The Kannawa-Kamegawa Hell Zone is said historically to have been a place abhorred by locals -  a place where, over a thousand years ago, fumaroles, hot mud and boiling water gushed out of the earth. It is for this reason that the area became known as 'jigoku' ('hell') - a name that is retained to this day in Kannawa Onsen. 

The Beppu Jigoku Meguri tour includes Umi Jigoku - a beautiful cobalt blue pond with a temperature of 98°C; Chinoike Jigoku - where even the fumaroles are red due to iron oxide; Tatsumaki Jigoku - from which hot water and fumaroles spout out at regular intervals; Shiraike Jigoku - a pretty, white-coloured pond amid a Japanese-style garden; Oniishibozu Jigoku - whose hot, grey mud is said to resemble a monk's head; Oniyama Jigoku - whose resident crocodiles remain a popular tourist attraction, and finally, Kamado Jigoku - where in the past people would cook offerings of rice in the fumes during a festival that took place at the nearby Kamado Hachimangu-Shrine. 

Four of the seven 'hells' - Umi Jigoku, Chinoike Jigoku, Tatsumaki Jigoku and Shiraike Jigoku - have been designated as national scenic spots due to their unique, diverse colours and forms.
Each of these 'hells' offers a variety of delicious foods onsite, such as onsen-boiled eggs and jigoku 'pudding', as well as a wide range of souvenirs including Chinoike Jigoku's famous ointment, which is effective against skin diseases.
The Jigoku Meguri is a great chance to witness the life and breath of Beppu!