In Beppu, it’s bubbling, hissing, and steaming. The city uses its hot volcanic mineral springs for all sorts of things: for thermal baths, for steaming food, or as a tourist attraction. Steam comes out of every crack, and a smell of sulphur hangs in the air here and there.

We visited the Beppu Jigoku, the seven hells of Beppu. Here you can admire different forms of mineral waters. Sometimes as turquoise, steaming water. Sometimes as a blood-red pond. Sometimes as bubbling grey mud. The hot water is even suitable for breeding crocodiles.