Yufuin (—R•z‰@ as onsen resort, “’•z‰@ as city district) is a popular hot spring resort, located about ten kilometers inland from Beppu, another, much larger and more developed hot spring resort. Yufuin has a wealth of art museums, cafes and boutiques, and many travelers come to the city just to stroll about town for the day.
Yufuin is located on a flat river basin surrounded by mountains. The most prominent feature of Yufuin's skyline is the twin peaked Mount Yufu, which hovers over the town and serves as the backdrop for many scenic views. The area is rural, and shortly after leaving the main walking route, travelers will come across the rice paddies and farm houses, which make up a considerable part of the town.
Main shopping street
The ryokan and hotels of Yufuin are spread out around town, and not clustered along the main street like in many other resort towns. Instead, the main street is lined with cafes, boutiques and small museums, giving Yufuin an atmosphere more like a trendy shopping area than a traditional onsen town. Nonetheless, there is a large number of lodgings with hot spring baths, some of which open their baths to non-staying guests during daytime.
Another natural landmark of Yufuin is Lake Kinrinko. The small lake is located at the end of the town's main walking route, about 1.5 kilometers from the station. Walking paths surround the lake as well as more small shops and cafes, and there is a small shrine located at the lake's southern end. There are also a few public bath houses, one of which, the Shitanyu, can be used by tourists, while the others are for use by local residents only.
Lake Kinrinko
Below is a list of some of Yufuin's best baths:
Tsuka no Ma•
Daytime Hours: 9:30 to 18:30 (entry until 18:00), closed Tue and Wed Daytime Admission: 800 yen Overnight Stay: From 12,000 yen per person, no meals
Tsuka no Ma (formerly known as Shoya no Yakata) is located on a hillside in the northern part of Yufuin where large steam clouds from hot spring sources can be seen rising into the air. The ryokan has large, gender separated outdoor baths with blueish-looking water, untypical for Yufuin. The location on the hillside allows for some views onto the town below.
Baien•
Daytime visits by non-staying guests are not possible! Overnight Stay: From 22,000 yen per person including two meals
Baien is located slightly above the town to the south, and has large, attractive outdoor baths (rotemburo) for visitors. On clear days, the twin peaks of Mount Yufu are visible from the baths. The facilities are gender separated.
Musoen•
Daytime Hours: 10:00 to 14:30 (entry until 14:00) Daytime Admission: 1000 yen Overnight Stay: From 30,000 yen per person including two meals
The views of Mount Yufu from Musoen's outdoor baths are considered among Yufuin's best. The ryokan is located slightly above the town to the south and has large, attractive baths that are gender separated. The ryokan grounds are quite attractive, as well.
Sansuikan
Daytime Hours: 12:00 to 16:00 Daytime Admission: 700 yen Overnight Stay: From 18,000 yen per person including two meals
Located just a short walk from Yufuin Station, Sansuikan offers some of the most easily accessible baths to tourists without private means of transportation. The large ryokan's gender separated bathing facilities feature multiple outdoor and indoor pools, a scented bath and a sauna.
Shitanyu Public Bath
Hours: 10:00 to 22:00 Admission: 300 yen
The Shitanyu is a very simple, old-fashioned public bath house at the shore of Lake Kinrinko with two small pools. It is gender mixed without dedicated changing rooms and very limited facilities. The bath house opens towards the back, giving bathers a view onto some greenery.
Ratings: best of the best
best of Japan
outstanding
Getting to Yufuin
By bus
50 min
¥940
Kamenoi Bus operates 1-2 buses per hour between Beppu and Yufuin Stations. The one way trip takes 50 minutes and costs 940 yen.
Train travel between Beppu and Yufuin requires a transfer of trains at Oita Station. By local trains, the one way journey takes about 80 minutes, costs 1130 yen and is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass and Kyushu Rail Pass.
By Kyusanko Kyushu Odan Bus
60 min
¥1,100
The Kyushu Odan Bus operates between Beppu and Kumamoto, stopping at Yufuin along the way. The one way journey between Beppu and Yufuin takes one hour, costs 1100 yen and is covered by the Sun Q Pass. Online reservations are possible through Willer or Japan Bus Online.
Above fees and schedules are subject to change. Be sure to check current yen exchange rates.
Getting around
Yufuin can be easily explored on foot, and the majority of the town's attractions are located along the 1.5 kilometer long main walking route between Yufuin Station and Lake Kinrinko. Walking the entire route takes 20-30 minutes, not counting any stops along the way.
