One of Oita’s healthier famous foods, jigoku mushi is food that has been steam cooked using the local hot spring water. It can include a variety of ingredients, from seafood, chicken, and seasonal vegetables to eggs, shu mai and purin (Japanese custard pudding). In the Kannawa district of Beppu in particular, you can find stalls in the street selling steamed eggs and meat buns, and Okomotoya in the Myoban district sells not only steamed purin but even a parfait which incorporates it! At most places Jigoku Mushi is a hands-on experience. You select and pay for your food at a ticket machine and the staff talk you through cooking your food and setting the appropriate timer. Keep in mind some venues will ask you to pay a one off basket rental fee while others will ask for a basket per a certain number of dishes. Some venues also just offer the jigoku mushi facilities – allowing you to bring your own food from outside.
The most well-known place to try a full Jigoku Mushi meal is the Jigoku Mushi Kobo located in the Kannawa district.