Jigoku Meguri (Hell Tour)
Umi Jigoku (sea hell)
Cobalt blue water of Umi Jigoku is too beautiful to be called hell. The bright blue is the color of iron sulfate. The clear blue gives an image of cool water, but actually the temperature of the water is 98℃. Lotus flowers are grown using the heat of this hell. You should try “Jigoku steam-baked pudding” steamed in hot water from Umi Jigoku. Enjoy its simple handmade taste.
Oniishibozu zjigoku (monk’s hell)
Oniishibozu Jigoku was named after the gurgling mud bubbles that look like shaven heads of monks. The powerful boiling mud attracts many visitors. Adjacent to Oniishibozu Jigoku, there stands a hot spring Oniishi-no-Yu and a foot bath using its hot water to appreciate the relaxing effect of the hot spring.
Kamado Jigoku (cooking pot hell)
There are various Jigoku in Kamado Jigoku from the 1st district to 6th district. There is a mysterious one that steams up when you blow cigarettes’ smoke into it. You can also enjoy the foot steamer using the steam of the hot springs, or drink some hot spring water that is believed to be good for your health. There are many ways to enjoy Kamado Jigoku.
Oniyama Jigoku (monster mountain hell)
Oniyama Jigoku is also called “crocodiles hell,” as crocodiles were raised using the warmth of the hot springs for the first time in Japan in 1923. Now there are about 80 crocodiles and alligators from all over the world. You can observe the feeding time on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. It is very intense to see them fighting each other to get food.
Shiraike Jigoku (white pond hell)
The water of Shiraike Jigoku changes its color, sometimes it is clear, smoky white, while it turns green in summer. It changes its appearance depending on factors like temperature or the pressure of the hot water, chemical changes and so on. In the tropical fish museum in Shiraike Jigoku, some ferocious fish including pirarucu and piranha are raised using the warmth of hot springs.
Tatsumaki Jigoku (spout hell)
Tatsumaki Jigoku is a hot geyser that shoots up boiling water at regular intervals. It is a powerful geyser that goes up at the height of 50 meters without the roof. You will hear an announcement before the geyser starts. So make sure not to miss it.
Chinoike Jigoku (blood pond hell)
Chinoike Jigoku is Japan’s oldest natural hell. Its distinctive feature is definitely its color. The red boiling mud contains iron oxide and magnesium oxide that underwent a chemical reaction caused by the high temperature and high pressure underground. The red mud gushes out from the ground and colors the pond red. It is surprisingly bright red almost unbelievable that it is natural.
(Source: naoima /shutterstock)
Umi Jigoku (sea hell)
Cobalt blue water of Umi Jigoku is too beautiful to be called hell. The bright blue is the color of iron sulfate. The clear blue gives an image of cool water, but actually the temperature of the water is 98℃. Lotus flowers are grown using the heat of this hell. You should try “Jigoku steam-baked pudding” steamed in hot water from Umi Jigoku. Enjoy its simple handmade taste.
Oniishibozu zjigoku (monk’s hell)
Oniishibozu Jigoku was named after the gurgling mud bubbles that look like shaven heads of monks. The powerful boiling mud attracts many visitors. Adjacent to Oniishibozu Jigoku, there stands a hot spring Oniishi-no-Yu and a foot bath using its hot water to appreciate the relaxing effect of the hot spring.
Kamado Jigoku (cooking pot hell)
There are various Jigoku in Kamado Jigoku from the 1st district to 6th district. There is a mysterious one that steams up when you blow cigarettes’ smoke into it. You can also enjoy the foot steamer using the steam of the hot springs, or drink some hot spring water that is believed to be good for your health. There are many ways to enjoy Kamado Jigoku.
Oniyama Jigoku (monster mountain hell)
Oniyama Jigoku is also called “crocodiles hell,” as crocodiles were raised using the warmth of the hot springs for the first time in Japan in 1923. Now there are about 80 crocodiles and alligators from all over the world. You can observe the feeding time on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. It is very intense to see them fighting each other to get food.
Shiraike Jigoku (white pond hell)
The water of Shiraike Jigoku changes its color, sometimes it is clear, smoky white, while it turns green in summer. It changes its appearance depending on factors like temperature or the pressure of the hot water, chemical changes and so on. In the tropical fish museum in Shiraike Jigoku, some ferocious fish including pirarucu and piranha are raised using the warmth of hot springs.
Tatsumaki Jigoku (spout hell)
Tatsumaki Jigoku is a hot geyser that shoots up boiling water at regular intervals. It is a powerful geyser that goes up at the height of 50 meters without the roof. You will hear an announcement before the geyser starts. So make sure not to miss it.
Chinoike Jigoku (blood pond hell)
Chinoike Jigoku is Japan’s oldest natural hell. Its distinctive feature is definitely its color. The red boiling mud contains iron oxide and magnesium oxide that underwent a chemical reaction caused by the high temperature and high pressure underground. The red mud gushes out from the ground and colors the pond red. It is surprisingly bright red almost unbelievable that it is natural.
(Source: naoima /shutterstock)
