By bus
- 50 min
- ¥940
Yufuin (由布院 as onsen resort, 湯布院 as city district) is a popular hot spring resort, located about ten kilometers inland from Beppu, another, much larger and more developed hot spring resort. Yufuin has a wealth of art museums, cafes and boutiques, and many travelers come to the city just to stroll about town for the day.
Yufuin is located on a flat river basin surrounded by mountains. The most prominent feature of Yufuin's skyline is the twin peaked Mount Yufu, which hovers over the town and serves as the backdrop for many scenic views. The area is rural, and shortly after leaving the main walking route, travelers will come across the rice paddies and farm houses, which make up a considerable part of the town.
The ryokan and hotels of Yufuin are spread out around town, and not clustered along the main street like in many other resort towns. Instead, the main street is lined with cafes, boutiques and small museums, giving Yufuin an atmosphere more like a trendy shopping area than a traditional onsen town. Nonetheless, there is a large number of lodgings with hot spring baths, some of which open their baths to non-staying guests during daytime.
Another natural landmark of Yufuin is Lake Kinrinko. The small lake is located at the end of the town's main walking route, about 1.5 kilometers from the station. Walking paths surround the lake as well as more small shops and cafes, and there is a small shrine located at the lake's southern end. There are also a few public bath houses, one of which, the Shitanyu, can be used by tourists, while the others are for use by local residents only.
Below is a list of some of Yufuin's best baths:
Ratings:
best of the best
best of Japan
outstanding
Getting to Yufuin
By train
- 80 min
- ¥1,130
Train travel between Beppu and Yufuin requires a transfer of trains at Oita Station. By local trains, the one way journey takes about 80 minutes, costs 1130 yen and is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass and Kyushu Rail Pass.
By Kyusanko Kyushu Odan Bus
- 60 min
- ¥1,100
The Kyushu Odan Bus operates between Beppu and Kumamoto, stopping at Yufuin along the way. The one way journey between Beppu and Yufuin takes one hour, costs 1100 yen and is covered by the Sun Q Pass. Online reservations are possible through Willer or Japan Bus Online.
Above fees and schedules are subject to change. Be sure to check current yen exchange rates.
Getting around
Yufuin can be easily explored on foot, and the majority of the town's attractions are located along the 1.5 kilometer long main walking route between Yufuin Station and Lake Kinrinko. Walking the entire route takes 20-30 minutes, not counting any stops along the way.
Yufuin's baths are spread out all across the town, and many of them are difficult to access without private transportation. Bicycles are a convenient method for traveling to the more remote baths or for seeing the town quickly. Rental bicycles can be obtained at Yufuin Station for 250 yen per hour or 1250 yen per day. Taxi and rental car are other options for getting around. Nissan and Ekiren have rental car outlets in Yufuin, while many more outlets are found in nearby Beppu.
Questions? Ask in our forum.
Links and Resources
Hotels around Yufuin
Top rated in Yufuin
Budget:
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Yurari RokumyoGuests at Yurari Rokumyo can rent out an entire traditional Japanese-style house with a private hot-spring bath. Free Wi-Fi is available at the public areas. Guests can use the 24-hour shared bath for private use and in-room massages can be request for an extra cost. JR Yufuin Train Station is a 10-minute walk away. The Japanese-style house features 2 connecting rooms with tatami (woven-straw) floors and Japanese futon bedding. Each comes with a flat-screen TV and a seating area with low tables. A microwave, an electric kettle and a private toilet are included as well. The house comes with an open-air hot-spring stone bath. Rokumyo Yurari is a 15-minute walk from Lake Kinrin and a 15-minute drive from Mount Yufu. Oita Airport is a 50-minute drive away. Free parking is available on site and luggage storage is offered at the front desk. No meals are served.View on Booking.com -
