Hot Spring

 Hot springs are famous Japanese culture. In Japanese custom, people tend to prefer soak in a bathtub than take a shower. That custom has a deep relationship with Japanese culture I think. This time I visited 海地獄(Ocean Hell) in 大分県(Oita Prefecture). 海地獄 is located in 別府(Beppu) where are famous 温泉city in Japan.

 

This picture represent a way of make 温泉卵(eggs boiled in hot spring water) well.  The taste of it was good but, I felt little strange about it because 温泉卵 is normally soft-boiled but, 海地獄's 温泉卵 was really hard like normally boiled egg.

   　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  The color of hot water was really beautiful sky blue I hadn't ever seen before. It was so beautiful that it could not be imagined from the name called hell. Although it looks cold apparently, the about 98 temperature exists. This hot spring is sky blue by iron sulfate. In addition, the smell of it was strong sulfur. I like that smell however, it was regrettable that I couldn't had been soak it because of hot water degree.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　                                                                  　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

                                                   

Steam was coming out also here. Small signboard said "danger".

This one's color was red so called 血の海地獄(Blood Ocean). The color differences between last one is caused by different mineral. I like blue one because it was more bigger and more magnificent than this. By comparing them, I could notice the smell was different too like the colors. Moreover red one looked more hotter than blue one cause of it appearance. In fact, red one's degree is about 78 so blue one is more hotter.

I watched torii and a grave maker behind hot spring. The hot spring has been the target of veneration from ancient times as hot spring God. This situation is easy to see in Japan. That is common existing hot springs and Shinto shrines at the same place. 

You can enjoy foot bath when you fell tired to walk. I tried it and could refresh. The hot water came from the source of a hot spring so it has some recovery effects. The reason why foot bath is quite popular, it is easy to take and good for your physical condition and you can get warm in winter season.

Official site of 海地獄　http://www.umijigoku.co.jp/

Entrance fee  400yen