Surprise! Beppu’s hot springs aren’t just for soaking — they’re also for cooking.
Long before sous vide or steam ovens made their way into modern kitchens, locals here were mastering the art of “jigoku-mushi” — literally, hell steaming. Using natural geothermal vents that hiss and bubble across the city, Beppu’s residents discovered a way to cook food using the Earth’s own breath. It’s healthy, sustainable, and somehow makes even a humble sweet potato taste divine.
Today, the tradition lives on in forms both refined and rustic — from white-tablecloth dining to steamy backyard shacks. Here are five places that prove “hell” can, in fact, taste heavenly.
1. Jigoku Mushi Kobo Kannawa — Beppu’s Original Hell Kitchen
If there’s one place that captures the spirit of jigoku-mushi, it’s Jigoku Mushi Kobo Kannawa — Beppu’s most popular steam kitchen and the beating heart of its culinary folklore. Located in the steamy streets of Kannawa, this communal kitchen invites anyone to experience the centuries-old art of geothermal cooking.
Visitors can rent a steam chamber and prepare their own meal, or have the friendly staff do the cooking for them. Either way, the atmosphere is lively and warm — the team often offers to snap photos for guests as a keepsake of this delightfully steamy moment.
We ordered the Treasure Box Steamed from Hell, a colorful set featuring vegetables, meat buns, and eggs, all slowly cooked over the onsen vents. As the steam swirled around the basket, the ingredients absorbed that unmistakable mineral aroma unique to Beppu. The result was simple but deeply satisfying — clean, wholesome flavors that taste like they were born from the earth itself.
It’s easy to see why this spot remains one of Beppu’s most visited. Between the plumes of rising steam and the sound of laughter drifting through the air, hell-cooked has never felt so human.
- Address: Jigoku Mushi Kobo Kannawa, 5-2 Miyuki, Kannawa, Beppu, Oita 874-0044
- Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (last entry 6:00 p.m.)
- Closed: Third Wednesday of each month
- Why go: Beppu’s most famous steam kitchen — hands-on, friendly, and full of local warmth.
2. Otto e Sette Oita — Italian finesse, Kannawa soul
Otto e Sette Oita transforms geothermal energy into fine dining. The kitchen’s heart is its jigoku-gama — a traditional steam kettle powered by the onsen’s natural heat. There’s no timer, no temperature control — just intuition, patience, and a deep respect for nature’s rhythm.
Before stepping inside, you’ll notice a small spring tap outside the entrance — pure onsen water that’s suitable for drinking. It’s a quiet reminder that here, even the steam and water are meant to heal.
Enjoy their seasonal menu where even pasta and dessert bow to Beppu’s volcanic rhythm. Their Bucatini Amatriciana is gently steam-cooked in a jigoku-gama, giving the noodles a translucent sheen and depth of flavor you can’t replicate with fire.
For dessert, the Japanese pear tiramisu layers caramelized and kabosu-marinated pears with mascarpone — a gentle finale that tastes like the season itself.
- Address: Otto e Sette Oita, Inside Yanagiya, 2 Kumi, Kannawa, Beppu, Oita 874-0045
- Hours: Lunch and dinner, reservation required by the day before.
- Closed: Tuesdays and Wednesdays
- Why go: It’s the most elegant expression of jigoku-mushi in town—perfect when you want a sense of occasion in steamy Beppu.
3. Okamotoya Cafeteria — The Original Hell-Steamed Pudding
Before “onsen pudding” went viral across Japan, Okamotoya Cafeteria was quietly perfecting it. Located in the heart of Myoban Onsen, this nostalgic Japanese style cafe has been using natural hot-spring steam for over a century. Their signature “jigoku mushi purin®” (hell-steamed pudding) has become a regional icon.
The caramel is gently bitter, balancing the sweetness just enough to keep you reaching for another spoonful.
Beyond dessert, the menu offers comforting classics like hell-steamed eggs and udon. Their nostalgic hell-steamed egg sandwich is especially memorable — hearty and satisfying, with a creamy egg filling layered with crunchy cucumber slices. It’s simple, perfectly balanced, and made even better with a cup of coffee on a cool Beppu morning.
Don’t miss the view — wisps of steam curl around the blue Myoban hills outside, giving the whole scene a storybook haze.
- Address: Okamotoya, 3 Myoban, Beppu, Oita 874-0843
- Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. (last order 5:30 p.m.)
- Closed: Open daily
- Why go: For a taste of Beppu’s most iconic dessert — simple, nostalgic, and unmistakably local.
4. Jigoku Mushi Kitchen (Hyotan Onsen) — Steam It Yourself
Inside Hyotan Onsen, one of Beppu’s most beloved public baths, you’ll find the Jigoku Mushi Kitchen, where guests can steam their own meal before or after a soak. We ordered the Family Hell Steamed for Two, a generous set featuring fish, shrimp, and scallops — all infused with the unmistakable scent of onsen steam. The result is light yet deeply flavorful, with the natural sweetness of the seafood enhanced by the mineral-rich vapor rising from the earth.
The process is delightfully simple: choose your ingredients, lower the basket into the communal jigoku-gama, and wait as the steam works its quiet magic. The flavor is pure, the texture tender, and the whole experience feels like dining inside Beppu’s living heartbeat. And yes, you can enjoy the meal even without entering the baths.
- Address: Jigoku Mushi Kitchen, Inside Hyotan Onsen, 159-2 Kannawa, Beppu, Oita 874-0041
- Hours: 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. (last order)
- Closed: Thursdays
- Why go: The quintessential Beppu experience — steam your meal, then steam yourself.
5. Sato-no-Eki Kannawa Jodekiya — Steam, Snack, and Shop
Unlike the hands-on kitchens elsewhere in Beppu, dining at Sato-no-Eki Kannawa Jodekiya is entirely fuss-free — the staff handle the steaming for you while you sit back and watch the geothermal magic unfold.
We stopped by for a quick snack of meat buns, onsen-steamed eggs, and a chimaki rice dumpling, all gently cooked in natural geothermal steam. Each bite carried that distinct hint of onsen minerality — subtle yet comforting. To finish, we tried their signature pudding, smooth and lightly smoky with a caramel sweetness that lingers just long enough to make you crave another.
This facility is part restaurant, part roadside rest stop, and part souvenir store, perfect for a quick meal or a last round of shopping before leaving Kannawa.
- Address: Sato-no-Eki Kannawa Jodekiya, 1 Kitanaka, Kannawa, Beppu, Oita 874-0045
- Hours: 8:00～22:00 (Jigoku-Mushi 9:00 a.m. L.O 7:00 p.m.)
- Closed: No fixed holidays
- Why go: A convenient stop to taste Beppu’s steam-cooked snacks and pick up souvenirs — easy, relaxed, and full of local flavor.
Final Steam Thoughts
In a city like Beppu that literally breathes steam, jigoku-mushi isn’t just a cooking method; it’s a reminder that even from the depths of the earth, something nourishing and beautiful can rise.
So next time you wander through the misty streets of Beppu, follow your nose — it just might lead you straight to heaven’s kitchen.
