別府 Beppu

Continued our 地獄 Jigoku (Hells) Tour. First stop, 血の池地獄 Chinoike Jigoku (Blood pond hell) - a steaming pool of naturally red boiling hot spring water.

Next is the 龍巻地獄 Tatsumaki Jigoku (Watersprout Hell). The highlight is a hot spring geyser that shoots hot water 20m high. The performance happens roughly once every hour, lasting for about 6-8 minutes. Unfortunately, a stone structure has been built to contain the geyser's eruption to just a few metres.

The geyser at work

Next stop is 山地獄 Yama Jigoku (Mountain Hell). It was really misty. Had to wait for the fleeting moments when the steam clears off to take photos.

Using the heat frm the hot springs to create a warmer environment, they accommodated a mini zoo in that Jigoku. There were elephants, flamingos, monkeys, hippos, etc. The hippos there eat potatoes!

Next stop, 海地獄 Umi Jigoku (Sea Hell), so named because of the colour of the water.

I think this is one of the better Jigokus. It has a large compound and nice parks with sakura in full bloom.

Eggs placed in a basket and cooked over the heat of the hot spring. These are called onsen tamago (literally, hot spring eggs). You can eat these in a shop for 300-yen per egg. We also had custard pudding that was steamed over the Jigoku at the shop.

They've used the heat of the Jigoku to power a greenhouse. All kinds of beautiful flowers in rich, vibrant colours!

And the last Jigoku - 鬼石坊主地獄 Oni-ishi-bouzu Jigoku (literally, Devil Stone Monk Hell), featuring bubbling mud pools (actually looks more like clay).

Foot bath. Normal onsen water, not Jigoku water!

After completing our Jigoku tour, we went for a mud bath at 別府温泉保養ランド Beppu Onsen Hoyoland. It is a large onsen spa featuring normal clear onsen baths and mud baths. There is a large outdoor mud bath that is communal, but the entrance for males and females are separate. The light grey, clay-like water is opaque enough to hide your body from view once you're in it. Your feet get absolutely caked in clay after walking around in the bath though! Picture taken from website.

Us outside Hoyoland with a dramatic bridge in the background.

Back to Fukuoka

Then, we drove back to Fukuoka and spent the rest of the day shopping.

At night, we had a little birthday party for Daddy and Uncle in advance! Small cake, big candle!

The birthday boys

Happy Birthday, Daddy & Uncle!!