Yufu

Yufuin sits at the foot of Mount Yufu in Oita Prefecture, where natural hot springs flow through rice fields and along a river cutting through the valley. Walk along Yunotsubo Street to see shops selling bamboo crafts, Studio Ghibli merchandise, and snacks like sweet potato croquettes. Follow the path to Lake Kinrin, where steam rises from the water’s surface on cool mornings. Stay in a ryokan with a private outdoor bath, or visit the Yufuin Floral Village’s stone-paved lanes lined with cottages housing owl exhibits and flower gardens. Direct buses and trains connect the town to Fukuoka in under 2.5 hours, serving as a convenient base for exploring Kyushu’s countryside.

Transportation to Yufuin

Take a direct bus or train from major Kyushu cities. The Yufuin-no-Mori limited express train departs Fukuoka’s Hakata Station, reaching Yufuin in 2 hours and 15 minutes through forests and farmland. Buses from Beppu Station take 50 minutes, passing through tunnels carved into mountainsides. If driving from Beppu, follow Route 11 for 40 minutes past cedar groves and villages with tiled roofs. Yufuin Station provides a free foot bath on its platform and a tourist center where you can rent bicycles or pick up trail maps.

Yunotsubo Street Shops and Cafes

Stretching 1.2 kilometers between the station and Lake Kinrin, Yunotsubo Street hosts more than 50 shops. Try grilled Bungo beef skewers from street vendors or buy a roll cake from Milch’s bakery, known for its warm custard filling. Browse ceramics made from local clay at Tan’s Studio or pick up a Totoro plush from one of the Ghibli-themed stores. Low wooden buildings along the street display wind chimes and potted ferns under their eaves. Arrive before 9 AM to photograph the street without crowds, with Mount Yufu’s peaks visible in the distance.

Lake Kinrin Steam and Walking Paths

A 10-minute walk from Yunotsubo Street leads to Lake Kinrin, where hot spring water mixes with cooler streams to create morning steam. Follow the circular path around the lake, passing a small shrine with red torii gates and benches shaded by maple trees. Watch koi fish swim near the stone steps leading into the water, or spot gray herons hunting in the shallows. The Shitanyu bathhouse at the lake’s edge lets you soak in gender-separated indoor pools or a mixed-gender outdoor pool facing the water. Visit between November and March for the strongest steam effects, especially on mornings when temperatures drop below 10°C (50°F).

Yufuin Floral Village Attractions

Modeled after an English village, Yufuin Floral Village has cobblestone paths connecting cottages with slanted roofs. Visit the Owl Forest to see Eurasian eagle-owls and barn owls perched in dimly lit enclosures. At the nearby cat café, sip matcha lattes while Shorthair cats nap on window seats. Stores here sell Kiki’s Delivery Service umbrellas and My Neighbor Totoro coin purses. Hydrangeas bloom along the village’s edges in June, replaced by orange cosmos flowers in October. Arrive by 10:30 AM to explore before tour groups fill the narrow lanes around noon.

Mount Yufu Hiking Routes

Mount Yufu’s two volcanic peaks tower 1,583 meters above Yufuin. Start at the trailhead near Kamenoi Station, hiking 90 minutes through cedar forests to reach open slopes dotted with wild azaleas. Use chains to climb the final 50 meters of loose volcanic rock to Higashi-Mine, the eastern peak. Bring at least one liter of water per person during summer hikes, as the trail lacks shade above 1,000 meters. On clear days, the summit reveals views of Beppu Bay to the east and the Kuju mountain range to the west.

Hot Spring Bathing Options

Yufuin’s alkaline hot springs range from 38°C to 42°C (100°F to 108°F), with minerals like sodium and chloride. Public baths like Shitanyu charge ¥600 for entry, providing basic changing rooms and lockers. Ryokans such as Yufuin Baien have private outdoor baths where you can soak while facing Mount Yufu. Book a kaiseki dinner at your ryokan to sample dishes like grilled ayu fish and tempura made with mountain vegetables. Day passes for ryokan baths cost between ¥800 and ¥2,000, with towels available for rent.

Regional Dishes and Snacks

Bungo beef appears in sushi, steak, and donburi rice bowls at restaurants like Yufuin’s Beafsteak. Try dorayaki pancakes filled with sweet red bean paste at stands near Lake Kinrin. The Snoopy Tea House serves lattes topped with peanut butter foam and Snoopy-shaped cookies. Local breweries like Yufuin Beer Lab make ales using hot spring water, sold at bars along Yunotsubo Street. Grab karukan (steamed yam cakes) wrapped in bamboo leaves from vendors near the station for a portable snack.

Visiting Beppu from Yufuin

Beppu lies 30 minutes from Yufuin by bus. Tour the "Hells of Beppu" – seven geothermal pools including Umi Jigoku’s cobalt-blue waters and Oniishibozu Jigoku’s bubbling mud. Ride the Kintetsu Beppu Ropeway to Mount Tsurumi’s summit for views of the bay, or walk through the Takasaki Monkey Park to see wild macaques. Return to Yufuin by 6 PM to avoid crowded evening buses, or stay overnight in Beppu to experience sand baths at hotels like Takegawara Onsen.

Annual Festivals and Crowds

The Yufuin Film Festival screens independent movies in cafes and galleries during the first week of August. On October’s third Sunday, the Ushikurai Shouting Tournament at Yufuin Central Park awards prizes for the loudest yells. From December 1st to 25th, Yunotsubo Street glows with LED lights strung above the river. Expect higher hotel prices and crowds during Golden Week (April 29-May 5) and autumn foliage season (November 10-30). Ryokans serve seasonal specialties like takenoko bamboo shoots in April and chestnut rice in September.