Featuring about 2,800 springs that gush out ridiculous amounts of hot water every day, Beppu has been named the hot-springs capital of Japan. Because of their extreme temperatures and some very unique characteristics, nine of these springs are known as the hells of Beppu.

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Described as an apocalyptic place, by writers in the Edo Period, where gruesome scenes of torture through boiling took place, the area around Beppu has become a popular attraction for tourists, ever since the city was founded, in 1924. With steam coming out through every available crack, Beppu seems like a city that’s cooking over an open flame.

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This city of steam, located on the east coast of Kyushu Island, has 9 geothermal hot-spots, known as jigoku (hell). They are, by far, Beppu’s main attractions, drawing-in over 12 million tourists from Japan and beyond, every year. Named because of their resemblance to the Buddhist vision of hell, each of these nine ponds has its own special feature:

Umi Jigoku (Sea Hell)

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One of the most beautiful ponds in Beppu, Umi Jigoku features a pool of turquoise water that resembles the sea. Its waters are 120 meters deep and 90 degrees Celsius hot, enough to cook eggs in.

Oniishibozu Jigoku (Shaven Head Hell)

This particular jingoku features pools of boiling gray mud, making bubbles that are said to look like the shaved heads of Buddhist monks.

Shiraike Jigoku (White Pond Hell)

Surrounded by lush vegetation, the White Pond Hell is filled with boiling water, colored white by the excess calcium.

Yama Jigoku (Mountain Hell)

A mud volcano spouted out so much mud that it eventually turned into a small steamy mountain, surrounded by small ponds.

Kamado Jigoku (Cooking Pot Hell)

A collection of boiling hot ponds featuring a bright red demon statue as the cook.

Oniyama Jigoku (Devil’s Mountain Hell)

Home to about 100 hellish crocodiles, the Devil’s Mountain Hell features steam so strong, it can pull one and a half train-cars.

Kinryu Jigoku (Golden Dragon Hell)

A dragon statue with steam coming through its mouth that seems to be flying when water spouts out at sunrise. This jigoku heats the entire nearby greenhouse.

Chinoike Jigoku (Blood Pond Hell)

The most popular of all nine ‘hells’, the Blood Pond is also the most photogenic. The large quantity of ferrous minerals on the bottom of the pond gives it a bright reddish color.

Tatsumaki Jigoku (Spout Hell)

The Spout Hell is actually a boiling geyser blowing hot water 20 meters into the air, every 30 minutes.

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