Jigokumushikobo Kannawa — Restaurant in Beppu

This was one of the main itineraries which we wanted to fulfil when in beppu.

To eat at this restaurant where where we steam our food in the high pressure of the natural steam emitting from the earth in Beppu.

We were there for lunch. Waiting time was 30 mins at 3pm.

Firstly, you queue to order, then pay and get a q number. Lastly, you wait!

We ordered the prawn/veg set, noodles and a butter clam.

Taste was underwhelming, and I think the place is overrated. The food was really very plain n tasteless. Steaming food will taste plain and require condiments which the restaurant should provide. Dips, sauces, etc will make the food nice but sadly, it was not provided.

The noodles had a small cup of sauce which did make it less boring. The rest of the food was just a big let down. Even the butter clam didn't provide any assistance.

Service was not too bad, but everything was self service anyway, so there were practically nothing to prove for by the staff.

Price was definitely on the higher side. Eveyone was practically a tourist. They were either foreigners or local tourist from other states like Tyk, Osaka, Hokkaido.

Parking was great, they actually have a sheltered place for guests, but limited.

Atmosphere was no big deal, with just loads of people waiting. Decor of the place is rather mediocre.

On the whole, it will be only good for the experience, but for the food, not so.

Eating steamed food is somethg we all done before? Not sure we must get...

This place has really tasty Jigoku Mushi (hot steamed hell dishes) which you even get to steam yourself, but it is a bit of a challenge to order. Here is a step by step guide: Drinks: You can bring your own or order at a machine (tea, juices, only alcohol free beer) Food: Go to the counter at red number 1 and receive an order number on a red chip. Choose your dish from the picture Menu and remember/write down the number. Go to the ticket machine (no. 2) and put in money first! Select 400 ¥ steam fee for ticket A (all the way on top left). Then select your numbers for the menu items. You will receive your change and paper tickets for the food. Wait until your order number (red chip) is called out and shown at counter 3. Then go to the counter, present your food tickets. You will receive a steam cooker number and be send to pick up your steaming set and raw food on the adjacent counter. Now you are good to go and can head on to the steaming den outside. Head to the steam cooker for your number (staff will help). Now use plastic gloves+safety rubber gloves for steaming. Remove lid, take out net, put the whole food set as it is on the net, lower down net and close lid. Now you can start the time counter you received and head to your seat. Wait until food is cooked (~15 mins), go to pick it up and enjoy your hell steamed lunch!

I can recommend the Miso Sauce (100¥ extra for two sauces at counter) and standard...

Tourist trap. We ordered the seafood set meal and meat set meal. Each was 1700yen. It was WAY overpriced for what was given. I thought we were paying for the experience, but at the cashier, the staff shoved a calculator and a laminated piece of paper in our faces, telling us to cough up another 200yen each. She didn’t even bother to explain properly until I questioned her. Apparently, there’s a price to use their steamers, 200yen per person! It was ridiculous. The overpriced cost of 1700yen should more than enough cover the “steaming”.

Worse, the food items. Basically the shop gives an experience of putting food into a traditional steamer. But that’s it. All the food items are steamed for 15 mins. This meant the meat and seafood were both way overcooked, the hard vegetables like potatoes were not cooked enough.

Sweet potatoes, pumpkin, carrot, corn etc were all not sweet. Bland and tasteless. The baby cabbage tasted spoilt.

The rice was nondescript too. It was way too mushy and bland.

Overall, without the bottle of black sauce, one would find it hard to stomach the food.

Conclusion: highly not recommended unless you just want to try the whole “tourist checkpoint”...