Local Guide
5 recommended sightseeing spots to enjoy Yufuin to the fullest even on rainy days

©Yoshitomo Nara 2017

Rain can easily throw off your travel plans, but Yufuin, which has a long history as a tourist destination, has plenty Property to keep travelers entertained even on rainy days. Here are some recommended indoor sightseeing spots where you can experience art and culture regardless of the weather. We hope this will be helpful when planning your rainy day trip.

A luxurious space where works by famous contemporary artists come together

©︎Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Seven colorful and pop floral works by Takashi Murakami are on display in one room of the gallery.
©︎Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Seven colorful and pop floral works by Takashi Murakami are on display in one room of the gallery.

Located in a great location overlooking Mount Yufu, this contemporary art museum opened in 2017. In 2022, to mark its fifth anniversary, a new wing will be added, and the museum currently exhibits 46 works by seven artists.
The main building displays Yayoi Kusama's representative pumpkin-themed works and "INFINITY-NETS" from the early days of her career. The new building is a luxurious space where you can enjoy the works of Japan's leading contemporary artists all at once, including Miyajima Tatsuo's "Time Waterfall - panel #COM," in which numbers rain down like a waterfall, Sugimoto Hiroshi's "Seascape" and "Optical Glass Gorinto," and Murakami Takashi's flower-themed works.

Experience unique artworks that blend in with the nature of Yufuin

©Yoshitomo Nara 2017 A lounge where you can freely browse art books and other materials. Take a short break while gazing out at the artworks and Mount Yufu beyond the window.
©Yoshitomo Nara 2017 A lounge where you can freely browse art books and other materials. Take a short break while gazing out at the artworks and Mount Yufu beyond the window.

In the outdoor open gallery on the second floor of the main building, you will be greeted by Yoshitomo Nara's "Your Dog" with the majestic Mount Yufu in the background. You can also admire the adorable figure from the indoor lounge. Other three-dimensional works on display in the open gallery include Kohei Nawa's "Ether (lava)" and Mariko Mori's "Eternal I." Some of these were created to suit the location of Yufuin, and you can immerse yourself in an appreciation Experience that can only be enjoyed here.
The sophisticated building designed by Kengo Kuma makes your time experiencing art even more special.

Comments Local Guide
Admission is by reservation only. Because there is a limit on the number of visitors, you can enjoy each piece carefully. This is a museum where the nature and art of Yufuin blend together, making the entire space feel like a work of art.
©︎Masaki Hamada (kkpo)
©︎Masaki Hamada (kkpo)
COMICO ART MUSEUM YUFUIN
  • URLhttps://camy.oita.jp
  • 住所2995-1 Kawakami, Yufuin-cho, Yufu City, Oita Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスAbout 10 minutes walk from JR Yufuin Station
  • 営業時間9:30～17:00（最終入場16:00）
  • 定休日Wednesdays (and other temporary closures)
  • 入場料Admission fee: 1,700 yen for adults, 1,200 yen for university and vocational students, 1,000 yen for junior and senior high school students, 700 yen for elementary school students
  • TELNone
  • 駐車場None
  • メモDiscounts available for online reservations via the website

Historically valuable antique stained glass on display

The exhibits at Neal's House. The exterior building materials, furniture, and other furnishings are all antiques imported directly from the UK.
The exhibits at Neal's House. The exterior building materials, furniture, and other furnishings are all antiques imported directly from the UK.

Founded in 1996, this is Japan's first full-scale stained glass museum. The founder, who has ties to the UK, fell in love with the history and idyllic rural scenery of Yufuin, which was known as a utopia for Christians 400 years ago, and opened the museum here.
The museum is made up of two buildings, the British-style Neal's House and St. Robert's Church, and mainly exhibits antique stained glass from Europe from the 1800s onwards. Neal's House exhibits stained glass and crafts from each country, allowing visitors to experience the regional and historical aspects of each era.

