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Yufuin reminds you of that charming rural countryside vibe you always see in anime
Tucked away in the Oita Prefecture of Kyushu island, Japan lies the quaint and charming little town of Yufuin, known for it's gorgeous idyllic vistas, intricate traditional Japanese architecture, and the most famous of all, the soothing and enlightening hot springs (Onsen).
Whether it's a weekend getaway or a quick day trip, tourists and locals alike flock to Yufuin to unwind from the chaos of city life. Even if you do not intend on visiting the Onsens, Yufuin still has plenty to offer from the serene Kinrin lake to the charming and Ghibli-esque Floral Village. So let's start exploring and join me in this Yufuin Travel Guide as we venture through this lovely little town.
Table of Contents
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How to Travel to Yufuin
A luxury dining train, the Aru Ressha by JR Kyushu
By far the easiest way to get to Yufuin is by train. Assuming you are starting at the city of Fukuoka, board the train at Hakata station on the Yufu line which will bring you directly to Yufuin, from there disembark at Yufuin Station. The journey will take you 2 hours and 15 minutes.
It is highly recommended you purchase a JR train pass if you are intending to travel long distances often by train such as from Fukuoka to Yufuin or Fukuoka to Osaka. A JR pass will save you a LOT of money and can be used for all JR trains including the Shinkansen as well as other services like JR busses or JR ferries.
There are way too many rail passes to choose from but the ones that are most convenient and apply to Yufuin and the surrounding areas are:
JR Pass for the whole of Japan - Covers the entirety of Japan
JR Sanyo-San in-Northern Kyushu Area Pass - Covers the northern/western parts of Kyushu
JR Kyushu Rail Pass - Covers the entire Kyushu Island
If you are planning on purchasing a pass, be sure to double check which pass is usable in which region as it can be quite confusing.
If you have already purchased one of the above rail passes, you will also have access to the Yufuin no Mori Limited Express Train, a famous tourist train built specifically for transporting you to the town of Yufuin.
Note: It is recommended you book your seats for the Yufuin no Mori train in advance, as the tickets sell out quickly.
Yufuin no Mori Limited Express Train
The famous luxury Yufuin no Mori Limited Express train with it’s distinctive green paint
The Yufuin no Mori Limited Express train runs between Hakata Station and Yufuin Station, The train is very popular among tourists travelling to Yufuin and I would describe it as an attraction in of itself.
The train is named after Yufuin (duh!) and it's Mori no Furusato (Forest Hometown) concept. This concept is reflected in the train's decor with the interior being lined with luxurious wooden paneling and large windows proving a scenic and panoramic view of the Kyushu region's towering mountains, calming rivers, and evergreen plains.
Another popular luxury train is the Aru Ressha dining train by JR Kyushu which has a Hakata to/from Yufuin.
The interior of the Yufuin no Mori train, lounge, seating, and bar
If you have one of the aforementioned Rail passes, you will be able to book a seat free of charge either at the ticket office in Hakata Station, or online via the JR Kyushu Rail Pass Booking website.
The timetable of the train is as follows, note that the train from Hakata to Yufuin operates only 3 times a day.
*For the most up to date information visit the jrkyushu.co.jp
Top 5 Ryokan Accomodations
*Note: All of these Ryokans have free private Onsens available for booking!
Ryokan Yuri
The interior of Ryokan Yuri, the tatami mats are very comfortable
Ryokan Yuri was a pleasant surprise, when walking up to the building I thought I was at the wrong place because it looked like a regular apartment building, however once I stepped inside I was greeted with the kindest and friendliest man ever. Like Japanese people are already a friendly bunch, but this man was like an uncle I never knew I needed.
Anyways hotel looks to be a family run business, and it shows (in a good way). The rooms are clean and the atmosphere was charming and pleasant. The breakfast (not included) was delicious and healthy. The price was not too expensive either. If you are looking for a more affordable Ryokan option, Ryokan Yuri is your go to hotel.
