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

Yufuin hot spring is located in a basin surrounded by mountains. Although it is a modern and sophisticated hot spring resort, if you go a little further you will find idyllic rural scenery, and the scenic beauty is also an important essence that shapes the Yufuin atmosphere. We will introduce five tourist spots that represent Yufuin, where you can enjoy such abundant nature. You will be able to rediscover the charm of Yufuin and it will surely become a page in your travel memories.

A Yufuin landmark with a tranquil setting that soothes travelers

Lake Kinrin shrouded in morning mist just after sunrise. It is also a famous spot for viewing autumn leaves, and in autumn the surrounding trees take on beautiful colors.
Lake Kinrin shrouded in morning mist just after sunrise. It is also a famous spot for viewing autumn leaves, and in autumn the surrounding trees take on beautiful colors.

The lake is a symbol of Yufuin. If you walk down the main street, Yunotsubo Kaido, and into an alley, you will see a tranquil lakeside landscape with majestic mountains before your eyes.
Lake Kinrin is famous for its morning mist, where white steam rises from the entire surface of the lake. It is a mysterious lake where water and hot spring bubble up from the bottom, and the morning mist occurs because the water temperature is high all year round. You are especially likely to see the mist from autumn to winter when the temperature drops. The best time to visit is before sunrise or just after sunrise. Kinrin Lake is especially beautiful when shrouded in morning mist and illuminated in the dim light.

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

The lake as seen from the Tenso Shrine side. Spring water from the Yufu Mountains flows out from the side of the shrine, and the lake is surrounded by pure air.
The lake as seen from the Tenso Shrine side. Spring water from the Yufu Mountains flows out from the side of the shrine, and the lake is surrounded by pure air.

The circumference of the lake is about 400m. There are walkways and piers, so you can enjoy a stroll. Tenso Shrine is located on the southeast shore of the lake, and the sight of the torii gates floating on the lake is very fantastical. The sacred tree, a large cedar tree that is a natural monument of Yufu City, is also worth seeing.
The name Kinrin Lake was given to the lake by the Meiji-era Confucian scholar Mori Kuso, who noticed the golden scales of the fish swimming in the lake shining in the setting sun. No matter when you visit, the lake is always welcoming travelers with its serene scenery, whether it's when the sun shines on the lake and when there is no wind and the scenery is reflected on its surface like a mirror.

Comments Local Guide
Morning mist is a seasonal feature of winter in Yufuin. The mist that envelops the entire Yufuin Basin is said to rise from the lake.
Lake Kinrin

Yufuin's main street overlooking Mount Yufu

The view of Mt. Yufu, which changes with each season, is one of the pleasures of walking along the Yunotsubo Highway
The view of Mt. Yufu, which changes with each season, is one of the pleasures of walking along the Yunotsubo Highway

This is the main street of Yufuin, about a 10-minute walk from Yufuin Station along the street in front of the station. In addition to the beautiful scenery, you can see the majestic Mount Yufu at the end of the 800m long street, making it a fun area to just stroll around.
There are a variety of shops lined up on both sides of the street. There are many shops, including a popular sweets shop, a liquor store with a wide variety of local sake, and a shop selling various Yufuin souvenirs, and the street is bustling with tourists. There are even some shops that have long queues to get in. Many of the most popular shops that represent Yufuin are also located on this street.

If you go a little further from Yunotsubo Kaido, you will find a tranquil rural landscape.

The view from "Denen-dori" which is also included in the sightseeing rickshaw route. If you walk, you can arrive in about 10 minutes south from Yunotsubo Kaido.
The view from "Denen-dori" which is also included in the sightseeing rickshaw route. If you walk, you can arrive in about 10 minutes south from Yunotsubo Kaido.

It takes about 30 minutes to walk slowly from Yufuin Station to Lake Kinrin, which is located at the end of Yunotsubo Kaido. In seasons with good weather, it is recommended to take a leisurely stroll to look for souvenirs. You can also take a sightseeing rickshaw, where the rickshaw driver will guide you, and you can experience the scenery of Yufuin in a slightly different way than if you were walking.

