A Full Day of Yufuin
Begin with a leisurely stroll through tranquil scenery, viewing Mt. Yufu from a horse-drawn carriage. After crafting your own one-of-a-kind chopsticks, enjoy an elegant lunch overlooking the beautiful views at Kinrin Lake. After lunch, immerse yourself in art within a refined space. Conclude your day relaxing to your heart's content in the renowned Yufuin Onsen hot springs. This model course lets you experience the depth of Yufuin through all five senses: nature, tradition, art, gourmet cuisine, and hot springs.
* Please note that the text shown on this page includes machine translations.
- Spring
- Summer
- Autumn
- Winter
- Days required
- 1day
- Transport Options
- Walking
Contents
JR Yufuin Station
Gateway to Yufuin Onsen
A terminal station where all trains stop, including the limited express ‘Yufu’ and ”Yufuin no Mori."" It also features an art gallery that doubles as a waiting room.
Additionally, you can rent bicycles at the Yufu City tourist information center next to the station. Recommended for those who want to enjoy sightseeing at their own pace.
Leave your luggage behind and enjoy sightseeing hands-free!
The Yufu City Tourist Information Center (YUFUiNFO) offers temporary luggage storage and coin lockers.
We also provide luggage delivery to your accommodation. Please check the official website for participating lodging facilities.
Tsuji Basha (horse-drawn carriage)
Savoring the Beautiful Natural Scenery
To fully enjoy Yufuin's charm, unique modes of transportation like sightseeing carriages, rickshaws, and rental bicycles are available. Among these, the Tsuji Basha has been a Yufuin specialty for over 50 years, allowing you to tour ancient temples and shrines by horse-drawn carriage. The approximately 60-minute course includes a guide (Japanese only) by a sightseeing guide. Listening to the sound of horses' hooves, you can fully savor the charm of Yufuin.
【Experience】Hashiya Ichizen
Create your one-of-a-kind My Chopsticks!
With careful instruction, even beginners can feel at ease. Experience Yufuin's culture through this activity and take home a special item. Your handmade creation will become a lifelong treasure as a memento of your trip. Enjoy making memorable chopsticks!
【Lunch & Stroll】Kinrin Lake
The mystical scenery is one of Yufuin’s most iconic tourist attractions
A mystical landscape representing Yufuin's top attractions
Kinrin Lake, with its striking torii gate standing in the water, reveals different views throughout the day. Strolling along the lakeshore lets you experience the beauty of nature throughout the seasons, while nearby cafes and restaurants offer lunches featuring local ingredients. This is an ideal spot for a refreshing walk, rejuvenating both body and mind with Yufuin's tranquil countryside scenery and delicious cuisine."
COMICO ART MUSEUM YUFUIN
A tranquil museum where Yufuin’s nature and art are in harmony
"COMICO ART MUSEUM YUFUIN" is an art museum located in a quiet area at the foot of Mt. Yufu. Here, a special viewing experience awaits visitors, offering a refined experience where world-renowned contemporary art meets architecture.
Designed by Kengo Kuma, the building features a modern yet warm exterior clad in yakisugi blackened cedar (produced by charring the surface of cedar) that blends into Yufuin’s scenery. Long-term exhibits showcase many works by leading Japanese artists including Yayoi Kusama, Yoshitomo Nara, Takashi Murakami, and Hiroshi Sugimoto.
The museum space skillfully incorporates Yufuin’s natural light, creating a serene escape from the everyday where you can bathe in the natural light as you take your time contemplating each work. Because visits require advance reservation, you can deeply enjoy the art in a quiet environment. Take your time, immerse yourself, and savor the unique harmony woven by Yufuin’s abundant nature and art.
Yufuin Onsen
Enjoy Blissful Moments with Stunning Views of Mt. Yufu
Beyond its onsen, Yufuin boasts stunning natural surroundings and a wealth of attractions. The iconic Mt. Yufu showcases a unique beauty with each season, and tranquil spots like Lake Kinrin invite peaceful strolls. The area also features numerous cafés and restaurants serving dishes made with local ingredients, offering a delightful taste of regional flavors.