You can read my review for Ryokan Yuri here: Ryokan Yuri Review
Google Maps Rating: 4.6 / 5
Phone: +81 97 784 3128
Pros:
Near the train station easy access to main walking street
Every room has river and mountain views, the same goes for the dining room
Clean rooms with good heating and ac
The friendliest staff anywhere, the owners make you feel like you are part of their family.
Delicious and healthy traditional Japanese style breakfast
Cons:
None that I can think of, perhaps the Ryokan feels more modern and less traditional than you would hope, but that is just a nitpick
Yufuin Baien
Yufuin Baien’s hot springs has a nice open air design
Yufuin Baien is pretty big compared to other Ryokan options and here there is an emphasis on natural beauty. The hotel is surrounded by gorgeous plum and cherry trees as well as offering views of Mount Yufu. I like the addition of free flowing alcohol during the late evening, a perfect way to relax after a long day of exploring the lovely town of Yufuin.
Google Maps Rating: 4.5 / 5
Phone: +81 97 728 8288
Pros:
Family onsen that you can use without booking
Free flowing, self-service alcohol drinks at night
Traditional hotel design and emphasis on natural beauty
The rooms are big and spacious, very clean
Cons:
Quite far away from the train station and walking street
Ikkoten
Tell me that that onsen doesn’t look cozy
Ikkoten is expensive. Like really expensive, but this is due to the immense luxury that this Ryokan provides. The rooms here are large they include an open-air bath for you to relax in.
Though if you are planning to stay here, I recommend you plan your trip to Yufuin wisely as this hotel is located a long ways away from the town center, if you stay here you are staying here to escape life and reality to be in the natural wilderness. Which isn’t a bad thing as you can bathe your soul in the Zen and tranquil landscape and designs of Ikkoten.
Google Maps Rating: 4.4 / 5
Phone: +81 97 728 8815
Pros:
A luxury hot spring inn in Yufuin to enjoy and relax to your heart's content
Large and relaxing rooms with an open-air bath
Breakfasts and meals are served in a private room
Full of Zen and tranquility, nature is the highlight of Ikkoten
Cons:
Incredibly far from the train station and town center, if you stay here, you are coming to Yufuin to enjoy the nature and escape city/town life
Can be incredibly expensive
Yawaragi-no-Sato Yadoya
I love the black and white colors of Yawaragi-no-Sato Yadoya, it looks clean and modern
Yawaragi-no-Sato Yadoya might have a hard to pronounce name for us gaijins (foreigners) but this Ryokan is superb, with excellent service from the staff and delicious foods for you to try. The hotel is also close to the walking street and various attractions, this is a huge plus.
I quite like the aesthetic of this hotel as well, managing to maintain the traditional Japanese charm while also modernizing the design language. The only minus is that this hotel is a little bit far from the train station so I would recommend you find a taxi to take you to and from here.
Google Maps Rating: 4.6 / 5
Phone: +81 97 728 2828
Pros:
Excellent staff, very friendly, responsive and polite
The location is close to the main walking street and attractions such as Kinrin Lake
Western and tradtitional rooms are available for you to choose from
Delicious foods that uses high quality ingredients
Both private and public onsens are available
Cons:
A little far from the train station
Yurari Rokumyo
Did you spot that retro sound system? A blend of old and new
Yurari Rokumyo is the highest reated Ryokan on this list and it might be the best as well. The whole annex is very beautifully decorated with such intricate detail giving the whole place such a wholesome and comforting vibe. Plus the staff is super friendly and kind. The location is also close to the walking street so it’s easy to explore the town of Yufuin.
The only downside is that no food is provided, meaning you’ll have to find your own food.
Google Maps Rating: 4.8 / 5
Phone: +81 97 785 2200
Pros:
Excellent hospitality from the staff, probably the most fluent English speaker in Yufuin
The hotel is very beautifully decorated with incredible attention to detail. Super relaxing and home-y vibe
Spacious room but all the amenities such as a living room, toilet, and outdoor onsen and shower area
Good location, located near the walking street and the train station
Cons:
No food is provided, and since the restaurants and shops here close early, it might be difficult to find something to eat
Exploring the Onsen Town of Yufuin
The train station looks like a top hat not gonna lie
Unfortunately my exploration grinded to a halt as soon as I stepped foot outside of the JR Yufuin train station. Upon my arrival the clouds darkened and heavy rain started pouring. Needless to say, my family and I quickly had to haul ourselves and our luggage to our ryokan.
