Local Guide
5 recommended sightseeing spots to make your trip to Yufuin more exciting.

Yufuin hot springs are located in a basin surrounded by mountains. Although it is a modern and sophisticated hot spring resort, a short walk away from the hot spring resort, you will find a peaceful rural landscape, and the scenic beauty of the area is an important essence of Yufuin's character. Here are five of Yufuin's representative tourist spots where you can also enjoy such rich nature. They are sure to make you rediscover the charm of Yufuin, and will be a memorable part of your trip.

A landmark of Yufuin that soothes travelers with its peaceful scenery

Kinrin Lake at sunrise, with morning fog rolling in. The surrounding trees turn beautiful colors in autumn.
Kinrin Lake at sunrise, with morning fog rolling in. The surrounding trees turn beautiful colors in autumn.

The lake is the symbol of Yufuin. If you walk down the main street, Yunotsubo Kaido, and step into one of the alleys, you will find a peaceful lakeside area that captures the majestic mountains in front of you.
Lake Kinrin is famous for the morning mist that rises from the entire surface of the lake in a cloud of white steam. The lake is a wonder of its own, with water and hot springs rising from the bottom of the lake, and the high water temperature throughout the year causes the morning mist to form. The high water temperature throughout the year causes morning fog, especially in the fall and winter when the temperature drops. The best time to visit is from before sunrise to just after sunrise. Lake Kinrin is exceptionally beautiful when it is shrouded in morning mist and illuminated by twilight.

The sight of the torii gate floating on the lake is fantastically beautiful.

A view of the lake from the Tenzo Shrine. Spring water from the Yubu Mountains flows out from the side of the shrine, filling the air with purity.
A view of the lake from the Tenzo Shrine. Spring water from the Yubu Mountains flows out from the side of the shrine, filling the air with purity.

The lake's circumference is about 400 meters. There are promenades and piers where visitors can enjoy a stroll. On the southeastern shore of the lake sits the Tenzo Shrine, and the sight of its torii gate standing as if floating on the lake is fantastic. The sacred giant cedar, a natural monument of Yufu City, is also worth seeing.
The name "Kinrin-ko" was given by Mori Kuso, a Confucian scholar of the Meiji period, after he saw the scales of fish swimming in the lake glowing gold in the setting sun. Whenever you visit, the lake shines in the sunlight, and when there is no wind, the scenery is reflected on the surface of the lake like a mirror.

Local Guide Comment
Morning fog is a wintertime tradition in Yufuin. The fog that envelops the entire Yufuin Basin is said to originate from the lake.
Kinrin Lake
  • Address 1561-1 Kawakami, Yufuin-cho, Yufu City, Oita Prefecture MAP
  • Direction Approximately a 30-minute walk from JR Yufuin Station
  • Business hours Free to visit
  • Closed Free to visit
  • Admission Fee Free of charge
  • TEL 0977-84-2446（Yufu Tourist Information Center)
  • Parking None

Yufuin's main street with a view of Mt.

The view of Mt. Yufu, which changes its appearance with the seasons, is one of the pleasures of strolling along the Yunotsubo Kaido Road.
The view of Mt. Yufu, which changes its appearance with the seasons, is one of the pleasures of strolling along the Yunotsubo Kaido Road.

A 10-minute walk from Yufuin Station along the street in front of the station is Yufuin's main street. In addition to the beauty of the scenery, the grandeur of Mt. Yufudake can be seen at the end of the 800-meter-long street, making it an enjoyable area just to stroll around.
A variety of stores line both sides of the street. The street is lined with many stores, including a very popular sweets store, a sake store selling a wide variety of local sake, and a store selling a variety of Yufuin souvenirs, all bustling with tourists. Some of the stores have long lines of customers waiting in line. Many of Yufuin's most popular stores are also located along this street.

A short walk from "Yunotsubo Kaido" leads to a peaceful rural landscape.

The view from
The view from "Denen Street," which is also included in the sightseeing rickshaw course. On foot, it takes about 10 minutes from Yunotsubo Kaido to the south.

A slow walk from Yufuin Station to Lake Kinrin at the end of Yunotsubo Kaido takes about 30 minutes. In good weather, a leisurely stroll to look for souvenirs is recommended. If you take a sightseeing rickshaw, you will be guided by a jinrikisha rickshaw driver, and you will be able to see a different view of Yufuin than if you walk.

Another of Yufuin's charms is the peaceful countryside that spreads out just off the bustling Yunotsubo Kaido Road. A leisurely stroll along the "Rural Street," where you can see the powerful Mt. Yufudake right in front of you, or the Yufuin Nature Trail along the Oita River, which flows through the center of the city, is also an exciting experience.

Local Guide Comment
Yunotsubo Kaido is a very busy street, but it is a public road, not a pedestrian street. There are private homes in the vicinity, and it is an important road for local residents, so please enjoy your stroll while observing traffic rules.
Yunotsubo Kaido Road
  • Address Kawakami, Yufuin-cho, Yufu City, Oita Prefecture MAP
  • Direction 10-minute walk from JR Yufuin Station
  • Business hours Varies depending on the store.
  • Closed Varies depending on the store
  • TEL 0977-84-2446（Yufu Tourist Information Center)

There is a chance to see morning mist. An observatory overlooking the Yufuin Basin

A panoramic view of the Yufuin basin. The view is excellent, and you can even see the mountains in the distance.
A panoramic view of the Yufuin basin. The view is excellent, and you can even see the mountains in the distance.

