Local Guide
From Long-established Hot Spring Ryokans to Hidden Hot Springs in the Mountains, 5 Daytrip Destinations to Visit in Yufuin

Yufuin hot springs stretch across the Yufuin Basin, roughly in the center of Oita Prefecture. Of all the hot springs in Oita Prefecture, Yufuin is said to have the second largest number of hot springs in Japan (more than 1,000) and the third largest volume of hot springs in Japan (approximately 52,000 liters per minute). Most of the springs are simple hot springs or alkaline simple hot springs, which are soft to the skin and are popular among people of all ages. We will introduce five hot spring properties, including a drop-in hot spring that can be enjoyed at a long-established ryokan, a public bathhouse that has long been a local favorite, and a hidden hot spring that attracts hot spring enthusiasts from all over the country.

Enjoy a bath with a spectacular view at Yufuin's oldest and most established ryokan

Yufunoyu's Outdoor hot spring with Mt. Enjoy the seasonal changes in scenery: fresh greenery in spring and summer, autumn leaves in fall, and snow in winter.
Yufunoyu's Outdoor hot spring with Mt. Enjoy the seasonal changes in scenery: fresh greenery in spring and summer, autumn leaves in fall, and snow in winter.

Founded in 1911, Yufuin Hot spring ryokan is the oldest ryokan in Yufuin. Its day-trip hot springs are also very popular, with the men's "Yufu-no-yu" and women's "Asagiri no Yu" both equipped with Outdoor hot springs and indoor baths.

Yufu-no-yu's Outdoor hot spring offers relaxing views of Mt. Yufu in front of you, as well as the surrounding seasonal scenery. The Asagiri-no-yu offers a panoramic view of the Yufuin basin, and the one-person ceramic bath allows you to enjoy the view and the high-quality hot spring water all to yourself. The men's and women's baths are switched at different times of the day, and overnight guests can bathe in both baths.

Sauna lovers will also appreciate the luxurious sauna with a view of Mt.

The
The "Morino Sauna" with Mt. Yufu towering beyond the window. Yufudake in each of the four seasons is one of the pleasures of the sauna.

Along with the hot springs, one of the main attractions for visitors is the "Morino Sauna" located in the open-air area of Yufunoyu. The room, made entirely of cypress, is large enough to accommodate about 10 people. Even from inside the sauna, visitors can enjoy a magnificent view of Mt. It is just like being in a sauna in the forest. The water bath is lavishly filled with natural spring water from Mt. The cool water, which feels soft against the skin, gently envelops your body as it heats up. Yufudake from the outside air bath space. A blissful time of relaxation awaits you in the hot spring, sauna, and spectacular view.

Local Guide Comment
Yufuin Beer, Kyushu's first locally brewed beer, is brewed on the ryokan premises and can be purchased from vending machines on the first floor of the ryokan. A drink after a hot spring bath is the best! is one word to describe it.
Yufuin Sansuikan
  • Address 108-1 Kawanami, Yufuin-cho, Yufu City, Oita Prefecture MAP
  • Direction Approximately a 6-minute walk from JR Yufuin Station
  • Business hours Drop-in bath 12:00-16:00
  • Closed Open all year round (bathing may not be available due to conditions on the day of use)
  • Admission Fee Adults 700 yen, 4-12 years old 400 yen
  • TEL 0977-84-2101
  • Parking Free of charge
  • Hot spring Alkaline simple hot spring
  • Memo Shampoo, etc. provided

A hot spring where Yufudake welcomes you on a sunny or rainy day.

Outdoor hot spring with stone bathtubs. On a fine day, Mt. Yufu can be seen beyond the wall.
Outdoor hot spring with stone bathtubs. On a fine day, Mt. Yufu can be seen beyond the wall.

This hot spring property is located in a quiet countryside area a short distance from the center of Yufuin. The gable-roofed building with white walls is impressive. Public hot springs for men and women and a variety of family baths are available, all of which offer views of Mount Yufudake, making it a popular location.

Public hot springs for men and women are equipped with outdoor hot springs and indoor baths. A large photo of Mt. Yufudake adorns the wall of the outdoor hot spring, allowing guests to soak in hot spring even on rainy days while enjoying the view of this majestic mountain. The baths are soft to the touch, so stretch out your arms and legs and enjoy the famous hot spring water.

A full lineup of family baths is also available. It's worth the extra trip!

The family bath
The family bath "Yubudake" has an indoor bath and an outdoor hot spring. There are a total of six family baths.