The beauty of the stained glass in the church is exceptional

St. Robert Church is a completely wooden building. When you look at the stained glass up close, you will be amazed by its intricacy and artistry.
St. Robert Church is a completely wooden building. When you look at the stained glass up close, you will be amazed by its intricacy and artistry.

At St. Robert's Church, "The Virgin Mary and Angels," created in 1810, is displayed at the front. On the left are "Three Saints," and on the right is "Hush, Be Still." You will be fascinated by the intricate construction. On a sunny day, the sunlight shines through the stained glass, bringing out the beauty of the work. It is recommended to sit in a chair and enjoy the solemn atmosphere.
Stained glass is also known as the "art of light." This is a valuable museum where you can discover the charm of stained glass, which has not lost its brilliance even after hundreds of years.

Comments Local Guide
The shop on the first floor is filled with stained glass photo frames, trinket boxes and other designs that make perfect souvenirs.
Yufuin Stained Glass Museum
  • URLhttps://yufuin-sg-museum.jp
  • 住所2461-3 Kawakami, Yufuin-cho, Yufu City, Oita Prefecture MAP
  • アクセス15 minutes walk from JR Yufuin Station
  • 営業時間9:00〜17:00（最終入館16:30）
  • 定休日Open daily
  • 入場料Adults: 1,000 yen, elementary and junior high school students: 500 yen
  • TEL0977-84-5575
  • 駐車場Parking: Free (there is Parking about 100m east next to the stained glass Experience studio)

Try making your own unique chopsticks

The chopstick-making Experience costs 2,750 yen per person (shipping fees not included), and takes 1.5 to 2 hours.
The chopstick-making Experience costs 2,750 yen per person (shipping fees not included), and takes 1.5 to 2 hours.

Each pair is carefully crafted by artisans from trees grown in Yufuin and Oita Prefecture. This chopstick specialty store uses a wide variety of tree species to provide chopsticks suited to a variety of uses and needs.
Not only can you purchase chopsticks, but you can also Experience making chopsticks under the guidance of a craftsman. The wood used in Experience is cherry blossom, which has just the right amount of hardness and softness. Using a small knife and sandpaper, you can carve out the chopsticks to your desired thickness and shape. You can also finish the chopsticks using just sandpaper, so it's safe for children. Once the shape is complete, you can use a marking pen to add your desired patterns or letters.

These carefully crafted chopsticks are perfect as gifts for loved ones.

The tops of the chopsticks can be carved out to create designs with animal motifs, etc.
The tops of the chopsticks can be carved out to create designs with animal motifs, etc.

Once the chopsticks design is complete, they will be waterproofed and other finishing touches will be applied at the workshop, and the finished product will be delivered to your home at a later date. They are not only a great memento of your trip, but also a perfect gift for a special person.
In addition, chopsticks purchased at Hashiya Iszen Main Store can be repaired if they become old or the waterproof coating has worn off. For Japanese people, chopsticks are important tools that are used at important times in life, such as the first meal. A pair of one-of-a-kind chopsticks that you will want to keep for a long time will subtly add elegance to your daily meals.

Comments Local Guide
The Japanese custom of eating with one's own chopsticks is apparently rare around the world, making us realize just how special chopsticks are to the Japanese.
Hashiya Ichizen Main Store
  • URLhttps://www.848ichizen.com
  • 住所2093-2 Kawakami, Yufuin-cho, Yufu City, Oita Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 5 minutes by car from JR Yufuin Station
    Approximately 22 minutes walk from JR Yufuin Station
  • 営業時間9:00～17:00
  • 定休日Open daily
  • 入場料Chopstick making Experience 2,750 yen per person (shipping fee not included)
  • TEL0977-84-4108
  • 駐車場free
  • メモReservations for the chopstick-making Experience can be made online or by phone. Experience is only available at Hashiya Iszen Main Store.

A retro theme park that recreates the streets of the 1950s

The Showa era townscape is colorful and kitschy. Photography is permitted throughout the spacious building.
The Showa era townscape is colorful and kitschy. Photography is permitted throughout the spacious building.

