Yufuin

Introduction

One of the main reasons to plan a Northern Kyushu trip is a visit to Yufuin.

With many cute shops, Yufuin is very popular. It has even been selected as the No.1 destination Japanese women want to visit.
A slow walk through Yufuin, often called the “art of taking it slow,” is a special experience.

• Yufuin is written in Japanese as either 由布院 or 湯布院, so be careful not to confuse the two.
• The English name is Yufuin.

Yufuin is a small town with a relaxed local feel, and walking is enough for most sightseeing. For something more special, you can try a horse-drawn carriage, rickshaw, or bicycle rental.

It is about a 25-minute walk from Yufuin Station to Lake Kinrinko. On the way, Yunotsubo Kaido (湯の坪街道) is lined with small shops and is one of Yufuin’s top sightseeing routes.

However, most shops close around 5:00 pm, so if you arrive in the late afternoon, you may not have enough time to enjoy the area.

Yufuin works well as a half-day trip, and if you leave Fukuoka early, you can also do a same-day trip with Beppu.

For a more relaxed visit, it is recommended to stay one night at a ryokan, enjoy kaiseki dinner and hot springs, and see the morning mist at Lake Kinrinko at dawn.

Even if you want a hot spring bath, if you cannot stay overnight or ryokan prices feel too expensive, a “day-trip onsen” is a good option.

Recommended Ryokan Stays in Yufuin

Yufuin is a small hot spring town, and most accommodations are traditional ryokan with onsen, rather than large hotels.

Prices vary a lot depending on ryokan size, room type, meals, and service level.

More affordable ryokan can start from around KRW 150,000 per person per night, while luxury ryokan often cost KRW 400,000+ per person.

Choose a ryokan based on your budget and the style of stay you want, and pick the option that matches the ryokan grade and concept.

Getting to Yufuin: The Journey Is Part of the Trip

1) By train 🚄

From Fukuoka to Yufuin, train routes are mainly divided into two options.

• Yufuin no Mori or Yufu Limited Express: via Kurume and through mountainous areas
• Sonic Limited Express: along the Beppu coastline, via Oita, then transfer to Yufuin

Yufuin no Mori is a sightseeing train with a lounge area, scenery announcements, and photo spots, and it is popular even within Japan. In comparison, the Yufu Limited Express is a standard limited express train.

• Yufuin no Mori: all seats are reserved
• Yufu Limited Express: reserved and non-reserved seats

Yufuin no Mori runs 2–3 times a day, so plan your schedule after checking the operating dates in advance.

Some rail pass users wonder, “Do I really need to reserve a seat on Yufuin no Mori?” This is because online seat reservations can cost an extra JPY 1,500 per person.

There is no single correct answer. It depends on crowds and your schedule priorities. If you really want to ride Yufuin no Mori, an online reservation is recommended. If you are flexible, you can exchange your rail pass in Japan and choose between Yufuin no Mori, Yufu, or Sonic based on seat availability.

• If you are only visiting Yufuin, online discount tickets may be cheaper than a rail pass → See 'Rail passes, train timetables & booking'

On Yufuin no Mori, the popular seats for the Jion-no-Taki waterfall view are right-side windows from Hakata, and left-side windows from Yufuin.

• Recommended Yufuin no Mori seats
  • From Hakata: Car 1, Row 1, Seats C and D
  • From Yufuin: Up to Car 4, Row 13, Seats C and D / Up to Car 5, Row 15, Seats C and D

2) By bus 🚌

• Tenjin Highway Bus Terminal, Platform 5 Timetable
• Hakata Bus Terminal (3rd floor), Platform 34 Timetable
• Fukuoka Airport International Terminal bus stop Timetable

3) Travel easily with a bus tour

You can reach Yufuin by train or highway bus, but it can be difficult to visit Dazaifu and Beppu in one day using only public transportation.
In that case, a bus tour is a useful option. Some tours cover Dazaifu, Yufuin, and Beppu all in one day.

There are also bus tours that focus only on Yufuin, so choose based on your schedule and travel style.

Yufuin Walking Route: Must-Visit Photo Spots

1) Yufuin Station

由布院駅

Yufuin Station is a small countryside station, but it is a great place to feel Yufuin’s cute local atmosphere.

Right outside the station is a bus center, and you can also find horse-drawn carriages, rickshaws, and bicycle rental shops. Coin lockers are available inside the station, but during busy seasons they may be hard to use. It can also help to know about additional lockers located outside the station.

There is also a footbath on one side of the platform, offering a unique experience while you wait for the train.

• Buy a ticket at the station information counter, then enter
• Adults JPY 200, children JPY 100 (mini towel included)

2) Yunotsubo Street

湯の坪街道

Yunotsubo Street (湯の坪街道) is the main shopping street connecting Yufuin Station and Lake Kinrinko, and it is Yufuin’s representative walking route.

You will find many small gift shops, dessert shops, and cafes, so it is easy to enjoy shopping and food at the same time. 'Yufuin Floral Village', themed like an English countryside village, is also located along this street.

You can also try 'Kinsyo Korokke', a must-try snack in Yufuin.

3) Lake Kinrinko

金鱗湖

Lake Kinrinko (金鱗湖) is Yufuin’s representative scenic spot. Its name comes from the idea that “fish scales shine gold in the sunset.”

Because hot spring water from the lake bottom mixes with cold groundwater, steam forms over the surface, and morning mist is at its best from autumn to winter, especially at dawn.

Is there a mixed-gender bath in Yufuin?

While walking around Lake Kinrinko, you may notice a small, simple hut-like building. This is Shitanyu (下ん湯), a public hot spring that operates as a mixed-gender bath.

There is no staff. You enter by paying JPY 300 voluntarily into a donation box at the entrance.

Because the inside can be visible from outside, it is mostly used by local elderly men. It can be a unique experience for sightseeing, but it may not match what you expect, so keep this in mind.

Yufuin Day-Trip Hot Spring Guide (No Overnight Stay)

由布院の日帰り温泉

As mentioned earlier, Yufuin has many places where you can enjoy day-trip hot springs.

Some are onsen-only facilities, and others are ryokan hot springs that open to outside visitors during hours with no overnight guests. In the second case, you can use the hot spring by paying a fee even without staying overnight, which is also good for travelers on a short schedule.

It is a recommended stop if you want to take a short break and relax in hot spring water during your Yufuin trip.

Musouen Ryokan

山のホテル夢想園

• Bathing hours: 10:00 ~ 14:00 (bathing until 14:30)
• Fee: Adults JPY 1,000 / Children JPY 700 / Free for under 5
• Towel rental: JPY 300 / Towel purchase: JPY 1,500
• Private family bath is not by reservation (same group/family only)

Nurukawa Ryokan

御宿 ぬるかわ温泉

• Bathing hours: 08:00 ~ 19:00
• Fee:
  • Adults JPY 600
  • Children JPY 300
  • Private family bath JPY 2,000
  • Private open-air family bath JPY 2,600 (up to 4 people)
  • Closed every Tuesday, and once a month on Wednesday (usually the first Wednesday)