Yufu (由布市) is a city in Oita Prefecture. The northwest section of the city contains the Yufuin district, which is famous as one of the best hot spring resorts in Japan. The total amount of hot spring water from Yufuin, the Tsukahara district to the north, and the Yunohira district to the southwest is said to be the 2nd largest in all of Japan. Yufuin welcomes more than three million visitors annually.

Understand

Yufuin is located in the center of Oita Prefecture, very close to Beppu. It can be visited as either a day trip from Beppu or en route to Mount Aso in Kumamoto Prefecture. The double-peaked Yufu-dake (1584m) volcano overlooks Yufuin and takes about 90 minutes to climb.

Tourist information center

The Yufuin Hot Springs Tourist Information office (84-2446; 9 AM-7 PM) inside the train station has some information in English, including a detailed walking map.

Get in

By train

Yufuin Station (由布院駅) is the main train station and it serves as a central point for starting off in Yufuin.

• If coming from Fukuoka, the "Yufuin no Mori" or "Yufu" limited express takes approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes from Hakata. It also stops in Hita, from which point it takes about 1 hour. There are about six such trains per day.
• If coming from Oita, the "Yufuin no Mori" or "Yufu" limited express takes about 1 hour from Beppu and 50 minutes from Oita. There are about four such trains per day. You can also take the local train, about 1 hour from Oita.

By car

Get off at the Oita Expressway Yufuin Interchange. In peak tourist seasons, the most direct route to Kinrinko Lake (Route 206) often experiences severe traffic. Due to this, it's advisable to detour to Minami Yufu and head toward the center of Yufuin instead. Specifically you'll want to get off the Interchange, take Route 210 towards Oita, and get on Route 11 in Minami Yufu.

Due to Yufuin's high elevation, you're required to use chains on the highways and mountain roads when there is snow.

By bus

Yufuin's major bus hub is the Yufuin Ekimae Bus Center.

• If coming from Beppu: From Beppu Station's west exit, take the Kamenoi Bus "Yufuin" Liner. It takes approximately 1 hour. It also picks up from the Ferry Port (where ferries come in from Kansai) and takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
• If coming from Fukuoka: Take the Kamenoi High Speed Bus "Yufuin". It's about 2 hours from Tenjin and 2 hours and 20 minutes from the Hakata Bus Terminal.
• If coming from Kumamoto: Take Kyushu Sanko's Bus, the "Kujuu" Oudan Bus. It's about 4 hours from Kumamoto Station and about 2 hours and 15 minutes from Aso Station.

Get around

By train

These are the train stations in Yufu:

• Yufuin (由布院駅) - Minami Yufu (南由布駅) - Yunohira (湯平駅) - Shounai (庄内駅) - Tenjinyama (天神山駅) - Onoya (小野屋駅) - Onigase (鬼瀬駅) - Mukainoharu (向之原駅)

By horse or rickshaw

Horse carriages (tsujibasha) leave Yufuin station every 30 minutes from 9AM to 4PM. The tour takes about 50 minutes and costs ￥1500. Rickshaws (jinrikisha) also operate around Yufuin station and Lake Kinrinko.

On foot

Yufuin city boasts many beautiful rural landscapes, and there are many walking routes you can take through them. The Tourist Information Center publishes maps that you can refer to as you walk.

• Yufumi Doori (由布見通り) - The name of the street that continues from Yufuin Station to Yufu-dake. You can see Yufu-dake from almost anywhere on this street.
• Yunotsubo Kaidou (湯の坪街道) - The name of the street that goes from Yufumi Doori to Lake Kinrinko. There are many restaurants and souvenir shops, including a Ghibli store.

See

• Lake Kinrinko (金鱗湖)
• Norman Rockwell Yufuin Art Gallery (ノーマン・ロックウェル湯布院美術館)
• Oike (男池湧水群)
• Tenso Shrine (天祖神社)
• Yufuin Art Museum (由布院美術館)

Do

• Yufuin Station Footbath (由布院駅の足湯)
• Yufuin Onsen (由布院温泉)
• Yunotsubo Onsen (ゆのつぼ温泉)
• Yunohira Onsen (湯平温泉)
• Shitanyu (下ん湯)

• 1 Hike to Mount Yufu (Hop in the hourly bus connecting Yufuin and Beppu stations and get off at Yufutozanguchi (由布登山口), the trailhead). You can hike to the top of this volcano (由布岳 Yufudake), see the crater and have a very nice view of the surroundings. Allow two hours to reach the crater (from 800m to 1500m). Then there is a junction, the left path leads to the west peak (由布岳西峰 Yufudake 1583m), the right one to the east peak (由布岳東峰 1580m). The east peak is an easy, although steep, walk but the west peak requires more climbing, there are chains to help you. There is also a path connecting the two peaks on the north of the crater but be cautious this section is more technical and requires some climbing knowledge, it is highly recommanded to use the south trail for beginners. Be sure to be prepared for this long exhausting walk, all the common sense of Hiking applies. Allow 4 to 5 hours in total depending on which peak(s) you climb. There is nothing on the way, be sure to bring your own food and enough water. 

Eat

• Kinshou Kurokke (金賞コロッケ)
• Rampusha (洋灯舎)
• Tenjousajiki (天井棧敷)
• Corbeille (コルベイユ)
• Yu no Takean (湯の岳庵)

Sleep

• Yufuin Country Road Youth Hostel (湯布院カントリーロードユースホステル), 由布市湯布院町川上441-29, ☏ +81 977-84-3734, yufuincryh@ray.ocn.ne.jp. Check-in: 4PM-9PM, check-out: 10AM. Dorm ¥3435. 
• 1 Kamenoi Bessou, 由布市湯布院町川上2633-1, ☏ +81 977-84-3166. Japanese-style double with futon from ¥82380, Japanese-style double with bed from ¥88860, Western-style double ¥71580. 

Go next

• Beppu
• Oita
• Saiki

Routes through Yufu

Kurume ← Hita ←

W  E

→ Oita