A Model Course for Adults to Enjoy Sake and Hot Springs

We present a luxurious two-day, one-night journey exploring Yufuin and Hita—two renowned hot spring towns—and the sake breweries nurtured by their abundant waters.

Heal your soul amidst Kyushu's most scenic landscapes, stroll through historic streets and rare railway heritage sites. Travel aboard the limited express “Yufuin no Mori” train to deepen your travel experience. Visit local wineries, breweries, and multiple sake breweries to immerse yourself in Kyushu's profound culture of “water” and ‘sake’ – a course perfect for adults.

* Please note that the text shown on this page includes machine translations.

  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Days required
2 days / 1 night
Transport Options
Public Transportation
Usa & KunisakiArea Hita & NakatsuYaba Area Yufu &KokonoeArea Beppu BayArea Taketa &Oku-BungoArea NippoCoastArea

Contents

JR Yufuin Station
#469
【Lunch & Stroll】Kinrin Lake
#471
Yufuin Onsen
#473
Bungo Mori Roundhouse (Bungo Mori Roundhouse Museum)
#475
Limited Express “Yufuin no Mori”
#476
【Accommodation】Hita Onsen
#479
Sapporo Beer Kyushu Hita Brewery
#482
Hita Mameda Machi Shopping Street
#485
Iichiko Hita Distillery
#487
JR Hita Station
#489
JR Hakata Station
#491
Start
Day1

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, the Yufu City Tourist Information Center (YUFUiNFO) next to the station offers temporary luggage storage and coin lockers.

How about breakfast while gazing at Mt. Yufu?

Savor an elegant morning at a cafe with prime views of Mt. Yufu, indulging in French toast made with luxurious local eggs and milk. This exquisite moment is sure to be the perfect start to your wonderful journey.

Approximately 20 minutes on foot

【Lunch & Stroll】Kinrin Lake

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 in all four seasons, while nearby cafes and restaurants offer lunches featuring local ingredients. This is the perfect spot for a refreshing walk, rejuvenating both body and mind with Yufuin's tranquil countryside scenery and delicious cuisine.

Within a 20-minute walk

Yufuin Onsen

Enjoy Blissful Moments with Stunning Views of Mt. Yufu

Yufuin Onsen is one of Japan’s most beloved onsen destinations, known for its abundant hot spring water and diverse spring qualities. Alkaline simple springs, which are gentle on the skin and offer relaxation and beautifying effects, are particularly common here. Visitors can indulge in open-air baths with breathtaking views of the majestic Mt. Yufu or enjoy private baths in traditional inns.
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 Mount 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 Yufu-dake 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 Mount 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/
About a 20-minute walk to JR Yufuin Station
About a 40-minute train ride

Bungo Mori Roundhouse (Bungo Mori Roundhouse Museum)

A fan-shaped locomotive roundhouse etched with the scars of war

Built in 1934 to coincide with the full opening of the Kyudai Line connecting Kurume Station in Fukuoka to Oita Station in Oita Prefecture, this fan-shaped concrete locomotive roundhouse stands as a unique relic in Kyushu. It has been recognized as a Modern Industrial Heritage site, and is the only surviving structure of its kind in the region.

During World War II, the depot served as a hub for military transport and was targeted by strafing attacks from U.S. fighter planes. The bullet marks left on its exterior walls serve as a somber reminder of its tragic past.

Today, the site has been transformed into Bungo Mori Roundhouse Park, featuring an SL29612 steam locomotive, a relic from the Taisho era (1912 to 1926), which warmly welcomes visitors.

From March to November, the park hosts monthly events on the second Sunday, including the Monthly Roundhouse Market and the Roundhouse Festival, where visitors can enjoy activities like mini-train rides, carp streamer displays, and stalls offering food and crafts.

The adjacent Bungo Mori Roundhouse Museum offers an interactive journey into railway history. Exhibits feature materials on the former Bungo Mori Roundhouse and railroads, along with family-friendly attractions such as railway-themed picture books, a wooden pool for play, and origami-making activities.

Tour the Yatsushika Brewery

Yatsushika Brewery crafts sake using pure underground water from the Kuju Mountains. Founded in 1864, its blend of tradition and innovation is widely loved through internationally awarded sake like “Yatsushika” and barley shochu “Ginza no Suzume.” Experience the craftsmanship and culture of Japanese artisans through a brewery tour steeped in history (advance reservation required) and tasting.

Limited Express “Yufuin no Mori”

Ride from JR Bungomori Station to JR Hita Station

The “Yufuin no Mori” is a special resort limited express train connecting Fukuoka (Hakata) with the popular hot spring destinations of Yufuin and Beppu. Its distinctive feature is its retro green exterior, while the interior boasts a calm design with the warmth of wood. As a high-deck train, passengers can enjoy dynamic views of majestic mountains and rivers through the windows. With onboard sales, commemorative photo services, and other amenities to enhance your journey, this popular sightseeing train makes the trip itself a memorable experience.

Approximately 45 minutes by train
Get off at Hita Station, then walk for about 15 minutes

【Accommodation】Hita Onsen

An Onsen Destination Offering River Cruises and Traditional Cormorant Fishing

Hita Onsen, located in Hita City near the borders of Fukuoka and Kumamoto Prefectures, is a historic onsen area that has been cherished by renowned Japanese literary figures. Featuring simple thermal springs, its waters are said to be effective for rheumatism, neuralgia, and fatigue recovery, leaving skin feeling smooth after bathing. It is also popular as a hot spring that brings good luck in terms of fertility.

