Oita
Eight ‘hells’ of boiling colour, a lake that’s actually a hot spring, and a charming village tucked between two volcanoes — Oita is Japan’s undisputed onsen capital.
湧出量・湧出量・源泉数ともに日本一。別府の地獄めぐりと由布院の静寂が対比する、大分の湯の旅。
Oita Prefecture produces more hot spring water — and has more spring sources — than any other place on Earth. Beppu’s famous ‘Eight Hells’ (Jigoku Meguri) are a surreal series of multicolored boiling pools, from a blood-red sea to a vivid-blue cobalt pond. Quieter Yufuin sits beneath twin-peaked Yufu-dake volcano, its main street lined with cafes, craft shops and boutique ryokan overlooking misty Lake Kinrin.
源泉数・湧出量ともに日本一の大分は、別府の地獄めぐりと由布院の上質な湯の宿で知られるおんせん天国。豊後牛・関アジ・関サバなど食の宝庫でもあります。
Recommended Omiyage
おすすめおみやげ 5選
Yufuin Milk Jam
Ultra-rich milk jam made from Yufuin jersey cows — perfect on bread or as a dessert topping
由布院のジャージー牛から作る濃厚ミルクジャム。パンやスイーツに合う。
Jigoku Mushi Pudding
Custard pudding steam-cooked using Beppu’s natural hot spring vents
地獄の蒸気で蒸したなめらかプリン。別府のユニークなお土産。
Seki Aji & Seki Saba
Premium brand mackerel and horse mackerel from the Bungo Strait — Japan’s finest sashimi fish
豊後水道の関アジ・関サバは全国屈指のブランド魚。旨みが段違い。
Kabosu Ponzu
Fragrant citrus ponzu made from Oita’s kabosu — a versatile souvenir for any dish
大分特産のかぼすを使ったさっぱりポン酢。鍋・刺身・何にでも合う。
Beppu Onsen Manjū
Steamed bean-paste bun cooked in hot spring steam — a Beppu classic since the Meiji era
温泉の蒸気で蒸す素朴な蒸し饅頭。明治から続く別府のソウルフード。
Must-Visit Spots
おすすめスポット 5選
Beppu Jigoku Meguri
Eight otherworldly hot-spring pools — blood-red, cobalt-blue, and crocodile-inhabited
赤・青・白など色鮮やかな8つの地獄池を巡る別府名物の観光スポット。
Yufuin Onsen
Tranquil resort village at the foot of Yufu-dake — Japan’s most romantic hot-spring town
由布岳を望む静かな温泉地。おしゃれなカフェと上質な旅館が並ぶ。
Lake Kinrin
Misty onsen-fed lake in Yufuin where fish swim above hot springs — ethereal at dawn
温泉水が湧く幻想的な湖。早朝の霧の中で魚が泳ぐ神秘的な光景。
Usa Jingu Shrine
Japan’s foremost Hachiman shrine — mother shrine to over 40,000 Hachiman shrines nationwide
全国4万社の八幡社の総本宮。格式高い社殿が並ぶ神聖な空間。
Kunisaki Peninsula
Ancient Buddhist stone sculptures and remote valley temples on a quiet volcanic peninsula
石仏と磨崖仏が点在する、仏の里・国東半島の隠れた名所。
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Beppu and Yufuin?
Beppu is lively and touristy with public baths and the famous ‘hells’. Yufuin is quieter, upscale and romantic, ideal for a relaxing ryokan stay. Easily combined in one trip.
別府は活気あるレジャー型。由布院は静かで上質なリゾート型。1泊ずつ両方楽しむのがおすすめ。
What is ‘jigoku mushi’ (hell-steaming)?
Using Beppu’s natural hot steam vents to cook food — eggs, vegetables, seafood — right on the street. The Jigokumushi Kobo workshop lets you steam your own ingredients.
別府の温泉蒸気で食材を蒸す調理法。地獄蒸し工房・鉄輪では自分で食材を蒸す体験ができます。
Is kabosu only from Oita?
Yes — kabosu (かぼす) is a citrus fruit grown almost exclusively in Oita Prefecture (97% of Japan’s production). Its fragrant juice is used in ponzu, dressings and cocktails.
かぼすは大分が全国生産量の97%を占める特産柑橘。ポン酢・ドレッシング・カクテルに幅広く使われます。
Travel Tip
Buy the ‘Beppu Jigoku combo ticket’ (¥2,200) to visit all 8 hells in one day. Then head to Kannawa district in the evening for a ‘jigoku mushi’ cooking experience — put eggs and corn in the steam box and collect them 15 minutes later.
