"Hell Steaming" is a traditional cooking method that has been around since the Edo period in the Kannawa Onsen area of Beppu City, Oita Prefecture. The impact of the name "Hell Steaming" and its novelty have attracted attention.

Let's explore the characteristics and history of hell steaming.

Characteristics of Jigokumushi cuisine

Jigoku mushi cuisine is a simple yet unique cooking method in which ingredients are steamed using the steam coming out of hot springs at approximately 100℃. It is a dish that can only be found in Beppu, which boasts the largest number of hot spring sources and the largest volume of hot spring water in Japan.

Jigoku mushi is made using a device called a "Jigoku kettle." All you have to do is put the ingredients in the kettle and cover it with a lid, and the hot spring steam will steam them up in no time. It's a simple cooking method that just involves steaming, but there are many ways to enjoy it, and it's popular because of its deliciousness.

The temperature inside the hell pot is about 100℃, and you can feel the heat just by getting close. This is truly worthy of being called "Hell Steaming."

The ingredients used in Jigoku Mushi are various, including vegetables, meat, and seafood. Simply steaming potatoes and eggs is delicious. You can also steam pork and cabbage, or chicken and potatoes, and make any other arrangement you like.

Among them, steamed vegetables, steamed pizza, soft-boiled eggs, and pudding are popular. They are healthy because they do not use excess oil.

Steaming with hot spring mineral-rich steam brings out the natural umami and sweetness of the ingredients. It has a light salty, refreshing taste. You can enjoy a different flavor from regular steamed dishes.

It's delicious as is, but we also recommend adding salt, soy sauce, or ponzu sauce to taste.

There are no rules regarding the ingredients used or the way to eat Jigoku Mushi. If the food is steamed using hot spring steam, it is called Jigoku Mushi and is a highly flexible dish.

The History of Jigokumushi Cuisine

The history of Jigoku Mushi is very old, dating back to the Edo period. Jigoku Mushi has long been served as a dish of hospitality in inns and other establishments.

The document "Tsurumi Shichiyu no Ki" is evidence that Jigoku Mushi cuisine has been around since the Edo period. This document provides detailed information about the characteristics of each hot spring in the Tsurumi area, and also tells the history of Jigoku Mushi.

Regarding one hot spring called "Imai no Yu," the article says, "Local people regularly steam food here."

The villagers would spread straw in the area known as Jigoku, where the steam came out, pour water over it, place rice cakes, potatoes, red rice, etc. on top of that, cover it with more straw, and steam it. Also, at the tourist facility Terayu, sweets made with Jigoku steaming were sold.

There is a story that a confectioner from Kyoto tried camellia mochi steamed in Jigoku on his way back from a visit to Nagasaki, and was so pleased that he said it was "as good as the sweets made with the water from the famous Kamo River," and bought a lot of them to take home.

It is clear that Jigoku Steaming has been loved and enjoyed by people for a long time.

Tourist Spots in Oita

Oita, where you can eat Jigoku Mushi, has a variety of tourist attractions. This time, we will introduce three popular tourist spots in Beppu City, Oita Prefecture.

Beppu Hell Tour

Beppu Hell Tour is a tourist facility where you can see the source of hot springs that are nearly 100 degrees Celsius. You can also enjoy meeting impressive crocodiles and buying souvenirs.

The Beppu Hell Tour includes the following four hells: Sea Hell, Pond of Blood Hell, Tatsumaki Hell, White Pond Hell, Oniishi Bozu Hell, Oniyama Hell, and Kamado Hell. Sea Hell, Pond of Blood Hell, Tatsumaki Hell, and White Pond Hell are all designated as national scenic spots as "Beppu Hells."

By the way, there are foot baths at Umi Jigoku, Chi no Ike Jigoku, Onishi Jigoku, and Kamado Jigoku. Of course, all the hot springs are free-flowing. You can go around the whole course in 2 to 3 hours. If you want to enjoy a leisurely stroll around the town, you should leave a day aside.

Kijima Kogen Park

Located at an altitude of about 700m, Kijima Kogen Park is an amusement park that spreads across a beautiful plateau. Particularly popular is Japan's first wooden coaster, Jupiter. Made from more than 60,000 pieces of wood, the coaster creaks with the sound of the wood, making it a thrilling ride.

In addition, "Poseidon 30" is a thrilling attraction where you slide down from about 30m above the ground and enjoy the powerful splashes of water. If you don't want to get wet, you can enjoy the view from under the roof.

If you don't like thrilling rides, we also recommend go-karting, which you can enjoy alongside seasonal plants. This is a recommended tourist spot for those who want to spend some fun time in nature.

Steam Observatory

The Yukemuri Observatory is a tourist spot where you can fully enjoy the charm of Japan's proud hot spring resort.

From the observation deck, you can see the Beppu cityscape enveloped in rising steam, as well as the beautiful views of Mount Tsurumi and Mount Ogi in the distance. This view was chosen as the second best in the TV program "Japanese Landscapes to be Preserved in the 21st Century" in 2001.

On weekends and holidays, the area is lit up at night, and the colorful steam from the hot springs creates a fantastic atmosphere. This place has been selected as a Japanese night view heritage site, and is visited by many people.

How to get to Oita

Oita is an attractive place for both gourmet food and sightseeing, and there are various ways to get there. Here we will introduce the travel times required by plane, express bus, JR, etc. Travel times may vary depending on the season and weather.

[Access by plane]

・About 1 hour from Itami Airport ・About 1 hour and 10 minutes from Chubu Centrair International Airport ・About 1 hour and 30 minutes from Haneda Airport

[Access by express bus]

・From Fukuoka: Approx. 2 hours 30 minutes ・From Kumamoto: Approx. 4 hours ・From Nagasaki: Approx. 4 hours 10 minutes ・From Kobe: Approx. 9 hours 20 minutes ・From Osaka: Approx. 11 hours

[Access by JR (express train)]

・From Kokura: approx. 1 hour 20 minutes・From Hakata: approx. 2 hours 10 minutes・From Hiroshima: approx. 2 hours 40 minutes・From Kagoshima: approx. 3 hours 30 minutes・From Shin-Osaka: approx. 4 hours・From Nagoya: approx. 5 hours・From Tokyo: approx. 6 hours 30 minutes

[Access by ferry]
・From Misaki: approx. 1 hour 10 minutes ・From Tokuyama: approx. 2 hours ・From Yawatahama: approx. 3 hours ・From Osaka: approx. 12 hours ・From Kobe: approx. 11 hours 20 minutes

[Access by car]

・Approx. 1 hour 30 minutes from Kitakyushu IC・Approx. 2 hours from Saga IC・Approx. 2 hours from Fukuoka IC・Approx. 2 hours 20 minutes from Kumamoto IC・Approx. 2 hours 50 minutes from Miyazaki IC・Approx. 3 hours from Nagasaki IC・Approx. 4 hours from Hiroshima IC・Approx. 4 hours 30 minutes from Kagoshima IC

Try to find the best way to get there.

summary

Enjoy the power of local nature while eating simple and delicious Jigoku steamed cuisine. Jigoku steaming uses hot spring steam to bring out the natural umami and sweetness of the ingredients, making it a special dish that can only be enjoyed here.

If you visit Oita, be sure to try Jigoku Mushi.

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