The name Kamado Jigoku means “cooking pot hell.” A statue of a red devil atop a cooking pot guards the entrance. Some of the six differently colored ponds here are boiling, and they serve several kinds of foods, so that’s why I liked it. The day I visited Kamado, a group of happy Korean tourists were there noisily enjoying themselves. Clearly, the biggest attraction for them was the park’s foot bath, and they all crowded in and were having a ball dipping their legs in the cooler (not boiling) hot water.
Mud and bubbles pool
Steam rising from a red pool
Next to the foot bath, the concession stand sold various traditional hot spring treats, like “onsen tamago”, eggs that have been boiled in the hot spring water, and onsen pudding. I had an egg and a steamed pork bun, which is a treat that originated in China that’s now offered at convenience stores throughout Japan. The main things to do at Kamado Hell is to nibble and enjoy looking at the colorful bubbly hot water, though I found that people watching was even more fun. I think it’s great that the local guide was able to speak a mixture of both Japanese and Korean, and he seemed to be pretty funny because the people he was leading around with a flag were laughing as they posed for photos.
the concession stand
Ready to try steamy treats
Bruce Haendel
Bruce Haendel Bruce has lived in Japan since 1985. He has traveled extensively around the world for work and pleasure. Bruce lectured at Kyushu Institute of Technology for 15 years and at Fukuoka's Nakamura Gakuen University School of Business, Marketing, and Distribution, for 7 years.
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On a cool, clear Monday, I headed south on the bullet train from Hakata Station to begin my 3-day tour across Kyushu. I experienced zipping through nearly the entire l...
