A Game called: Allergy or just really hot Onsen

Today is packed with natural hot springs, or "jigoku" as they are called in Beppu. I manage to hit them all in one day, and I am also able to try a few onsen out myself. The first jigoku is gray and bubbles within muddy waters. They place is called Oniishibozu, because apparently the gray bubbles remind Japanese people of shaved monk heads. I also enter the Oniisibozu Onsen. It leaves me bright red and again worried about a possible allergy against the water.

Next it's the Umi-Jigoku natural hot spring, with bright blue water and a green house powered by the steam . I also enter the Yama Jigoku, where they raise a lots of animals as well, including a hippopotamus and rabbits.

I follow the road further south towards Kamado Jigoku. The steam of these natural hot springs was used for cooking in older times. I eat an egg boiled in the steam, which tastes like German Soleier.
However, not all of the Jigoku are as... pleasant. The Oniyama Jigoku decided to bread crocodiles. Who in the 7 hells thinks: Hot spring... definitely needs more crocodiles. The Shiraike Jigoku breeds piranhas.

The last two hells are Chinoike, a red boiling hot spring, and Tatsumaki, a natural geyser.
For lunch, I eat some of the best Omuraisu ever. The chef has worked in the Intercontinental Hotel in Hamburg and Düsseldorf. In the 70s. He is very happy to talk and tells me about the time he was allowed to make a Bento for the Tenno, who had visited Germany for the Olympics. He also introduces me to his friend, who studied classical opera singing in Lüneburg in the 90s.
I also enter the Kannawa Mushiyu Onsen, where people volunteer to bake themselves in a gigantic oven. You wear a Yukata, and lay down on herb straw in a tiny oven while hot steam is pouring in. It is insane. But of course I had to try it.

For dinner, I went to a great sushi place, where the chef challenged me to eat his house special. We had a great time talking about the history of "coexisting" Buddhism and Shinto in Japan. And I did my best to eat the octopus leg without pulling a face. I succeeded.

Pictures Beppu