On that note, all of the sunny photos you see are from the second day we were in Yufuin.
What I will say though, when I saw the train station from the outside, the town immediately gave off a charming vibe. I feel like this vibe can be felt in every rural Japanese town, but something about Yufuin is just different.
The main road of Yufuin is long
Directly in front of the main station is a long stretch of road that divides into many other stretches of roads. Exploration proved difficult due to the aforementioned rain but I could spot mainly cafe’s and souvenir/snack shops selling local favorites.
The main road is not the main shopping highlight of Yufuin however, that title goes to Yunotubo Street which is a little bit further down the road, You’ll know when you’re there when you spot B-Speak, a famous cake shop that I will talk about later.
You can spot a lot of these shops selling your typical Japanese foods like soba noodles or udon
There are surprisingly not that many restaurants on this road, only a handful of shops selling typical Japanese lunch set menus (Teishoku), although I did spot some Udon, and grilled meat or Yakiniku restaurants.
Actually on the subject of Yakiniku, I actually had it for dinner on my first day at Yufuin and you know what? They have HORSE MEAT! No kidding, you can order horse meat like any other regular cuts of marinated meat. Of course, I ordered a serving and honestly… It taste like beef, I could barely tell the difference. Interesting, if you’re feeling adventurous then you can try ordering it.
It does feel morally wrong as the next day I saw a horse drawn carriage just casually strolling through the street…
Horse meat aside, a restaurant you truly cannot miss is Yufu Mabushi Shin, a clay pot rice restaurant that I will tell you about later in this article
A canal runs through the town, it looks overgrown but that just adds to the charm
You’ll definitely notice the nature and greenery while you’re here. I couldn’t help but to stop every few steps and just admire the gargantuan mountains in the distance and the lush green trees and bushes dotted all around the town.
While I was there it was quite foggy so I couldn’t get a clear picture of the mountains but hopefully when it’s your time to visit the skies will be clear.
For you Ghibli fans, this is the place to go to
If the picturesque scenic rural Japanese landscapes didn’t already remind you of classic Japanese films like Studio Ghibli’s Ponyo or My Neighbor Totoro then surely the Totoro Donguri No Mori will, a souvenir store selling all manner of Studio Ghibli merchandise.
The store is hard to miss at it sits near the beginning of Yunotubo Street just pass B-Speak.
Unfortunately I did not get a chance to enter the store and peruse the wares, but seeing the large crowd gathering in front of the store is already a good indicator of how popular this place is.
I don’t know why I just like this picture, maybe because of the wholesome couple walking down the street together
The town just has a really cute aesthetic.
Although there are many roads and corners to explore, the main activity is centered at the main road and Yunotubo street. But that is not a bad thing as you could easily spend and entire day just walking around, eating, taking photos, shopping, and much more.
And with this being a food blog, you bet I spent a lot more time eating than shopping.
Attractions You Must Do
Yufuin is a small town so admittedly there aren’t that many things to do. The attractions that are present are mostly themed around nature or the charming little countryside town aesthetic.
Kinrin Lake
Honestly, Kinrin lake would’ve looked better without this building out of the way…
Kinrin Lake is a scenic basin that sits at the very end of the Yunotubo walking street surrounded by natural luscious flora and fauna. In the early hours of the day, the whole lake will be covered by a thick mist and the atmosphere will be eerily creepy yet beautiful.
There sits an elongated building at the far end of the lake which I honestly think kind of ruins the view but that’s ok.
You have to politely wait your turn before taking a picture at the viewpoint!
When I went there were many tourists, all cramming in at one are trying to get a picture. There was even a group of girls that brought a whole setup making TikTok content.
