Effects of beating and water immersion time on fiber swelling and paper properties were elucidated for the fundamental study of producing high bulk paper. Chemical pulps were beaten for various freeness and the beaten pulp was immersed in water up to 24 hours. Fiber swelling was evaluated by measuring water retention value (WRV). It was found that fiber swelling, bulk and paper strength were quickly changed at the initial stage of beating. Immersion in water did not significantly increase WRV, paper density and strength, implying that soaking in water alone could not effectively swell fiber wall. In order to swell further, hydrogen bonds between fibrils in fiber wall and hence fiber wall structure shall be broken by mechanical force during beating.