With convenient access to popular destinations in Oita Prefecture, including Oita City, Beppu's famous onsen, and Mt. Aso (Kumamoto Prefecture), Yufuin Onsen serves as an excellent base for exploring the region. The Yufuin-no-Mori limited express train is a favorite travel option for visitors, enhancing the charm of the journey.
Yufuin Onsen is a special place where natural beauty, culture, and local cuisine come together to create a perfect retreat. It’s an ideal destination to rejuvenate your mind and body while enjoying a truly blissful escape.
Spots to Enjoy Yufuin Onsen
Relax and unwind amidst nature while gazing upon the majestic Mt. Yufu, enjoy active bathing methods focused on wellness, or simply indulge in a sophisticated hot spring resort at your leisure.
- Yufuin Sansuikan
- A historic ryokan established in 1911 during the Meiji era. The men's bath features an open-air bath and sauna with Mt.Yufu as a backdrop, offering sweeping panoramic views of Yufuin. The women's bath boasts an open-air bath with spectacular views and a ceramic bath for deep relaxation.
- https://www.sansuikan.co.jp/
- Yama no Hotel Musouen
- A hot spring inn situated on a hilltop slightly removed from the center of Yufuin. The expansive open-air bath offers particularly splendid views, allowing guests to relax in the warm waters while taking in the rich natural scenery of Mt.Yufu and the Yufuin Basin.
- https://www.musouen.co.jp/lg_en/
- Quage Yufuin
- This communal bathhouse offers German-style balneotherapy. It features a heated pool for exercise bathing and hot spring baths for general bathing. In the heated pool, swimwear is required, and you can enjoy various bathing methods including a jacuzzi bath, waterfall showers, cold plunge baths, and a sauna. Swimwear rentals are available. Separate indoor baths and open-air baths for men and women allow you to relax and fully enjoy the hot springs.
- https://yufuin.gr.jp/spot/spot-1284/
JR Yufuin Station
Soak your feet in the station platform's footbath while waiting for the train
The station building was designed by the internationally renowned architect Arata Isozaki. Its beautiful wooden double-height structure was inspired by the image of a chapel. Platform 1 features a footbath where you can relax leisurely while waiting for your train. The hand towel you receive when purchasing a footbath ticket also makes a nice souvenir.
For the ultimate Yufuin experience, we recommend staying at one of the Three Great Houses.
These three prestigious, long-established ryokan representing Yufuin feature expansive grounds filled with lush nature and gardens. Their high-quality private spaces and unparalleled hospitality captivate guests and make them objects of aspiration. They also boast cafes and shops open to non-guests, playing a leading role in shaping Yufuin's culture.
- Yufuin Tamano-yu
- All guest rooms are detached (single-family style), allowing you to enjoy a private stay surrounded by the tranquil nature of lush woodlands. Each room features a private indoor bath made of cypress wood, fed by hot spring water, which you can enjoy alongside the large communal bath and open-air bath. For dinner, savor our “mountain village cuisine,” generously featuring seasonal wild mountain vegetables and locally sourced produce.
- https://tamanoyu.co.jp/english/
- Sanso Murata
- Nestled in a tranquil spot at the foot of Mt.Yufu, twelve distinct detached cottages (single-family units) are scattered throughout the grounds. These include both restored traditional farmhouses and modern-style accommodations, each offering a unique ambiance. Every guest room features its own private hot spring bath (indoor bath), eliminating the need to share a large communal bath with other guests. Guests can also enjoy monthly-changing kaiseki cuisine reflecting the four seasons of Yufuin.
- https://sansou-murata.com/en/
- Kamenoi Villa
- Dotted throughout the expansive 33,000-square-meter forest garden on the shores of Kinrin Lake are detached cottages and Western-style rooms, each offering a distinct ambiance. In the cottages, you can fully indulge in the natural hot spring water flowing directly from the source. For dinner, enjoy a carefully selected kaiseki course meal served in your room.
The villa also features a restaurant, tea room, and souvenir shop open to non-guests, making it an ideal base for exploring Yufuin. 
- https://www.kamenoi-bessou.jp/index.php/topic/home_en
