Yufuin Onsen: Best Hot Springs, Access, Hotels, and Travel Tips

Yufuin Onsen: Oita's Celebrated Hot Springs

Photograph of the morning mist provided by Yufuin Onsen Association

Yufuin Onsen, located in Oita prefecture in the Kyushu Region, is a hot spring resort especially popular with female tourists and family groups. Viewing Mount Yufu while soaking in an open-air bath is an exhilarating experience. Visitors can also enjoy dining, shopping and art museums in the quiet town.

Read on to learn all the essential information about Yufuin Onsen.

Yufuin Onsen Guide

1. Features of Yufuin Onsen Hot Springs
2. Access from Tokyo and Osaka to Yufuin
3. Bathing Spots for a One-day Trip
4. Hotels and Ryokan Inns in Yufuin
5. Places to Visit in Yufuin Onsen

Features of Yufuin Onsen Hot Springs

Photograph provided by Yufuin Onsen Association

The spring waters of Yufuin Onsen are clear, and are mainly simple hot springs. There are some blue-colored springs that are said to have a natural moisturizing effect upon the skin, making it them very popular with visitors interested in beauty care.

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Access from Tokyo and Osaka to Yufuin

From Tokyo

By Plane
The flight from Haneda to Oita Airport takes about one hour and 35 minutes, and the flight time from Narita to Oita Airport is about two hours. The fare ranges from 15,000 yen to 30,000 yen.

From Oita Airport, take the Kamenoi Bus to Yufuin Ekimae Bus Center. The ride takes about 55 minutes, and the fare is 1550 yen.

By Shinkansen
Take the Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Hakata Station, switch to JR Express Yufuin no Mori, and get off at Yufuin Station. The ride takes about seven hours and 30 minutes, and the fare is 24,970 yen.

Those using this option are highly encouraged to make use of the JR Pass to save money.

From Osaka

By Shinkansen
Take the shinkansen from Shin-Osaka Station to Hakata Station, switch to JR Express Yufuin no Mori, and get off at Yufuin Station. The ride takes about five hours, and the fare is 17,120 yen.

As mentioned earlier, those using this method can save yen by using the JR Pass.

By Ferryboat
From Osaka Nanko Port, board the Ferry Sunflower to Beppu Kanko Port. The ferry departs Osaka at night, and arrives at Beppu in the morning.

The time required is eleven hours and 50 minutes. The fare is 7900 yen and up, depending on the cabin type.

From Beppu Kanko Port, take the Kyushu Sanko Bus to Yufuin Station. The ride takes about 45 minutes, and the fare is 1000 yen.

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Bathing Spots for a One-day Trip

Musouen

Photograph provided by Musouen

Musouen is a ryokan (Japanese-style inn) that boasts a huge open-air bath with a view of Mount Yufu. The size of the men's section equals 100 tatami mats, and lady's section equals 150 mats.

Address: Oita, Yufu, Yufuin-cho, Kawaminami 1243
Business Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Bathing Fee: Adults 700 yen, ages 5-12 600 yen. Children under five years of age can bathe for free.
Official Site: Musouen (Japanese)

Yufuin Sansuikan

This ryokan was founded in 1911, and is located an 8 minute walk from Yufuin Station. Guests can enjoy the great view of Mount Yufu from the open-air bath.

Address: Oita, Yufu, Yufuin-cho, Kawaminami 108-1
Business Hours: 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Bathing Fee: Adults 700 yen, ages 4-12 400 yen.
Official Site: Yufuin Sansuikan

Yufuin Nanairo no Kaze

The vast open-air bath of this ryokan is located on a hill, and offers a view of Mount Yufu. The indoor bath is also spacious, where the guests can enjoy the natural hot spring.

Address: Oita, Yufu, Yufuin-cho, Kawakami 1946-25
Business Hours: 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Bathing Fee: Adults 600 yen, children 300 yen.
Official Site: Yufuin Nanairo no Kaze (Japanese)

Kurge Yufuin

This is a German-style Kurhaus operated by Yufu City, where visitors can enjoy various types of bathing.

Address: Oita, Yufu, Yufuin-cho, Kawakami 2863
Business Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Bathing Fee: Adults 820 yen, children 610 yen.
Official Site: Kurge Yufuin (Japanese)

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Recommended Ryokan in Yufuin

There are a number of ryokan, or traditional inns, in Yufuin. You can book them through their official websites (listed below), but English options may be limited, so we recommend searching for accommodations and making reservations through Booking.com.

Kamenoi Bessou

This ryokan was founded in 1921. All the guestrooms are furnished with a free-flowing style natural hot spring water. The garden, 30,000 square meters in size, filled with cherry and maple trees, can be viewed from both the open-air bath and the main indoor bath. Kamenoi Bessou, along with Yufuin Tamanoyu and Sansou Murata, is known as the big three onsen facilities of Yufuin Onsen.

Address: Oita, Yufu, Yufuin-cho, Kawakami 2633-1
Official Site: Kamenoi Bessou (Japanese)

Yufuin Baien

The open-air bath offers a great view of Mount Yufu. The vast garden, about 33,000 square meters in size, is filled with cherry trees, Asian skunk cabbage, azalea, and maple. It also has a natural spring, and guests can enjoy this garden in every season. It is especially charming in summer when the fireflies dance by the creek.

Address: Oita, Yufu, Yufuin-cho, Kawakami 2106-2
Official Site: Yufuin Baien (Japanese)

Yufuin Yasuha

The thick, opaque hot spring water of this ryokan gradually turns blue with time, and is said to have a natural moisturizing effect upon the skin.

Address: Oita, Yufu, Yufuin-cho, Kawakami 1270-48
Official Site: Yufuin Yasuha

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Spots to Enjoy Yufuin Onsen

Photograph provided by Yufuin Onsen Association

Yunotusbo Kaido, the tree-filled street which extends from JR Yufuin Station towards Mount Yufu, is a must-visit spot. Souvenir shops, restaurants, and general merchandise stores line up the streets of this area.

Lake Kinrin is located a 25 minute walk from the station. Both hot and cold spring waters flow out from the lake bottom, keeping the water temperature high throughout the year. In winter, morning mists appear on the surface of the lake, creating a fantastic sight.

Photograph provided by Yufuin Onsen Association

There is a horse drawn carriage tour in Yufuin; the sound of the horses' hooves has a calming effect. Visitors also should try the shared taxi called Scarborough, rickshaws and rental cycles for the town tour too.

There are also unique museums such as the Yufu Kogen Art Museum and the Sueda Art Gallery, so don't miss them.

Yufuin Onsen Tourist Association

4-1 Kawakita, Yufuin-cho, Yufu-shi, Oita 879-5114

Hotels near Yufuin Onsen Tourist Association

Yufuin Country Road Youth Hostel

Oita Prefecture > Yufu

4.4 /5

Very Good

25 reviews

$24～

Yufuin Rakuyu

Oita Prefecture > Yufu

4.7 /5

Amazing

$547～

Yukemuri Sanso

Oita Prefecture > Yufu

5.0 /5

Outstanding

1 reviews

$117～