I stumbled across an old Chinese lady who I assume travelled alone and she asked me to take a picture of her as she believed I was a photographer due to the camera I was holding. After our little modeling session, she thanked me profusely in multiple languages, from Mandarin, to Japanese, to English.
I tried damn hard to take good photos for that auntie, I hope she likes them.
The birds atop of this torii gate make this look very ominous
Kinrin lake stretches along a walking path that you can take, at the end of the walking path there is a small greenery and park that you can sit and leisure around, toilets are also available for you. At the far end a mini torii gate can be spotted that a lot of visitors missed.
Kinrin Lake is a must see attraction in Yufuin particularly if you enjoy nature and scenic views. It’s hard to miss as well as you will naturally come across the location while walking along the Yunotubo shopping street.
Yufuin Stained Glass Museum
Never have I expected to see a church right in the middle of the rural Japanese countryside
The Yufuin Stained Glass Museum is an interesting beast, the building is a church which houses a large collection of stained glass works from all around the world, over 2000 pieces of stained glass artworks!
Another fun thing is that the museum offers a workshop for you to make your own stained glass art, the time you’ll need is about an hour and a half and the price will be around 3000 - 5000 JYP depending on the size and complexity of your design.
You’re not allowed to take pictures inside but these look absolutely stunning
If you enjoy getting your hands dirty and to express your creativtiy then the Yufuin Stained Glass Museum is definitely a place you should check out. There is also a gift shop for you to buy souvenirs or gifts for you or your friends and family. The only downside was that you are not allowed to take photos inside.
Yufuin Floral Village
You can’t miss it when there is literally a giant sign that says “Yufuin Floral Village”
Entering Yufuin Floral Village feels like you are stepping into a Studio Ghibli film, the village is a collection of souvenir shops and cafes all decorated with beautiful flowers and greenery. The buildings are made out of bricks like in the Three Little Pigs fairy tale, with wooden doors, chimneys, and corrugated iron windows.
It’s like I’ve been transported to another country
There are many tight alleys for you to explore and even a small zoo-like area where you can pet animals. The shops here mostly sell random plushies and dolls, I remember there was a shop selling Tom and Jerry merchandise of all things. There is also a building full of cafes and food where you can enjoy traditional Japanese sweets.
Even the pond looks completely out of place in Japan
The highlight of Yufuin Floral Village is undoubtedly its garden, it is decorated with a miniature pond and colorful flours that changes with the season. This area is where a lot of visitors take their photos so it might be crowded. The pond even has ducks floating around enjoying their day.
If you are a huge fan of fairytales or classic Ghibli films like My Neighbour Totoro, then the Yufuin Floral Village is right up your alley.
Mount Yufu
Just imagine you on that train seeing the beautiful mountain pass by
While on your way to Yufuin via the Yufuin no Mori train you’ll surely spot the towering Mount Yufu. This gorgeous mountain is made up of 2 peaks, the east and west peak. The east peak comes in at 1,584 meters tall while the west peak is 1,538 meters tall.
A popular activity here is hiking up the mountain, don’t be afraid or intimidated as the trail is actually well maintained. Once you reach the peak you will be rewarded with the stunning view of the town of Yufuin and it’s surrounding areas.
You actually get the choice of which peak to ascend, the east peak is more suitable for beginners and will take about 2 - 3 hours, the west peak on the other hand is more challenging, forcing you to climb your way up and use chains to aid in supporting your trek.
If you got time and are looking for an adventure, Mount Yufu is a must see and a must do activity while you are in Yufuin.
If you are looking for a tour to ease your planning stresses or just want to take a day trip to try out the onsens, this Beppu Onsen and Yufuin Spa Town One Day Private Trip from Fukuoka will bring you to 2 of Japan’s most famous Onsen towns, Beppu and Yufuin.
The private tour will bring you to the Hells of Beppu, a place of scenic beauty where you can enjoy dipping your toes into the various hotsprings, as well as dropping you off at various locations in Yufuin for you to explore.
If you book at the link above, you can enjoy the best discounts and prices available, book now to kickstart your hotspring getaway!