Another attraction of Yufuin is that if you turn off the busy Yunotsubo Highway and turn down an alleyway, you will find yourself greeted by a tranquil rural landscape. It is also fun to take a leisurely stroll along the "Denen-dori" street, where you can see the impressive Mt. Yufu right before your eyes, or the "Yufuin Nature Promenade" along the Oita River that runs through the center of the town.

Comments Local Guide
Yunotsubo Kaido is a very busy street, but it is not a pedestrian-only road, but a general road. There are private houses in the surrounding area, and it is an important road for local people, so please enjoy your stroll while following the traffic rules.
Yunotsubo Highway
  • URLhttps://yunotubo.com
  • 住所Yufuin Town Kawakami, Yufu City, Oita Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスAbout 10 minutes walk from JR Yufuin Station
  • 営業時間Varies by store
  • 定休日Varies by store
  • TEL0977-84-2446（由布市ツーリストインフォメーションセンター）

There's also a chance to see the morning mist. An observation deck overlooking the Yufuin Basin.

A panoramic view of the Yufuin Basin. The view is so good you can even see the distant mountain ranges.
A panoramic view of the Yufuin Basin. The view is so good you can even see the distant mountain ranges.

An observation deck that offers a panoramic view of the town of Yufuin. It is located on the Yamanami Highway (Prefectural Route 11) heading from Yufu City to Beppu City, and offers beautiful views from an elevation of about 680m.
It is popular as a spot to watch the sunset, but as the name "Narrow Mist" suggests, it is also famous as a place to see morning mist. The sight of the entire Yufuin Basin covered in white mist makes it look like a white lake. The best time to see it is early in the morning on a cool, clear day from autumn to winter. Many people visit with their cameras in hand from early in the morning to get the best shot.

The changing seasonal faces of Mt. Yufu make driving even more exciting

Drive along the Yamanami Highway with the golden Mount Yufu in the background
Drive along the Yamanami Highway with the golden Mount Yufu in the background

The Yamanami Highway, which weaves through majestic mountains, is known as one of Kyushu's leading driving courses. From the car window, Mt. Yufu can be seen, with a beautiful contrast between the vivid green and blue sky from spring to summer, the base of which is covered with Japanese silver grass in autumn, and in winter the mountain is dyed golden with dead grass, delighting drivers. The different faces of the seasons will make your drive even more exciting.
There is Parking and a shop at Sagiridai, making it the best viewing spot in Yufuin and a great place to stop by for a break during your drive.

Comments Local Guide
Driving on the Yamanami Highway, surrounded by nature, is an exhilarating experience. However, there are many sharp curves along the way, so please be careful when driving.
Narrow Hills

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

At the end of the stone pavement is a small Shinbashi bridge, and beyond that is the worship hall. The surrounding area is a sacred pond.
At the end of the stone pavement is a small Shinbashi bridge, and beyond that is the worship hall. The surrounding area is a sacred pond.

This shrine is located in a quiet area a little way from the center of Yufuin. It is said to have been watching over this area for about 1,200 years, and is well known for its blessings such as matchmaking and protection from evil. Large cedar trees grow naturally within the spacious grounds, surrounding the worship hall and main hall. A sacred atmosphere permeates the area, giving it a sense of eternal history.
It is said that Yufuin used to be a swamp with ruins dating back to the Yayoi period, and people had to worry about flood prevention measures when reclaiming land. At that time, eels were enshrined as the spirits of the swamp, which is said to be one of the origins of the name Unagihime Shrine.

Be amazed by the huge stump of the sacred tree enshrined within the grounds

Three stumps of sacred trees that were knocked down by a typhoon are enshrined here.
Three stumps of sacred trees that were knocked down by a typhoon are enshrined here.