Each family bath is equipped with an outdoor hot spring and an indoor bath. Since there are few hot spring properties with family baths in the town of Yufuin, many people come to Yufuin for the family baths. The baths are recommended for families with children and couples, as they allow them to relax and enjoy the hot spring without worrying about their surroundings.

On the premises, there is spring water that gushes out naturally from the foot of Mt. The taste of natural water after taking a bath is exceptional. We recommend that you bring a bottle with you (containers are also available at the reception desk).

Local Guide Comment
The surrounding countryside and tranquil scenery are also attractive. On a fine day, it is a good distance from Yufuin Station for a stroll.
Yufudake Hot Spring
  • Address 2426-3 Kawakami, Yufuin-cho, Yufu City, Oita Prefecture MAP
  • Direction Approximately 18 minutes on foot from JR Yufuin Station
  • Business hours 9:30-18:00
  • Closed Closed on weekends and holidays
  • Admission Fee Adults 500 yen, elementary school students 300 yen, family bath (60 min.) 2,000 yen
  • TEL 0977-84-2453
  • Parking Free of charge
  • Hot spring Alkaline simple hot spring
  • Memo Shampoo, etc. provided

A historic hot spring where you can casually drop in

The bathtubs are filled with soft, clear, colorless water. The temperature is slightly higher, warming the body to the core.
The bathtubs are filled with soft, clear, colorless water. The temperature is slightly higher, warming the body to the core.

This public hot spring is located along the Oita River, one street off Yunotsubo Kaido, Yufuin's main street. Because of its convenient location in the center of Yufuin, it is increasingly being used not only by locals but also by tourists from Japan and abroad. The bathhouse has a long history, and its name is said to have been written in documents from the Edo period (1603-1867).
There is one indoor bath for men and one for women, and the bathtubs are made of Japanese cypress, and granite is used for the floor and waist walls, giving the bathhouse a very stately appearance. During the daytime, sunlight streams in through the high windows, creating an exceptionally pleasant atmosphere. Enter by inserting the bathing fee into the fee box in the center of the entrance.

You can meet and get to know the local people only at a public bathhouse.

The elegant exterior of the building. Mt. Yufudake can be seen behind the building.
The elegant exterior of the building. Mt. Yufudake can be seen behind the building.

The current building was rebuilt in 1995. Its elegant appearance, in keeping with Yufuin's tranquil and serene landscape, is eye-catching.
Many locals use the bathhouse every day in place of their own baths, and because it is a cozy space with only one bathtub, you will naturally have a warm exchange with the locals. Since the number of visitors increases in the morning and evening, it is recommended to visit around noon if you are looking for a quieter time.

Local Guide Comment
Although the bathhouse is unmanned, it is cleaned several times a day by the management association. This is one of the reasons why the bathhouse is so popular, as it is always clean and safe to use.
Yunotsubo Hot Spring
  • Address 1087-1 Kawakami, Yufuin-cho, Yufu City, Oita Prefecture MAP
  • Direction Approximately 14 minutes on foot from JR Yufuin Station
  • Business hours 10:00-22:00 (subject to change)
  • Closed No holidays
  • Admission Fee Bathing fee 200 yen
  • TEL 0977-84-3111（Yufuin Town Hall, Yufuin City)
  • Parking Free of charge
  • Hot spring Alkaline simple hot spring
  • Memo No shampoo, etc. provided

Yufuin's hidden hot springs attract hot spring enthusiasts from all over Japan.

Public hot springs have one male and one female indoor bath. (Use of soap and shampoo is prohibited because the hot spring ingredients make it impossible to remove them from the skin.
Public hot springs have one male and one female indoor bath. (Use of soap and shampoo is prohibited because the hot spring ingredients make it impossible to remove them from the skin.

Located halfway up an active volcano called "Kyan-dake" on the border of Yufu and Beppu cities, this is one hot spring that attracts hot spring lovers from all over the country. It is a rare spring in Japan with extremely high iron content and very high acidity. It is said to be one of the three major medicinal hot springs, and is visited by many people for therapeutic purposes.

The history of the spring's opening dates back to the Heian period (794-1185), when the warlord Minamoto no Tamecho discovered a deer in a pool of hot water that healed his wounds. The acidity of the water is dozens of times that of lemon. Soaking in the bathwater causes a gradual tingling and stimulation, and it is said to have a high peeling effect.

Enjoy the famous hot spring to your heart's content in Outdoor hot springs and family baths

Outdoor hot spring with a view of rich nature in front of you. There are four family baths.
Outdoor hot spring with a view of rich nature in front of you. There are four family baths.