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Ryokan YamashiroyaSituated in a historic and peaceful hot spring town, Ryokan Yamashiroya boasts spacious hot spring baths and comfortable Japanese-style guest rooms. Its English-speaking staff welcome the guests, and property-wide Wi-Fi is offered for free. Free parking is also available. Guests can try on a yukata robe and sip green tea in the room, fitted with tatami (woven-straw) flooring and traditional futon bedding. A flat-screen TV and a fridge are included. Rooms come with a private toilet, and bathroom is shared with other guests. Yamashiroya Ryokan provides 4 hot spring baths, which can be reserved for private use for free. Luggage can be stored at the front desk, and drink vending machines are available on site. Seasonal ingredients are featured in Japanese multi-course dinner, which is served in the guest room. Traditional Japanese breakfast can be savoured in the dining room. JR Yunohira Station is a 10-minute drive from the property, and free pick-up shuttles are available if requested at time of booking. Downtown Oita area is a 40-minute drive away.View on Booking.com -
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Nihon-no-AshitabaSurrounded by peaceful woods, Nihon-no-Ashitaba offers classic Japanese-style accommodation and natural hot spring baths. Guests are welcomed with a complimentary drink at time of check-in. JR Yufuin Station is a 7-minute drive away. Boasting truly relaxing ambience, each individual stand-alone house features unique architecture and d?cor. In-room facilities include a flat-screen TV, a fridge and an electric kettle. The en suite bathroom comes with a bath and free toiletries. While staying at the Nihon no Ashitaba ryokan, guests can unwind at the public bathing area with various open-air hot spring baths. Free juice and boiled eggs are provided. Free WiFi can be used at the public area, and a gift shop is available on site. Chisoan restaurant serves Japanese-style meals featuring local vegetables and seasonal ingredients for dinner and breakfast. Nightly drinks can be enjoyed at Bar Barolo.View on Booking.com -
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Yufuin Bettei ItsukiYufuin Bettei Itsuki features a hot spring bath, free Wi-Fi and luxurious contemporary rooms with a balcony, a private hot spring bath and a Japanese-style seating area. Air-conditioned rooms come with a living room with a wooden floor, a sofa and a wall-mounted flat-screen TV. A minibar, toiletries and yukata robes are provided, while the en suite bathroom offers a bathtub, a shower and a toilet. Itsuki Yufuin Bettei offers luggage storage and room service, while facilities include a souvenir shop and free parking. An American breakfast is served at Dining Towakura, which offers a Japanese dinner in the evening. Guests can request to upgrade their dinner to Bungo beef steak course dinner at an additional charge (advance reservation needed). Also, guests staying for two nights or more will be offered a different dinner everyday. The property is a 5-minute drive from Yufuin Station, and a 10-minute walk from Kinrin Lake.View on Booking.com -
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Ryoso Yufuin YamadayaOffering an open-air bath and garden view, Ryoso Yufuin Yamadaya is set in Yufu, 47 km from Resonac Dome Oita and 1.2 km from Kinrinko Lake. This 4-star ryokan features a spa experience, with its hot spring bath and public bath. The ryokan offers rooms with air conditioning, free private parking and free WiFi. The units at the ryokan come with a flat-screen TV and a safety deposit box. The ryokan provides certain units with mountain views, and each unit is equipped with a kettle. At the ryokan, the units are fitted with bed linen and towels. Guests can also relax in the garden. Popular points of interest near the ryokan include Norman Rockwell Yufuin Museum, Yufuin Station and Yufushi Yufuin Chuo Jido Park. The nearest airport is Oita Airport, 52 km from Ryoso Yufuin Yamadaya.View on Booking.com -
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Shimizu RyokanFeaturing an open-air bath, garden and views of river, Shimizu Ryokan is located in Yufu, 40 km from Resonac Dome Oita. This ryokan offers free private parking and free shuttle service. The accommodation provides a hot spring bath, free WiFi throughout the property and family rooms. The ryokan will provide guests with air-conditioned units offering a wardrobe, a kettle, a fridge, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a shared bathroom with a bidet. At the ryokan, all units are allergy-free. At the ryokan, every unit has bed linen and towels. There is a coffee shop, and a minimarket is also available. The ryokan is located in a geothermal area, with a number of hot springs nearby for guests to relax in. Sightseeing tours are available in the surroundings. Kinrinko Lake is 16 km from the ryokan, while Oita Station is 33 km away. The nearest airport is Oita Airport, 65 km from Shimizu Ryokan.View on Booking.com -