The scenic Mikuma River runs through the heart of Hita Onsen, where a charming ryokan district lines its banks. Guests can choose from a variety of accommodations, including long-standing traditional inns, a ryokan with an open-air bath offering panoramic night views from one of Kyushu's highest points, and lodgings with private saunas. Unique to the area are the experiences of dining aboard a yakatabune (traditional houseboat) and witnessing the age-old practice of cormorant fishing, adding to the appeal of this picturesque onsen destination.

Let's try a yakatabune boat ride!

Boasting a 200-year tradition, these houseboats glide leisurely along the river, a quintessential sight of Hita. From spring to autumn, witness the traditional cormorant fishing, and in winter, enjoy the snow-viewing boat ride from a warm tatami room while gazing at the snowy landscape. Experience this quintessentially Japanese water tour.

Day2
Approximately 10 minutes by taxi
or
Approximately 30 minutes by bus

Sapporo Beer Kyushu Hita Brewery

Enjoy freshly brewed beer in Hita!

Located in Hita City, Oita Prefecture, and surrounded by lush natural scenery, the Sapporo Beer Kyushu Hita Brewery produces high-quality beer using the exceptional water unique to the water-rich region of Hita.

During the tour, you can enjoy learning about the fascinating stories behind the creation of “Sapporo Draft Beer Black Label” and “Yebisu Beer,” as well as the secrets to their delicious taste, through exhibits and videos. At the tasting session at the end of the tour, please enjoy a luxurious moment savoring delicious beer while taking in the stunning views.


*Please note that the tour is a paid activity.

Approximately 20 minutes by taxi

Hita Mameda Machi Shopping Street

In Hita, journey back in time to the Edo period

Located in Hita City, this charming shopping street features an elegant and tasteful townscape lined with buildings that date back to the Edo period (1603 to 1868). The preserved atmosphere of old Japan creates scenes reminiscent of a bygone era. With around 100 shops, the street offers souvenir stores, cafés, and restaurants. For a special experience, you can stroll the streets in a rented kimono, or relax and take in the sights on a rickshaw ride. The area also includes museums and historic sake breweries, allowing visitors to casually explore Japanese history and culture. During the Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival) season, the street comes alive with splendid displays of traditional dolls, adding a festive and colorful touch to the entire town.

Sake Spots Near Mameda-cho Shopping District

Kuncho Sake Brewery
A long-established sake brewery founded in the Edo period, boasting over 300 years of history. Mameda machi still preserves a cluster of historic sake breweries retaining their original architectural features, where sake brewing continues to this day. You can sample and purchase traditional Japanese sake brewed using Hita's high-quality groundwater. Additionally, the brewery museum offers insights into the culture of sake brewing.
https://www.kuncho.net/
Tenryo Hita Western Liquor Museum
This museum showcases over 40,000 items of Western spirits and whiskey-related memorabilia, collected single-handedly by the owner over a period of 45 years, beginning when he was a 13-year-old seventh grader.
The early stills designed by the “Father of Japanese Whiskey” are a must-see, and the museum houses a wealth of valuable artifacts from the history of Western spirits in Japan.
We invite you to experience the depth of his passion and the allure of this collection for yourself.
https://tenryo-hita-whiskymuseum.com/

How about some Hita Yakisoba for lunch?

The defining feature of Hita's local specialty, Hita Yakisoba, is its addictive texture created by crispy fried noodles and crunchy bean sprouts. A secret sweet-and-spicy sauce enhances the savory flavor. Enjoy this beloved soul food of Hita City for lunch!

Approximately 10 minutes by taxi

Iichiko Hita Distillery

Explore the profound world of Japanese spirits

Here, you can experience the rich and complex world of “barley shochu,” a traditional Japanese distilled spirit.

As you stroll through our grounds, surrounded by lush nature, you can get an up-close look at our unique brewing process—which uses only barley koji—and our aging cellars, where the spirit is carefully aged in barrels to develop its aroma, much like whiskey.

We invite you to experience firsthand the story behind this rich and aromatic spirit, crafted through the interplay of artisanal skill and nature.

Approximately 10 minutes by taxi
or
Approximately 30 minutes by bus

JR Hita Station

Limited Express “Yufuin no Mori” boarding gate

Limited Express “Yufuin no Mori” boarding gate

The wooden station building radiates warmth, featuring a design richly incorporating Hita cedar, a local resource of Hita.

Additionally, the monument in front of the station, made of Hita cedar and displaying the letters “H T A,” has a clever feature: when someone stands in the empty ‘I’ space, the letters form “HITA.” Please stand here for a commemorative photo.

Approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes at “Yufuin no Mori”

JR Hakata Station

Gateway to Kyushu

Arriving at Kyushu's largest terminal station in Fukuoka.

The station's connected building houses department stores, restaurants, and souvenir shops, letting you enjoy Fukuoka's gourmet offerings right away. The convenient subway provides smooth access to popular food stalls and lively nightlife entertainment districts.

Goal
  • JR Yufuin Station
  • 【Lunch & Stroll】Kinrin Lake
  • Yufuin Onsen
  • Bungo Mori Roundhouse (Bungo Mori Roundhouse Museum)
  • Limited Express “Yufuin no Mori”
  • 【Accommodation】Hita Onsen
  • Sapporo Beer Kyushu Hita Brewery
  • Hita Mameda Machi Shopping Street
  • Iichiko Hita Distillery
  • JR Hita Station
  • JR Hakata Station

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