A note on the words: jigoku meguri is a classic tour of Beppu’s steaming geothermal springs, called ‘hells’ (jigoku). Umi Jigoku, or the Sea Hell, is famous for its vivid cobalt-blue boiling pond. Onsen yude-tamago are hard-boiled eggs cooked directly in the boiling hot-spring mineral water, distinct from onsen tamago, which are steamed only until the white is barely set. Kabosu is a fragrant green citrus fruit prized in Oita Prefecture, and Blue Hawaii is a classic bright blue soda flavor.
Umijigoku Shop Ren on Tabelog (English) — opening hours, payment details and the Japanese address are kept up to date there, not here.
To everyone in Kyushu, thanks for waiting! It is time for Hangover Meshi!
I arrived in Oita with a little time on my hands, so I went for some sightseeing! There is a circuit called jigoku meguri (a tour of Beppu’s steaming hot-spring ‘hells’). Rather than all being in one spot, they are scattered around here and there, and doing the whole tour felt like a bit too much work, ha, so I headed to what looked like the most famous of them all: Umi Jigoku (the Sea Hell, named for its cobalt-blue water)!
After taking a look around, I headed into the gift shop. The shop is by far the coolest place in the whole complex, ha…
Browsing around, I spotted their specialty: onsen yude-tamago, eggs boiled directly in the hot springs of Umi Jigoku!
Without hesitation, I bought some right away!
I went ahead and bought two eggs.
They come with little packets of salt, too!
Cracking the shell, a faint aroma of the hot springs wafts up, sulfurous or something like it. As the sign says, these are boiled in the source waters of Umi Jigoku, so unlike onsen tamago, which are steamed only until the white is barely set, these have a firm, well-defined hard boil. There is already a subtle hint of saltiness from the first bite, so you do not even need the salt. The yolk has a slight tint to it — perhaps from the hot-spring minerals? I wonder if there are any health benefits, ha.
It was hot out, so I picked up an ice cream as well! They had vanilla, kabosu (a tart green citrus from Oita), and Blue Hawaii flavors, but doesn’t everyone end up ordering Blue Hawaii? After all, it is the exact same color as Umi Jigoku, ha!
Cold and delicious! And as you eat your way through, having your tongue turn slightly blue is practically part of the deal!
So that was my visit to eat eggs at the Umi Jigoku shop! It is mostly about the atmosphere, but when you visit a hot spring, eating an egg boiled in that very water just completes the experience. It feels essential! And the shop really is the only cool spot around, so if you visit in the summer, stopping in for an ice cream and relaxing is definitely the way to go.
Here’s to hoping for more delicious finds today!
Umijigoku Shop Menu
Famous onsen yude-tamago
Boiled in the source waters of Umi Jigoku, the signature item of this shop.
Ice cream
Choose from four flavors: vanilla, kabosu, Blue Hawaii, or watermelon.
Available in four flavors: vanilla, kabosu, Blue Hawaii (new arrival), and watermelon.
Drinks
Also available: espresso (hot only), matcha latte, hot chocolate, and various floats.
Alcoholic beverages
A beer unique to this spot, the same blue as the thermal pool.
* From storefront signs during a July 2026 visit. Tax inclusion was not specified on the display. Menu items and prices are subject to change; please check in-store for the latest information.
Umijigoku Shop Ren (Shop / Kamegawa Station, Beppudaigaku Station)
Tabelog lunch rating ★★★☆☆ 3.0
I ate here and paid for it myself. Nothing on this site is a comped meal.
One more for the road?
