Oniyama Jigoku — Attraction in Beppu

ANIMAL CRUELTY Please do not support this jigoku by visiting. It needs to be SHUT DOWN! Crocodile hell indeed! I am an Aussie vet with a passion for reptiles and a lot of experience in keeping them, which may add some weight to the following. I was absolutely disgusted by the conditions these crocs are kept in. The enclosures were filthy, grossly overcrowded and most had insufficient water (to submerge themselves) and were without shade. There was absolutely nothing in the way of enrichment or an attempt to make the cages look ‘natural’. They had nowhere to hide or escape the crowds. There is one smaller croc indoors which is kept in a TANK so small, the poor creature could barely turn around. It was just sitting there, breathing heavily (clearly stressed) while people pressed their faces in and tapped on the glass! Appalling! The crocodiles themselves are in horrendous condition. Most had open wounds (some with flies hanging around), presumably from fighting each other as a result of overcrowding. Many were missing digits and at least one was missing a forelimb. The digits that were present were worn right down as a result of walking on concrete instead of a natural substrate. Most also had deformed scales and teeth growing at odd angles - likely a result of old injuries and/or dietary insufficiencies. I visited as part of the 7 Hells multi-pass and regrettably did not research it prior. Had I known the sort of hell those crocodiles are living, I would not have visited. If you happen to read this review, please don’t visit, help spread the word and let’s get this place shut down! Maybe those incredible creatures have a shot at freedom...

The whole of these Beppu Jigoku (7 in total) have been rather disappointing and lackluster to say the least....I visited 5 out of the 7 Jigoku - just couldn't do it anymore. They were definitely not worth the ticket price and to some extent were a - for lack of better words - total ripoff. Eg. The blood pond Jigoku - literally is just a pool about 2/3 the size of a basketball court full of steaming red water. The Kamado Jigoku again with just several small ponds with boiling water and an array of goats,small horses/ponies etc around the area....(don't ask me why). The monster Jigoku had crocodiles (I guess these are the proverbial monsters) in small concrete pools of hot spring water - poor guys were literally stacked up on each other because of the lack of space and suffering from general paralysis due to the cold weather (was tail end of winter when I visited) - kind of low key animal abuse happening here.

To me these Jigoku(s) are really not worth the effort and time. You would be better off booking into stay at some of the onsen hotels to enjoy hot springs, or take a stroll of the town, parks and beaches close to...

This crocodile park is aptly named to be one of the 7 hells - HELL FOR THE CROCODILES, that is.

TLDR; Please don't support this place with your visit! The animal abuse is so blatant it is ridiculous. This place needs to be closed down!!

It was so upsetting seeing such powerful and fearsome creatures reduced to motionless statues, cramped into such a tiny space that they ended up fighting.

I saw so many with wounds and missing limbs/toes, including one with a cheek gouged out, and the piece still dangling by the last bit of skin attached.

When I went indoors, what I saw was so heartbreaking I couldn't even take a photo for proof. A 9 year old Caiman crocodile, ALIVE, is stuffed into a tank where it cannot even turn around in. All it can do is stand in that spot and look at you 💔

These crocodiles are likely brought in as an attraction to an otherwise plain place of just colorless boiling water.

I didn't research the places at all and bought the all-access pass without realizing there was a crocodile park. I deeply regret it because I would have never have supported it otherwise after reading...