Yufuin's baths are spread out all across the town, and many of them are difficult to access without private transportation. Bicycles are a convenient method for traveling to the more remote baths or for seeing the town quickly. Rental bicycles can be obtained at Yufuin Station for 250 yen per hour or 1250 yen per day. Taxi and rental car are other options for getting around. Nissan and Ekiren have rental car outlets in Yufuin, while many more outlets are found in nearby Beppu.
Guests at Yurari Rokumyo can rent out an entire traditional Japanese-style house with a private hot-spring bath. Free Wi-Fi is available at the public areas. Guests can use the 24-hour shared bath for private use and in-room massages can be request for an extra cost. JR Yufuin Train Station is a 10-minute walk away. The Japanese-style house features 2 connecting rooms with tatami (woven-straw) floors and Japanese futon bedding. Each comes with a flat-screen TV and a seating area with low tables. A microwave, an electric kettle and a private toilet are included as well. The house comes with an open-air hot-spring stone bath. Rokumyo Yurari is a 15-minute walk from Lake Kinrin and a 15-minute drive from Mount Yufu. Oita Airport is a 50-minute drive away. Free parking is available on site and luggage storage is offered at the front desk. No meals are served.
Situated in a historic and peaceful hot spring town, Ryokan Yamashiroya boasts spacious hot spring baths and comfortable Japanese-style guest rooms. Its English-speaking staff welcome the guests, and property-wide Wi-Fi is offered for free. Free parking is also available. Guests can try on a yukata robe and sip green tea in the room, fitted with tatami (woven-straw) flooring and traditional futon bedding. A flat-screen TV and a fridge are included. Rooms come with a private toilet, and bathroom is shared with other guests. Yamashiroya Ryokan provides 4 hot spring baths, which can be reserved for private use for free. Luggage can be stored at the front desk, and drink vending machines are available on site. Seasonal ingredients are featured in Japanese multi-course dinner, which is served in the guest room. Traditional Japanese breakfast can be savoured in the dining room. JR Yunohira Station is a 10-minute drive from the property, and free pick-up shuttles are available if requested at time of booking. Downtown Oita area is a 40-minute drive away.
Surrounded by peaceful woods, Nihon-no-Ashitaba offers classic Japanese-style accommodation and natural hot spring baths. Guests are welcomed with a complimentary drink at time of check-in. JR Yufuin Station is a 7-minute drive away. Boasting truly relaxing ambience, each individual stand-alone house features unique architecture and d?cor. In-room facilities include a flat-screen TV, a fridge and an electric kettle. The en suite bathroom comes with a bath and free toiletries. While staying at the Nihon no Ashitaba ryokan, guests can unwind at the public bathing area with various open-air hot spring baths. Free juice and boiled eggs are provided. Free WiFi can be used at the public area, and a gift shop is available on site. Chisoan restaurant serves Japanese-style meals featuring local vegetables and seasonal ingredients for dinner and breakfast. Nightly drinks can be enjoyed at Bar Barolo.
Set in Yufu and only 43 km from Oita Bank Dome, Ryoso Yufuin Yamadaya offers accommodation with mountain views, free WiFi and free private parking. The 4-star ryokan features garden views and is 1.2 km from Kinrinko Lake. The ryokan has a hot spring bath and luggage storage space. Some units are air conditioned and include a seating area with a flat-screen TV. Guests can also relax in the garden. Popular points of interest near the ryokan include Norman Rockwell Yufuin Museum, Yufuin Stained Glas Museum and Yufuin Station. The nearest airport is Oita Airport, 52 km from Ryoso Yufuin Yamadaya.
Yufuin Bettei Itsuki features a hot spring bath, free Wi-Fi and luxurious contemporary rooms with a balcony, a private hot spring bath and a Japanese-style seating area. Air-conditioned rooms come with a living room with a wooden floor, a sofa and a wall-mounted flat-screen TV. A minibar, toiletries and yukata robes are provided, while the en suite bathroom offers a bathtub, a shower and a toilet. Itsuki Yufuin Bettei offers luggage storage and room service, while facilities include a souvenir shop and free parking. An American breakfast is served at Dining Towakura, which offers a Japanese dinner in the evening. Guests can request to upgrade their dinner to Bungo beef steak course dinner at an additional charge (advance reservation needed). Also, guests staying for two nights or more will be offered a different dinner everyday. The property is a 5-minute drive from Yufuin Station, and a 10-minute walk from Kinrin Lake.
