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Yufuin lies in a small basin below the twin peaks of Mt Yufu in Yufu City, Oita — about 2 hr 10–20 min from Hakata (Fukuoka) on the Yufuin no Mori sightseeing express, or an hour by bus from Beppu. A landscape plan caps building heights in the basin, so there is no high-rise onsen strip. The walk from the station along Yunotsubo street to Lake Kinrin passes craft shops, sweet shops and small museums. From late autumn into winter, mist often rises off the lake in the early morning. Day-trippers crowd the street by midday, so stay the night for the quiet morning.

From Fukuoka
About 2 hr 10–20 min from Hakata on the Yufuin no Mori express
Ryokan in videos
33, 30 with in-room open-air baths

Featured videos

Routes
Sights
Season
Routes and sights

Routes

Station to Lake Kinrin (half day)
Walk from the station down Yunotsubo street to the lake, snacking on the way — about 25–30 minutes one way. Bikes can be rented at the tourist centre next to the station (¥1,000 for 2 hours, no reservations).
Yufuin Station → Yunotsubo street → Yunotsubo Yokocho → Yufuin Floral Village → Lake Kinrin (Kinrinko)
Autumn–winter morning mist
Fog forms best on cold, still mornings: see the basin from Sagiridai, then come back to Lake Kinrin for the rising mist before the crowds arrive.
Sagiridai viewpoint → Lake Kinrin (Kinrinko)
Day trip from Fukuoka by train
Take Yufuin no Mori 1 from Hakata at 9:17, arriving 11:31; walk the street and lake, then return on No. 4 at 15:56 or No. 6 at 17:17. On some dates Nos. 3 and 4 are replaced by the Yufu express, so check JR Kyushu's operating calendar. Add a night if you want to bathe.
Yufuin no Mori express → Yufuin Station → Yunotsubo street → Lake Kinrin (Kinrinko)
Mt Yufu hike
Best in settled spring or autumn weather; most of a day from the trailhead, with views over Yufuin and Beppu Bay from the top.
Mt Yufu (Yufudake)

Sights

Yufuin Station 由布院駅
A black timber station designed by Arata Isozaki, with Mt Yufu straight ahead as you walk out. During 2026 renovation a temporary building is in use and the gallery and platform footbath are closed (completion planned for winter 2026–27).
Yufuin no Mori express 特急ゆふいんの森
The sightseeing express direct from Hakata, with a buffet car; all seats are reserved, so book early in peak season. On some dates the Yufu express runs in its place, with no on-board sales.
Yunotsubo street 湯の坪街道
The main street from the station to the lake, lined with shops, sweets and small museums; very busy by day.
Yufuin Floral Village 湯布院フローラルヴィレッジ
A small themed street modelled on an English Cotswolds village, with shops and small animals; popular for photos.
Lake Kinrin (Kinrinko) 金鱗湖
Both hot-spring water and spring water flow into the lake, keeping it warm all year, so from late autumn into winter mist rises off the surface in the morning — Yufuin's signature view. The torii of Tenso Shrine stands in the water.
Sagiridai viewpoint 狭霧台
A lookout on the Kyushu Odan road with the whole Yufuin basin below — most dramatic on foggy mornings. By car or taxi only; regular buses don't stop here.
Mt Yufu (Yufudake) 由布岳
Yufuin's twin-peaked volcano. The trailhead is on the Beppu road; allow most of a day and bring proper hiking gear.

Rail

  • Hakata → Yufuin: JR Yufuin no Mori limited express, about 2 hr 10–20 min (all seats reserved; on some dates the Yufu express runs instead)
  • The JR Kyushu Rail Pass (All Kyushu or Northern Kyushu) covers the Yufuin no Mori; the Northern pass includes up to 6 free seat reservations in Kyushu

Bus & ferry

  • Hakata / Tenjin / Fukuoka Airport → Yufuin: highway bus, about 2–2.5 hr
  • Beppu Station west exit → Yufuin: Kamenoi bus route 36, about 1 hr (the Yufurin sightseeing express is suspended from 17 Oct 2026)
  • Oita Airport → Yufuin: direct bus, about 55 min, about 5 a day

By car

  • By car: about 2 hr from Fukuoka and about 55 min from Oita Airport by expressway; leave the Oita Expressway at Yufuin IC
  • There are dozens of paid car parks in the basin (the JR Yufuin Station car park has 142 spaces) and none reserved for the tourist information center; Yufu City publishes a parking map in Japanese, Korean and English
  • During Golden Week, Obon and the September holidays, heavy congestion is expected on the road into town towards Lake Kinrin; check Yufu City's yufu-uramichi.com before you set off

Licences, ETC cards and expressway passes: Driving in Japan →

Getting around

  • Station to Lake Kinrin is about a 25–30 min walk one way; bikes can be rented at the tourist information center next to the station (2 hr for ¥1,000, no reservations)
  • The Yufu City tourist information center next to Yufuin Station can arrange sightseeing taxis (9:00–17:30, closed 1 January)
  • Round trips from the station by horse carriage (about 60 min, not running 1 Jan–1 Mar) or the slow electric nolc (about 50 min, Mon/Fri/Sat/Sun and holidays from April to November, not running December–March) can only be booked on the day, from 9:00, first come first served at the tourist information center or by phone

Winter

  • The Oita Expressway between Yufuin IC and Hiji JCT (towards Beppu and Oita Airport) can close for fog or snow; when winter-tire rules are in force, cars on normal tires may not use it
  • In heavy snow, National Route 210 from near Kokonoe IC to Yufuin (over the Mizuwake Pass) may close for long periods; mountain roads in winter can be snowy or icy and normal tires are very dangerous

Luggage

  • Yufuin Chikki, on the ground floor of the tourist information center next to the station, delivers bags to your ryokan the same day: drop off 9:00–15:00 for delivery by about 16:00; on check-out day ask the ryokan between 9:00 and 11:30 to send them back (member inns of the Yufuin Onsen Tourist Association only; pay cash on collection)
  • The tourist information center also has left-luggage and coin lockers, open to anyone 9:00–17:00

From international airports

  • Oita Airport OIT (nearest international airport)
    • Seoul Incheon · Jeju Air · 7 a week
    • Seoul Incheon · Korean Air · 4 a week (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun)
    • Taipei Taoyuan · Tigerair Taiwan · 2 a week (Wed, Sat)
  • Kitakyushu Airport KKJ (nearest international airport)
    • Seoul Incheon · Jin Air, Korean Air · 7 a week
    • Cheongju · Aero K · 7 a week
    • Taipei Taoyuan · StarFlyer · 3 a week (daily 21 Jan–9 Feb 2027)

Winter 2026 (25 Oct 2026 – 27 Mar 2027) schedule, checked 2026-11-09; sources are listed at the bottom of the page. Flights change often, so check with the airline before booking.

Map

Loading map… (base map: Geospatial Information Authority of Japan)
  • Yufuin Onsen Onsen townGoogle Maps
  • Yufuin Station Station / portGoogle Maps
  • Yufu City Tourist Information Center (Yufuin Chikki, bike rental) Tourist informationGoogle Maps

Transport & itinerary videos

Which trains, which pass, how to plan two days.

Ryokan facilities (in-room bath, private bath, family stays, dinner style) are compiled from the descriptions of stay videos and may be wrong or out of date. Check with the ryokan or the booking site before you book.

Before you bathe, read the basic onsen etiquette; ways to bathe if you have tattoos are on the same page. Onsen etiquette & tattoos →

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