Shiroike Jigoku (白池地獄) – “white pond hell”. Looked kind of pale green to me.

The remaining two Jigoku are some way separated from this cluster, but there are regular buses.

: View over Beppu town on the bus. There are many hotsprings scattered around. The sign is for Kannawa Spa.

: Chi no ike Jigoku (血の池地獄) – “blood pond hell”.

: Tatsumaki Jigoku (龍巻地獄) – “tornado hell”. A pretty weak geyser so the name is really an exaggeration.

Frankly, the displays were all very touristy, but I have a special interest in water-related sites so it was still a worthwhile visit for me.

Umitamago Aquarium (うみたまご水族館)

This is located on the coast next to the highway between Beppu and Oita City. There’s not much else in its vicinity but fortunately still accessible by city bus.

: Feeding time. Turtle fighting it out with the fish.

: Very natural looking design.

: Blends in with the sea as its background.

: Looks like an art gallery.

Leaving Beppu – To Kagoshima

The sky was definitely looking quite ominous now. We got back to Beppu and departed for Kagoshima. By the time we reached Kagoshima about 9 pm, train cancellations started to happen as the typhoon was approaching.