Hells of Beppu
The hot spring system Hells of Beppu is a nationally designated "Place of Scenic Beauty" in the onsen town of Beppu, Ōita, Japan. The "hells," or "jigoku" in Japanese, are for viewing rather than bathing.Hells of the ''Beppu Jigoku Meguri''
The tourist course which includes all of the seven hells is called Beppu Jigoku Meguri.
Five of the hells are within walking distance of the starting point and two of them should be accessed by car or bus. The entire course takes about two to two and a half hours to complete.Sea Hell
The "Sea Hell" is known for its vibrant blue-colored water. The water, which is 98 degrees Celsius, is used to boil onsen tamago. This is the starting point of the Jigoku Meguri tour.
Image: Umi Jigoku in Beppu.jpg|thumb|The cobalt-blue Sea Hell''Oniishibozu'' Hell
This hell consists of ponds of boiling gray mud. It is referred to as the "Oniishibozu Hell" due to the bubbles of mud resembling the bald head of a Buddhist monk.image:Bozu-jigoku 2010-01-02.jpg|thumb|Boiling mud of the Oniishibozu Hell which is said to resemble a monk's bald head''Kamado'' Hell
Kamado Hell or "Furnace Hell" has a variety of hells with one of them changing color depending on the temperature and weather.Oniyama Jigoku, often called "Crocodile Hell," contains about 80 crocodiles. It was the first crocodile breeding facility in Japan, and the heat of the hells creates a suitable habitat for the crocodiles.''Shiraike'' Hell
Shiraike Jigoku literally means "white pond hell." The water of this hell is light blue and located next to a tropical fish aquarium. The steam of the hell allows the aquarium to hold fish such as pirarucus and piranhas.''Chinoike'' Hell
Chinoike Jigoku literally means "blood pond hell." The name comes from its red-colored hot mud. It is the oldest natural hell in Japan. This hell is about 10 minutes by bus or car from the previous hells. image: Beppu Chinoike-jigoku01n4272.jpg|thumb|Chinoike Hell named for its blood-like color''Tatsumaki'' Hell
Tatsumaki Jigoku, which means "tornado hell," is the only of the hells which is a geyser. It erupts every 30-40 minutes. A roof was installed over the geyser to allow spectators to watch the eruption from a close distance. Without the roof, the geyser would reach 30 meters into the air. This hell is located next to the Chinoike Hell.