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.
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.
Below is a list of some of Yufuin's best baths:
Ratings:
best of the best
best of Japan
outstanding
A direct highway bus runs about once per hour between Fukuoka (Hakata Station, Tenjin Bus Center and Fukuoka Airport) and Yufuin (Yufuin Station). The one way trip takes about 2.5 hours and costs 3250 yen. A round trip ticket is available for 5760 yen. The bus is covered by the Sun Q Pass.
There are several direct JR limited express trains between Fukuoka (Hakata Station) and Yufuin every day. The one way trip takes around 2.5 hours, costs 4500-5500 yen and is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass and Kyushu Rail Pass.
Above fees and schedules are subject to change. Be sure to check current yen exchange rates.
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.
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