The simple atmosphere of the indoor baths is attractive, but the open-air outdoor hot springs are also recommended. In addition, there are four family bath rooms where you can enjoy the luxury of high-quality hot water on a private basis.

The baths also contain high levels of metasilicic acid, a natural moisturizing element, and are expected to have a beautifying effect on the skin. Hot spring ingredients penetrate the skin when the skin dries after bathing, so the most effective way to bathe is to soak for a minute or two and then dry off. At the reception desk, "mineral spring water" is sold, which gushes out cold, has fewer impurities than hot spring water, and has a higher concentration and acidity. This is a medicinal hot spring unparalleled in the country. Even if you are not a hot spring enthusiast, you should visit this famous hot spring at least once.

Local Guide Comment
When you actually lick the hot water, you will be surprised at how sour it is. Please be careful when taking a bath, as it stains if you have a cut or other wound.
Tsukahara Hot Spring Hijikuchino-sen
  • Address 1235 Tsukahara, Yufuin-cho, Yufu City, Oita Prefecture MAP
  • Direction About 20 minutes by car from JR Yufuin Station, about 5 minutes by car from Yufudake Smart I.C.
  • Business hours 9:00-18:00 (last admission at 17:00)
    July-August: 9:00-19:00 (last admission at 18:00)
    January-February: 10:00-18:00 (last admission 17:00)
  • Closed Year-end and New Year's holidays
  • Admission Fee Crater tour: Adults (junior high school students and older): 200 yen, elementary school students: 100 yen
    Indoor bath: Adults (junior high school age and older): 500 yen, children (age 1 and older): 200 yen
    Outdoor hot spring: Adults (junior high school age and older): 600 yen, children (age 1 and older): 200 yen
  • TEL 0977-85-4101
  • Parking Free of charge
  • Hot spring Acidic, iron-containing (Ⅱ, Ⅲ)-aluminum-sulfate spring
  • Memo No shampoo, etc. provided (use prohibited in the bathhouse)

Good old-fashioned public bathhouse that warms your heart

Opened in 1977, this public bathhouse is still managed by the people of the Otomaru area. In the evening, local regulars gather here one after another.
Opened in 1977, this public bathhouse is still managed by the people of the Otomaru area. In the evening, local regulars gather here one after another.

This is the closest hot spring Property to Yufuin Station. It is crowded with visitors at all hours of the day, and is a bathhouse that has taken root in the daily life of the community. The convenient location near the station also makes it popular among tourists.
The indoor baths, one for men and one for women, have high ceilings and a retro structure. The floors and walls are tiled, and there are no showers. The two bathtubs, one large and one small, are divided into hot and lukewarm, allowing visitors to enjoy the water at their preferred temperature. Since the bathhouse opens early in the morning, many people visit to take the first bath of the morning.

The bathing fee goes into a money-offering box.

A statue of Yakushi Nyorai sits at the entrance. After taking a bath, visitors can take a rest in the rest area in the back.
A statue of Yakushi Nyorai sits at the entrance. After taking a bath, visitors can take a rest in the rest area in the back.

The fee for bathing is placed in a money-off box with a statue of Yakushi Nyorai, the guardian Buddha of the hot spring, enshrined near the entrance. Some locals even worship the statue before taking a bath in the bath. There is a rest area on the first floor where visitors can take a short break, and a large hall on the second floor, available for 100 yen per person, where visitors can take a rest or have lunch.

Located in the center of Yufuin and open for long hours, this Property is a welcome place to take a hot spring bath whenever you feel like it. Towels and soap are available for purchase, so you can visit without them.

Local Guide Comment
A deep and secluded hot spring Property with a retro atmosphere. We recommend this one for those who want to mingle with the locals and enjoy an old-fashioned hot spring.
Otomaru Hot Spring Hall
  • Address 2946-1 Kawakami, Yufuin-cho, Yufu City, Oita Prefecture MAP
  • Direction Approximately 5 minutes on foot from JR Yufuin Station
  • Business hours 6:30-22:00
  • Closed 3rd Thursday of the month
  • Admission Fee Bathing fee 200 yen
  • TEL 0977-84-3573
  • Parking Free of charge
  • Hot spring Alkaline simple hot spring
  • Memo No shampoo, etc. provided

MAP

Hoshino Resorts facilities nearby
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The information in this article is current as of the date of the update. Please check before visiting as they are subject to change.