Things You Must Eat
While Yufuin may be a small town there is no shortage of things to eat. From simple and delicious pastries and cakes, to full on Japanese Yakiniku barbecue.
I would advise you to have your dinners early however, as the shops here close pretty early, at about 7-8pm you can already see restaurants and shops closing for the day.
You could imagine it was quite a surprise for me when I went looking for dinner after my relaxing late evening onsen bath only to find out that almost every restaurant is already closed.
Yufu Mabushi Shin Claypot Rice
It must be hard to keep track of all those clay pots
The most popular restaurant in Yufuin definitely has to be Yufu Mabushi Shin, who are serving deliciously sizzling hot claypot rice to hungry customers for years.
There are only 3 items on they are all variations of claypot rice, you get a choice of Beef, Chicken, or Eel.
The eating experience is also quite interesting as there is a 3 step method to enjoying your meal.
I guarantee you, you might not see it but there is rice underneath that layer of beef
I’ve only had the beef option but it was absolutely delicious, imagine the most tender slice of beef you’ve ever had, now image the rice beneath soaking up all the delicious meaty juices.
I’ve actually reviewed this place on another blog post, in it I talked in more detail about the eating experience as well as the taste.
Yufu Mabushi Shin Details
Phone: +81 97 784 5825
Opening Hours: 10:30 AM - 7:30 PM | Mon - Sun
You can read my review for Yufumabushi Shin here: Yufumabushi Shin Claypot Rice Review
Award Winning Gold Ribbon Croquettes
So many options to choose from
While walking along the busy Yunotsubo market street you’ll come across a lone stall selling various types of deep fried patties also known as Japanese Croquettes. While Croquettes can easily be found all over Japan, I don’t see any that has the label of “Gold Ribbon”.
That’s right, there was a national competition for the best croquette and apparently this won the gold medal!
There are many different types of croquettes to try, the Crab Cream in particular looked very interesting, but personally, I was debating between the Pumpkin and Gold Medal one.
Fried golden crispy and absolutely delicious
I was skeptical at first but I decided to get the Gold Medal Croquette anyway out of curiosity.
When I took that first bite, i’ll admit that it was totally different from what I was expecting. I thought it was going to be like a beef patty or a hamburg steak but no, it was soft, and really creamy.
The crunchy outer shell was excellent, hot and fresh, as for the filling, I could taste a strong peppery flavor as well as the potatoes, not much of the beef is present unfortunately.
All in all I quite like it, but I wouldn’t give this a gold medal sadly. Still good though.
Yufuin Kinsho Croquettes Details
Phone: +81 97 728 8691
Opening Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM | Mon - Sun
Roll Cake Fluffy Egg Cake and Creamy… Cream
Another must try snack (or in this case dessert) to try in Yufuin is their famous roll cakes. A sweet and fluffy egg cake rolled and filled with the most decadent cream you’ll ever have.
The cake is really fluffy, perhaps maybe too fluffy because as you don’t even need to chew, I bet an old person who had lost all their teeth can enjoy this cake. The cake does have a slight eggy flavor to it, not too pungent but you’d know that egg was a main ingredient. The cream was also delightful, airy and fluffy with a slight milky and vanilla taste.
This dessert is famous in the area and one such place you must try it at is Milch and B-Speak, these two are cafe’s that serve up the best version of this dessert.
WARNING! I hate to have to talk negatively about a store especially in Japan where everyone is super kind and are immensely dedicated to their craft. But there is a roll cake shop just a few steps away from the train station, Yufufu Yufuin Ekimae, that is just really bad. The 1.8 star review on Google Maps isn’t lying, it’s not because the cakes were pastries where bad, no they were actually very delicious, but the service is horrible. The owner is grumpy, rude, and incredibly unfriendly towards foreign visitors. In fact, in all of my experiences of traveling Japan, he was the only rude person I have come across.
Milch Details
Phone: +81 97 728 2800
Opening Hours: 10:30AM - 5:30PM | Mon - Sun
B-Speak Details
Phone: +81 97 728 2166
Opening Hours: 10:00AM - 5:00PM | Mon - Sun
The Onsen Experience and Etiquette
This is the private onsen at Ryokan Yuri, I got this all to myself hehe
The onsen experience may not be as simple as you think it is. There are a few steps to follow before dipping your toes into the hot bath.
