Beppu, in Oita Prefecture, is the most geothermally active city in Japan — with approximately 2,900 hot spring sources and a daily flow of 130,000 kiloliters of hot spring water. No city on earth puts on a more dramatic display of geothermal energy.
The Jigoku Meguri (Hell Tour) Is Going Viral
Beppu’s most famous attraction is the Jigoku Meguri (Hell Tour) — seven geothermal pools so extreme they can’t be bathed in. Each has a completely different character: the cobalt-blue Sea Hell, the blood-red Blood Pond Hell, the intermittently erupting Waterspout Hell. TikTok travel content from Beppu racks up millions of views every month — the visuals are unlike anything else in Japan.
Sand Bath: An Experience You Can Only Have Here
Beppu’s signature experience is the sunamushi onsen (sand bath) — you lie down and attendants bury you in naturally heated volcanic sand. The heat penetrates differently from water. Sweat pours out. International visitors consistently describe it as one of the most memorable physical experiences of their Japan trip.
Getting There
From Fukuoka (Hakata), the Limited Express Sonic takes about 2 hours. Easily combined with a Fukuoka itinerary. Day trips are possible but one night lets you experience Beppu after dark — when the steam rising from the streets creates an otherworldly atmosphere.