In order to preserve the charm of the good old Showa era for future generations, the museum has collected and exhibited items that were a part of the glory of the Showa era. When you enter the museum, you will find yourself in a retro, nostalgic world, as if you have traveled back in time.
Inside the museum, a streetscape from the 1950s and 60s is recreated, with around 20 booths, including an electronics store, a candy store, a barber shop, a coffee shop, and a Experience theater. The atmosphere of the time is realistically depicted, and the exhibits are interactive, allowing you to touch the objects and sit in the seats. Every corner is photogenic, and you'll want to take lots of photos.

Enjoy the nostalgic school lunches and the Showa era to your heart's content

"Melon Cream Soda" from the Showa School Lunch Corner "Nostalgic Showa School Lunch" is 500 yen. Take-out is also available.
"Melon Cream Soda" from the Showa School Lunch Corner "Nostalgic Showa School Lunch" is 500 yen. Take-out is also available.

In autumn 2023, "Natsukashi Showa School Lunch" will open on the second floor of the building. It will offer school lunch and Showa-era dishes such as deep-fried bread, bottled milk, and cream soda. The interior of the store features recycled desks and chairs that were once used at a local elementary school, creating the atmosphere of a school classroom. Everyone will feel like a child again.
Additionally, on the first floor there is a candy store where you can actually shop, a souvenir shop with all the specialties of Yufuin, and even an observation deck from which you can view the townscape of Yufuin. Why not immerse yourself in the world of the Showa era and have fun to your heart's content?

Comments Local Guide
The charm of Yufuin Showakan is that it can be enjoyed by the whole family, with some generations feeling nostalgic and others feeling fresh. Be sure to take lots of photos pretending to be someone from the Showa era.
Yufuin Showakan
  • URLhttps://showakan.jp/yufuin
  • 住所1479-1 Kawakami, Yufuin-cho, Yufu City, Oita Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 18 minutes walk from JR Yufuin Station
  • 営業時間9:00〜17:00
  • 定休日Open daily
  • 入場料Admission fee: 1,200 yen for adults, 1,000 yen for junior and senior high school students, 600 yen for ages 4 to elementary school
  • TEL0977-85-3788
  • 駐車場None

A museum in the forest that collects music-related works

In the center of the exhibition room, there is a sculpture called "Kodama" made from Mozart's sheet music (the cloth installation above is not usually present).
In the center of the exhibition room, there is a sculpture called "Kodama" made from Mozart's sheet music (the cloth installation above is not usually present).

Away from the hustle and bustle, on the hilltop of Yufuin, this museum is located within the grounds of Sanso Murata, a representative inn in Yufuin. In this lush and quiet place, you can enjoy a variety of music-themed art pieces.
The exhibition begins with the words of world-renowned composer Toru Takemitsu: "Humans have eyes and ears in roughly the same position... and the relationship between them is probably close." The exhibition features works by John Cage, Man Ray, Andy Warhol, and others that were inspired by music. You can slowly immerse yourself in the world of masterpieces while listening to the beautiful music playing throughout the museum.

Quiet reading time feels especially luxurious.

The library is located at the back of the first floor. Books are free to browse, and many people come here to spend their time relaxing.
The library is located at the back of the first floor. Books are free to browse, and many people come here to spend their time relaxing.

The libraries on the first and second floors each have about 1,000 books, mainly about music and art. It's fun to sit on the sofa and take a break and read a book. Discovering books you normally wouldn't pick up and unexpected encounters is one of the pleasures of traveling.
The grounds also house the chocolate shop "théomurata" and the tea room "thé théo." We recommend visiting both places in addition to appreciating art. Spending a relaxing time in the quiet forest environment while experiencing art will nourish your soul.

Comments Local Guide
After passing through a lush green approach and walking up a long, straight concrete slope, you will arrive at the entrance to the museum. The beautiful presentation that begins even before you can view the artworks is wonderful.
artegio

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