An observatory overlooking the city of Yufuin. Located on the Yamanami Highway (Prefectural Road 11) leading from Yufuin City to Beppu City, the observatory offers beautiful views from its elevation of 680 meters.
It is popular as a sunset spot, but as the name "narrow mist" suggests, it is also famous as a place where morning mist can be seen. The entire Yufuin basin is covered in white mist, looking like a white lake. The best time to visit is early in the morning on a cool, clear day in autumn and winter. Many people visit early in the morning with cameras in hand to get the best shots.

The seasonal beauty of Mt. Yufudake enlivens the drive.

Driving along Yamanami Highway with the golden hue of Mt.
Driving along Yamanami Highway with the golden hue of Mt.

Yamanami Highway, which winds through magnificent mountains, is known as one of the best driving courses in Kyushu. Yufudake, seen from the car window, offers a beautiful contrast of bright green and blue sky in spring and summer, silver grass covers the foot of the mountain in autumn, and in winter, the golden color of the mountain is tinged with dead grass, delighting drivers. The seasonal expressions will enliven your drive.
Parking and a store are also available at the narrow mistletoe. It is one of the best viewing spots in Yufuin, where you can stop for a rest between drives.

Local Guide Comment
The Yamanami Highway, surrounded by nature, is an exhilarating drive. Please enjoy driving with caution, as there are frequent sharp curves along the way.
Narigoridai
  • Address 1946-14 Kawakami, Yufuin-cho, Yufu City, Oita Prefecture MAP
  • Direction Approximately 10 minutes from JR Yufuin Station by car
  • Business hours Free to visit
  • Closed Free to visit
  • Admission Fee Free of charge
  • TEL 0977-84-2446（Yufu Tourist Information Center)
  • Parking Free of charge

The guardian deity of Yufuin, surrounded by a quiet and sacred atmosphere.

At the end of the cobblestone pavement is a small Shinto bridge, and after crossing it is the hall of worship. The area around the shrine is surrounded by a sacred pond.
At the end of the cobblestone pavement is a small Shinto bridge, and after crossing it is the hall of worship. The area around the shrine is surrounded by a sacred pond.

The shrine is located in a quiet area a short distance from the center of Yufuin. It is said to have been watching over the area for about 1,200 years and is popular for its good luck in marriage and warding off bad luck. Large cedar trees grow wild in the spacious precincts surrounding the worship and main shrines. The area is filled with a sense of long history and a sacred atmosphere.
It is said that Yufuin used to be a swamp with ruins dating back to the Yayoi period, and people were concerned about countermeasures against flood damage when cultivating the land. At that time, eels were enshrined as spirits of the swamp, and this is one of the origins of the Unaki-no-Hinomikami Shrine.

The huge stump of the sacred tree that sits on the temple grounds is overwhelming.

Three stumps of sacred trees that fell due to typhoon damage are enshrined here.
Three stumps of sacred trees that fell due to typhoon damage are enshrined here.

On the way to the shrine, a huge stump appears. The size and presence of the stump is overwhelming. The stump is part of a sacred tree that felled as a result of typhoon damage in 1991 and is still enshrined here today. Among the fallen trees, there was a large cedar over 600 years old, 55 meters high and more than 9 meters in circumference.
Unaki-no-Hinomikami Shrine is also the stop for Yufuin's famous "sightseeing horse-drawn carriage" and is one of Yufuin's most popular tourist attractions. The rich natural environment and quiet air, which is a far cry from the hustle and bustle of the city, will calm the hearts of those who visit the shrine.

Local Guide Comment
The Oogosha Shrine, a 15-minute walk from the temple, is home to a 1,000-year-old giant cedar that has been designated a national natural monument. The air is full of mystery, and it is well worth the trip.
Unagihimejinja Shrine
  • Address 2220 Rokusho, Kawakami-Kawakami, Yufuin-cho, Yufuin City, Oita MAP
  • Direction Approximately 17 minutes on foot from JR Yufuin Station
  • Business hours Free to visit
  • Closed Free to visit
  • TEL 0977-84-3200
  • Parking Free of charge

Visit the crater of Mt. Kyaradake, where Japan's three largest medicinal hot springs are located.

A view of the crater of Mt. From the plaza in front of the crater, you can see the vast Tsukahara Plateau and Mt.
A view of the crater of Mt. From the plaza in front of the crater, you can see the vast Tsukahara Plateau and Mt.

The hot spring springs are located about 800 meters above sea level on the side of Garan-dake, an active volcano located on the border between Yufu City and Beppu City. The water contains a large amount of metallic ions and is highly acidic, making it one of the three most medicinal hot springs in Japan. It is a famous hot spring that attracts hot spring lovers from all over Japan and even from overseas.
In addition to enjoying the hot spring, visitors can also tour the crater of Mt. A tour route has been developed, and a five-minute walk will take you to the crater, where a cloud of fumaroles rise up from the crater. You can directly feel the pulse of the earth and the power of the crater.

Don't miss the famous "steamed eggs" steamed for 20 hours in the jets of hell!

Steamed eggs
Steamed eggs" are sold for 500 yen for six eggs. They come with salt, but they are delicious without it.

Another specialty is the "steamed eggs" steamed in the fumaroles of the crater. Steaming the eggs for about 20 hours throughout the night allows the hot spring water to soak into the eggs, turning the whites into a light brown color. The eggs have a smoky aroma and a robust flavor, and many visitors come for the eggs.
This hidden hot spring is unique in Yufuin and is well known by those in the know. After taking a bath in the hot spring and visiting the crater that is the source of the hot spring, you will understand why hot spring enthusiasts from all over Japan come to Yufuin to visit.

Local Guide Comment
Kyan-dake, also known as Mt. It is said that the hot water beneath this mountain is the source of the "Beppu Hachiyu" hot springs, and is said to be the source of all hot springs in Beppu.
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)

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.