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Yawaragi-no-Sato YadoyaYawaragi-no-Sato Yadoya features 6 hot spring baths, a Japanese restaurant and universal design, only a 2-minute walk from the picturesque Yu-no-Tsubo Kaido (Yu-no-Tsubo Road). If offers Japanese-style and Western rooms, a library and free Wi-Fi at the lobby. Guests at Yadoya Yawaragi-no-Sato can unwind in outdoor and indoor public hot spring baths, or enjoy a private hot spring at extra charge. The hotel has a souvenir shop and free parking. Comfortable rooms feature an interior in neutral colours, and they’re fitted with air conditioning, a TV and a fridge. All rooms have an attached bathroom with free toiletries. The hotel’s restaurant serves a Japanese breakfast and Japanese dinners featuring the local speciality Bungo beef. Yawaragi-no-Sato Yadoya is a 7-minute walk from Kinrin Lake, and a 15-minute walk from JR Yufuin Train Station.View on Booking.com -
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Yufuin Onsen Hinoharu RyokanOffering public indoor/outdoor hot-spring baths, Yufuin Onsen Hinoharu Ryokan features Japanese-style accommodations with a flat-screen satellite TV and Yukata robes. Guests can request for relaxing massages and free WiFi is available throughout the entire property. Prepared with fresh sashimi, wagyu beef and local vegetables, traditional Japanese multi-course meals are served for dinner at the dining room. For breakfast, a Japanese set menu is offered at the dining room. The air-conditioned rooms feature garden views, tatami (woven-straw) floors and Japanese futon bedding. Each comes with a safety deposit box, a fridge and an electric kettle. Some rooms have a private hot-spring bath, while for some bathrooms are shared. Guests at the ryokan are welcomed with green tea and Japanese sweets. They can relax at the large public hot spring baths or take a dip in a cosy privately-reserved bath for free. A free-use internet computer and photocopying services are available as well. Hinoharu Ryokan Yufuin Onsen is a 10-minute walk from Lake Kinrin. JR Yufuin Train Station is a 15-minute walk away. Oita Airport is a 60-minute drive from the property and Fukuoka Airport a 90-minute drive away.View on Booking.com -
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Kutsurogi-no-Yado NanakawaKutsurogi-no-Yado Nanakawa offers private maisonettes with a private outdoor hot spring bath, a Japanese-style living room and free wired internet, a mere 1-minute stroll from Lake Kinrin. Air-conditioned maisonettes boast an outdoor hot spring bath, a private terrace and a Japanese-style living room. They’re fitted with Western beds, an LCD TV on both floors and a seating area with chairs and a coffee table. Amenities include a fridge, yukata robes and an attached bathroom with toiletries. Hotel Nanakawa Kutsurogi-no-Yado is a 15-minute walk from Yufuin Museum. JR Yufuin Station is a 5-minute drive. Guests at the Kutsurogi-no-Yado can unwind in a public hot spring bath and a hot public bath, free of charge. The baths are a few steps from the rooms, and they’re part of neighbouring inns in the same compound. The property serves a Japanese breakfast and a traditional multi-course dinner featuring seasonal dishes and the famed local Bungo beef. Meals are served in the compound’s dining room.View on Booking.com -
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Ryotei TanokuraFeaturing public indoor/outdoor hot-spring baths, the completely non-smoking Ryotei Tanokura offers rooms with tatami (woven-straw) floors and traditional multi-course meals. Guests can choose to stay in rooms with Western beds or Japanese futon bedding. Each room comes with a flat-screen TV, a fridge and a bathtub with hot-spring water. Some rooms have a private open-air hot-spring bath. Guests can enjoy traditional multi-course meals served in their rooms. Meals feature local Kyushu ingredients and fresh seafood. Free parking is available on site and luggage storage is offered at the front desk. Photocopying services are available as well. Tanokura Ryotei is a 2-minute walk from Lake Kinrin and Yufuin Folk Craft Village. Oita Airport is a 1-hour drive away.View on Booking.com
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