The Experience
Firstly an Onsen is not meant for cleaning your body, it is meant to relax your soul. The water will be HOT so take a moment to prepare yourself by dipping your toes slowly into the water. Once your in only stay for about 10-15 minutes, or until you start sweating. The temperature of the water is around 39°C - 42°C.
Warning: Staying in the onsen for too long can cause dehydration and you could even faint in the water.
The whole experience is incredibly relaxing and satisfying, you’ll feel like every ache and pain in your body slowly healing.
There are actually a few benefits to soaking your body in an onsen bath:
Increase Blood Circulation: Natureal elements and minerals in the water get absorbed into our bodies and increase blood flow.
Reduce Stress: A nice hot bath has the obvious effect of reducing stress in your mind and your muscles.
Relieve Pain: This is a bit of a cheat, the hot water has a numbing affect on our pain and aching joints. It doesn’t really heal them but acts more so a s a painkiller. Though that doesn’t stop placebo from making you believe that you are fully healed.
Treat Skin Problems: If you want beautiful clean skin then the minerals in the onsen will provide you with that, this is also the reason why onsens are popular with local Japanese women.
The Etiquette
If you are in a private onsen it doesn’t really matter if you follow the etiquette or not because no one will ever know, although following onsen etiquettes will significantly improve your enjoyment of the whole experience. If you are in a public onsen however, please follow these etiquettes:
Shower before entering: As previously mentioned, the onsen is not for cleaning your body, that’s why there is a shower for you located right next to the onsen pool. Here soap, shampoo, and conditioners are provided for you. Take a quick shower to clean your body and avoid polluting the pool with your bodily oils and dirt.
No clothing: Onsens are a completely nude affair, baskets will be provided for you to store your clothes and belongings, Onsens are also gender segregated so there is no need to feel embarressed.
Cover tattoos: If you have a tattoo try to cover it up as tattoos in Japan are associated with gangs and criminals and can make fellow onsen goers feel uncomfortable.
Be respectful: Keep noise down and avoid splashing the water like you are in the swimming pool, also avoid using your phone or doing anything that can disturb others.
Watch the time: Again, as previously mentioned, you should only spend somewhere around 15 minutes in the onsen.
Wash your body afterwards: This is optional but highly recommended as you would want to rinse your body clean and shower a little bit with cold water to freshen yourself up from all that sweat.
Don't mix hot and cold water: Don’t mix the water from the showers into the onsen pool as this will affect the temperature and ruin the experience for other patrons.
Know the towels: Small towels are provided to dry your body but they are not meant for covering your private parts.
If you follow these simple onsen rules then you will surely be having a greater experience in enjoying the hot springs.
Example Itinerary
Note: Feel free to edit this itinerary as you wish according to your preferences, this is only a suggestion where I try to cover all the major attractions and things to do so that you can make the most of your time in Yufuin.
Weekend Escape (2 Day Trip)
Day 1
Morning (9:00AM - 12:00PM)
Afternoon (12:00PM - 5:00PM)
Evening (5:00PM - 8:00PM)
Day 2
Morning (7:00AM - 12:00PM)
Afternoon (12:00PM - 5:00PM)
Evening (5:00PM - 8:00PM)
Looking for Things to Do in Yufuin?
Private Day Trip - Beppu Onsen and Yufuin Spa Town One Day Private Trip from Fukuoka
Rickshaw Experience in Yufuin - Enjoy the scenic views while riding a traditional rickshaw
ARU RESSHA by JR Kyushu - Luxury dining train from Hakata to Yufuin and vice versa
Discounted Tickets - Browse a variety of attractions, tours, and transports all for a great price
Useful Resources for Traveling in Japan
Tourism Information - All the information you need when traveling in Japan
Pocket Wi-Fi - Important for staying connected on the go
JR Rail Pass (Whole of Japan) - Easy , cheap, and unlimited access to JR transports
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