On the way to the worship hall, a huge tree stump appears. You will be overwhelmed by its size and presence. This stump is part of a sacred tree that was felled by a typhoon in 1991, and is still enshrined today. Among the fallen trees was a large cedar tree that was over 600 years old, measuring 55m in height and over 9m in circumference.
Unakihime Shrine is also a stop for the "Tourist Horse-drawn Carriage" which is a Yufuin specialty, and is one of the tourist attractions of Yufuin. The rich natural environment and quiet atmosphere, which distinguishes it from the hustle and bustle, calms the minds of those who come to worship.

Comments Local Guide
About a 15-minute walk from here is the sub-shrine "Ogosha," which is home to a huge cedar tree over 1,000 years old that has been designated a national natural monument. Filled with a mystical atmosphere, it's well worth the extra trip.
Unagihime Shrine
  • 住所Yufu City Yufuincho Kawakami Rokusho 2220 MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 17 minutes walk from JR Yufuin Station
  • 営業時間Free to visit
  • 定休日Free to visit
  • TEL0977-84-3200
  • 駐車場free

Head to the crater of Mount Garandake, where Japan's three great medicinal hot springs bubble up

The crater of Mount Garandake. From the plaza in front of the crater, you can see the vast Tsukahara Plateau and Mount Yufu.
The crater of Mount Garandake. From the plaza in front of the crater, you can see the vast Tsukahara Plateau and Mount Yufu.

Located on the border of Yufu City and Beppu City, the active volcano Garandake is located on the slopes of Mt. Garandake, at an altitude of about 800 meters hot spring It is said to be one of the three major medicinal baths because it contains a large amount of metal ions in the hot water, has high acidity, and has a rare spring quality in Japan. It is a famous hot spring visited by hot spring lovers from all over the country and even overseas.
Not only can you enjoy it as a hot spring, but you can also visit the crater of Mt. Garan. A tour route was maintained, and in about 5 minutes of walking, we arrived at Hell where fumaroles and fumaroles rise. You can directly feel the pulse of the earth and the power that overflows.

The specialty "steamed eggs" are a must-try, steamed for 20 hours in the steam from hell.

"Steamed eggs" are sold for 500 yen for 6 pieces. They come with salt, but are delicious without it.
"Steamed eggs" are sold for 500 yen for 6 pieces. They come with salt, but are delicious without it.

Another specialty is the steamed eggs, which are steamed in the fumaroles of the crater. By steaming the egg overnight for about 20 hours, the hot spring ingredients soak into the egg, and the white turns light brown. It has a smoke-like aroma and a strong flavor, and many people visit for this egg.
A secret hot spring that stands out among Yufuin and is known only to those in the know. Once you've entered the hot spring and even toured the craters that are the source of the hot spring, you'll understand why hot spring enthusiasts flock to them from all over the world.

Comments Local Guide
Kyan-dake, also known as Mt. Sulfur. It is said that the hot water beneath this mountain is the hot spring source of the "Beppu Hachiyu" and is the source of all hot water in Beppu hot spring.
Tsukahara hot spring Crater Spring
  • URLhttps://www.tukaharaonsen.jp
  • 住所1235 Tsukahara, Yufuin-cho, Yufu City, Oita Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 20 minutes by car from JR Yufuin Station, approximately 5 minutes by car from Yufudake Smart IC
  • 営業時間9:00-18:00 (last entry 17:00)
    July to August: 9:00 to 19:00 (last admission 18:00)
    January and February: 10:00-18:00 (last admission 17:00)
  • 定休日New year holiday season
  • 入場料Crater viewing: Adults (junior high school students and above) 200 yen, elementary school students 100 yen
    Indoor bath: Adults (junior high school students and above) 500 yen, Children (1 year old and above) 200 yen
    Outdoor hot spring Adults (junior high school students and above): 600 yen, Children (1 year old and above): 200 yen
  • TEL0977-85-4101
  • 駐車場free
  • 温泉Acidic iron (II, III)-aluminum-sulfate spring
  • メモShampoo and other amenities not provided (prohibited in the bath area)

MAP

Nearby Hoshino Resorts Property
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