Kutsurogi-no-Yado Nanakawa offers private maisonettes with a private outdoor hot spring bath, a Japanese-style living room and free wired internet, a mere 1-minute stroll from Lake Kinrin. Air-conditioned maisonettes boast an outdoor hot spring bath, a private terrace and a Japanese-style living room. Theyfre fitted with Western beds, an LCD TV on both floors and a seating area with chairs and a coffee table. Amenities include a fridge, yukata robes and an attached bathroom with toiletries. Hotel Nanakawa Kutsurogi-no-Yado is a 15-minute walk from Yufuin Museum. JR Yufuin Station is a 5-minute drive. Guests at the Kutsurogi-no-Yado can unwind in a public hot spring bath and a hot public bath, free of charge. The baths are a few steps from the rooms, and theyfre part of neighbouring inns in the same compound. The property serves a Japanese breakfast and a traditional multi-course dinner featuring seasonal dishes and the famed local Bungo beef. Meals are served in the compoundfs dining room.
Yawaragi-no-Sato Yadoya features 6 hot spring baths, a Japanese restaurant and universal design, only a 2-minute walk from the picturesque Yu-no-Tsubo Kaido (Yu-no-Tsubo Road). If offers Japanese-style and Western rooms, a library and free Wi-Fi at the lobby. Guests at Yadoya Yawaragi-no-Sato can unwind in outdoor and indoor public hot spring baths, or enjoy a private hot spring at extra charge. The hotel has a souvenir shop and free parking. Comfortable rooms feature an interior in neutral colours, and theyfre fitted with air conditioning, a TV and a fridge. All rooms have an attached bathroom with free toiletries. The hotelfs restaurant serves a Japanese breakfast and Japanese dinners featuring the local speciality Bungo beef. Yawaragi-no-Sato Yadoya is a 7-minute walk from Kinrin Lake, and a 15-minute walk from JR Yufuin Train Station.
Yufuin-Sanso Waremokou offers large Japanese-style rooms boasting an open-air cypress hot spring bath, sweeping nature and city views and a massage chair. Free Wi-Fi is available at the lobby, and pets are welcome at a charge. Guests at Waremokou Yufuin-Sanso can unwind in indoor and outdoor public hot spring baths, reserve a hot spring for private use, or relax on the terrace. The hotel has a garden, and facilities include drinks vending machines and free parking. The Yufuin-Sanso offers units of 2 en-suite rooms, divided by fusuma sliding doors. Featuring a tatami (woven-straw) floor and traditional futon bedding, they come with a personal attendant. Amenities include an air purifier/humidifier, yukata robes and an LCD TV. The mountain hotel offers a Japanese breakfast and a traditional multi-course kaiseki dinner, both using local ingredients. Delicacies like puffer fish (October-March), Sekisaba and Sekiaji fishes (throughout the year) can be savoured at an additional fee. Meals are served at the dining room, and they can be served in the guestroom at a charge. Yufuin-Sanso Waremokou is a 3-minute free shuttle ride away from JR Yufuin Train Station. Kijima Kogen Park can be visited a 20-minute drive away, and theme park African Safari is a 30-minute drive.
Offering public indoor/outdoor hot-spring baths, Yufuin Onsen Hinoharu Ryokan features Japanese-style accommodations with a flat-screen satellite TV and Yukata robes. Guests can request for relaxing massages and free WiFi is available throughout the entire property. Prepared with fresh sashimi, wagyu beef and local vegetables, traditional Japanese multi-course meals are served for dinner at the dining room. For breakfast, a Japanese set menu is offered at the dining room. The air-conditioned rooms feature garden views, tatami (woven-straw) floors and Japanese futon bedding. Each comes with a safety deposit box, a fridge and an electric kettle. Some rooms have a private hot-spring bath, while for some bathrooms are shared. Guests at the ryokan are welcomed with green tea and Japanese sweets. They can relax at the large public hot spring baths or take a dip in a cosy privately-reserved bath for free. A free-use internet computer and photocopying services are available as well. Hinoharu Ryokan Yufuin Onsen is a 10-minute walk from Lake Kinrin. JR Yufuin Train Station is a 15-minute walk away. Oita Airport is a 60-minute drive from the property and Fukuoka Airport a 90-minute drive away.
Just a 15-minute walk from Yufuin Train Station, Sanso Tanaka provides rooms with Western beds. Free parking and bicycle rentals are all available on site. Surrounded by beautiful nature, the lovely little Japanese inn Sanso Tanaka has 1 outdoor hot spring baths and 2 indoor ones, which guests can use privately without reservation. One indoor bath boasts views of Mt. Yufudake. Rooms come with air conditioning and an LCD TV. They have a washbasin, while bathing facilities are shared, providing toiletries and hairdryers. Tanaka Sanso is a 12-minute drive from Yufuin Mingei Mura (Folk Craft Village), and a 17-minute drive from the Yufu-Kogen Golf Club. Beppu is a 30-minute drive, while Oita Airport is a 50-minute drive and Fukuoka Airport is a 1.5-hour drive.
best of the best
best of Japan
outstanding
