Oniishibozu Jigoku (Shaven Monk's Head Hell)

About

The bubbling gray mud pools of Oniishibozu Jigoku, where boiling mud creates shapes resembling Buddhist monks' shaven heads. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Oniishibozu Jigoku, or "Shaven Monk's Head Hell," is one of Beppu's oldest and most culturally significant hot springs, dating back over 1,200 years with records in the 733 CE Bungo Fudoki. 🔗 The site features approximately five ponds of boiling gray mud heated to 99°C (210°F) that continuously bubble and burst, creating shapes resembling Buddhist monks' shaven heads emerging from the earth. During the Meiji era (1868-1912), it was known as "Buddhist Hell," reflecting deep cultural connections to Buddhist concepts of the afterlife. 🔗

Cultural & Religious Significance

The name "Oniishibozu" carries profound Buddhist symbolism. "Bōzu" means Buddhist monk, and "Oniishi" references demon stones. The bubbling mud rises to the surface and bursts, creating round shapes that remarkably resemble the shaven heads of Buddhist monks, connecting this natural phenomenon with Buddhist religious imagery and traditional associations between geothermal activity and hellish realms in Japanese spiritual culture. 🔗

Historically, the volcanic activity that scattered hot mud across the Kannawa area made it impossible to grow rice, transforming what was once inhospitable land into one of Japan's premier tourist destinations. The mud pools emit sounds described as resembling "a demon's snore," adding to the otherworldly Buddhist hell imagery. 🔗

Visiting Information

Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM daily, open year-round 🔗

Admission:

• Individual entry: ¥400 per person
• Seven-hell combined ticket: ¥2,200 adults / ¥1,200 children (valid 1 month)
• Must be purchased at Umi Jigoku or Chinoike Jigoku first 🔗

Access:

• From Beppu Station: Bus #2, #5, #24, or #41 (20 min) to "Kannawa" or "Umi-Jigoku-mae" stop
• Located directly next to Umi Jigoku, sharing parking area
• Part of compact Kannawa hell cluster—all five within walking distance 🔗

Parking: Free parking for 230 cars, shared with Umi Jigoku 🔗

Location: 559-1 Kannawa, Beppu, Oita Prefecture 874-0045

The Oniishibozu Jigoku Experience

The Bubbling Mud Pools

The main attraction features approximately five distinct pools of gray boiling mud. Visitors observe the hypnotic, continuous bubbling action as superheated mud rises to the surface at 99°C, creating dome-shaped bubbles that burst and reform constantly. The pools emit occasional sounds described as demonic snoring, adding to the otherworldly atmosphere. The gray coloration comes from mineral-rich volcanic sediments mixed with thermal waters. 🔗

Photography opportunities: Gray mud pools create striking visual compositions, especially in morning light. The contrast between bubbling mud and surrounding landscaped gardens provides excellent photo opportunities. Steam is most photogenic in cooler morning hours. 🔗

Free Foot Bath (Ashiyu)

Oniishibozu Jigoku offers a complimentary circular foot bath facility filled with cooled thermal spring water from the same source that feeds the mud pools. The unique circular design encourages social interaction among visitors. The foot bath provides a perfect way to relax while viewing the geothermal landscape, especially pleasant after walking between the Kannawa area hells. 🔗

Oniishi no Yu Hot Spring Bath

Unique feature: Oniishibozu Jigoku is the only hell where visitors can actually bathe in the thermal waters. The adjacent Oniishi no Yu bathhouse, fed by the same geothermal spring that creates the mud pools, offers a complete onsen experience. 🔗

Facilities:

• Separate gender facilities (men's and women's sections)
• Indoor baths on multiple floors
• Outdoor observation baths on 1st and 2nd floors with views of surrounding greenery
• Five wheelchair-accessible private family baths (¥2,000 for 60 minutes, up to 4 people)
• Lush, peaceful atmosphere surrounded by nature 🔗

Oniishi no Yu Hours and Fees (separate from jigoku admission):

• Operating hours: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
• Last entry for communal baths: 9:30 PM
• Last entry for private baths: 9:00 PM
• Closed: First day of each month (if 1st falls on weekend/holiday, closes following weekday)
• Adults: ¥620 | Elementary students: ¥300 | Infants: ¥200
• Private family baths: ¥2,000/60 minutes (cannot be reserved in advance) 🔗

Original Snacks and Food

The facility features a shop offering unique hot spring-steamed foods showcasing traditional jigoku-mushi cooking techniques:

• Steamed pudding made with groundnuts
• Boiled eggs cooked in hot spring water (onsen tamago)
• Special xiaolongbao (soup dumplings)
• Rice steamed using hell thermal heat 🔗

Gardens and Grounds

Well-maintained Japanese garden landscaping surrounds the mud pools, creating a pleasant contrast between manicured greenery and raw geothermal power. Oniishibozu and neighboring Umi Jigoku are noted for having "the most pleasant and spacious facilities surrounded by a garden" among all the hells. 🔗

Practical Visiting Tips

November Seasonal Advantages:

• Cooler temperatures (10-16°C) create more dramatic visual contrast with steam rising from hot springs
• The chilly outside air makes the warm foot bath especially enjoyable
• Peak autumn foliage season in Beppu area
• Comfortable weather for walking between hells in Kannawa district
• The contrast between cool breeze and onsen warmth creates "a magical experience" 🔗

Optimal Timing:

• Early morning visits (8:00-9:00 AM) help avoid tour bus crowds
• Enhanced steam visibility in cooler November air creates atmospheric photos
• Morning light (8:00-10:00 AM) provides best conditions for photographing bubbling mud
• Weekdays generally quieter than weekends 🔗

What to Bring:

• Umbrella (recommended for possible rain and steam protection)
• Towel if planning to use foot bath or onsen facilities
• Light jacket for November weather
• Comfortable walking shoes with good grip (terrain can be uneven and slippery around pools) 🔗

Combined Ticket Strategy:

• Purchase the ¥2,200 combined ticket at either Umi Jigoku or Chinoike Jigoku
• Visit Oniishibozu immediately after Umi Jigoku (they're adjacent) for efficient routing
• Ticket valid for 1 month, allowing flexible scheduling
• Save ¥950 vs. individual admission to all 7 hells 🔗

Time Management:

• Allocate 20-30 minutes for viewing pools and foot bath
• Add 1+ hour if bathing at Oniishi no Yu
• Five Kannawa hells can be completed in 1.5-2 hours walking
• Two distant hells require 15-minute bus ride 🔗

Cultural Etiquette:

• Respect barriers and viewing platforms—mud pools are dangerously hot at 99°C
• Follow posted signage and instructions
• Be mindful of sulfur smell sensitivity
• Keep noise levels moderate

Foot Bath Etiquette:

• Rinse feet before entering the ashiyu
• Sit on designated edges, don't submerge your entire body
• Keep towels from touching the communal water
• Limit time if others are waiting during busy periods

Onsen Bath Etiquette (if using Oniishi no Yu):

• Wash thoroughly at shower stations before entering baths
• No clothing or towels in bath water
• Hair must be tied up and not touch water
• Keep bathing areas clean and quiet 🔗

Accessibility: Five wheelchair-accessible family baths available at Oniishi no Yu, large parking area accommodates accessible vehicles. 🔗

Location: View on Google Maps

Source: attractions/beppu/oniishibozu-jigoku.md