BEPPU

city, Oita Prefecture (ken), Kyushu, Japan, facing Beppu-wan (Beppu Bay). Located at the base of a steep symmetrical fan of coarse volcanic detritus, it has been a major hot-springs resort since the late 19th century. After World War II the city's accommodations were increased when former villas were converted into hotels and convalescent homes. Beppu also houses national medical facilities and volcanic-research institutes. The Beppu district, including eight spas, is also noted for its boiling ponds, called jigoku (hell), which eject mud high into the air. Other tourist attractions are Mount Tsurumi, Lake Shidaka, and the Kijima plateau. Pop. (1990) 130,334; (1994 est.) 129,387.