The largest hot water "gusher" in Japan. Various strange sites can be viewed on a tour of "Hell."

Beppu is located in the central part of Oita, on the coast of Beppu Bay faces the sea, with Mt. Tsurumi and the rest of the Tsurumi Volcanoes in the rear. Hot water gushes at many spots in the city. Beppu ranks first in gush volume in Japan and is in a high place in the world in the number of sources and the variety of chemical properties. The Beppu-onsen Spa consists of eight hot spring areas including Hamawaki, Beppu, Kankaiji, Myoban and Kannawa, which are collectively called "Beppu Hatto". In addition, there are many modern spa resorts also supplied from the rich sources in those areas.

The Tour of Hell along a path in the Kannawa area is the highlight of sightseeing in the Beppu Spa. Eight spots including the Umi-jigoku (sea hell) made up of bright cobalt blue hot water, the Chi-no-ike-jigoku (blood pond hell) where hot water containing red melted clay gushes out and the Tatsumaki-jigoku (tornado hell), a geyser, are usually on the itinerary of the tour.


On the outskirts of Beppu are comfortable resort areas with many leisure activity facilities such as the Takasaki Shizen-dobutsu-en(Mt. Takasaki Monkey Land Natural Park) featuring a specifies of monkey native of Japan designated as a Natural Monument and Lake Shidaka-ko amid Mt. Tsurumi-dake, Mt. Yufu-dake and other mountains.

The area called "Little Kyoto" in Kyushu by locals. A castle town with abundant fresh spring water.

Takeda, located in a southwestern part of Oita, is a castle town from which Mt. Kuju can be viewed. The Oka Castle, positioned at a place rimmed by deep ravines with a steep cliff, was built in 1185 according to a record. The only remains reminiscent of its heyday are the ruins of its keep and western tower and the high rock piles on the sides of cliffs. The Aso montains and Mt. Kuju can be viewed from the ruins of the keep of the castle.


With many historical sites including Buke-Yashiki, or samurais' residences of the olden days, Takeda is called "Small Kyoto in Kyushu". It is reputed for its fresh spring water, and specialties featuring river fish and those featuring chicken indigenous to the city are served at many eating places in Takeda.


"Juroku Rakan" or sixteen stone figures of Buddhist disciples who swore to uphold Buddha's teachings stand on a huge rock by the stone steps leading to the entrance of the Kan'non-ji Temple. A promenade named "Historical Road" runs from a spot near the sixteen store figures to the ruins of the Oka Castle. Takeda also has the Taketa-City Rekishi Shiryo-kan(historical museum) in commemoration of the painter Tanomura Chikuden(1777-1835), a cave chapel of Christians in feudal Japan, the Nanatsu-mori Ancient Tombs designated as a Historical Site.