Yufuin, Oita · Things to do
Things to Do in Yufuin: 12 Places with Hours, Prices and Access
12 things to do · checked October 23, 2026
12 things to do in Yufuin, from the station outward
Hours, prices and access checked against each place's own page on October 23, 2026. They change; check before you go.
1JR Yufuin Station由布院駅
Station building (architecture) · Yufuin Station
A black wooden station building designed by Arata Isozaki, opened in its current form on 15 December 1990, with a 12 m atrium that opens through to the platform. The building is closed for repair works until around winter 2026; trains use a temporary station building beside it.
Under repair until around winter 2026; trains use the temporary building beside it.
- Access
- The Yufuin no Mori and Yufu limited expresses from Hakata stop here. Highway buses from Fukuoka and Oita Airport and Kamenoi route buses use the Yufuin Station Bus Center.
- Hours
- Ticket office (Midori no Madoguchi) 7:00–18:00 during the works
- Closed on
- The art hall and the platform footbath are closed during the repair works
2Otomaru Onsen乙丸温泉館
Communal hot spring bath · Yufuin Station
The communal bath closest to Yufuin Station, used by locals and visitors. It enshrines Yakushi Nyorai, and the bathing fee goes into its offering box.
- Access
- 2946-1 Kawakami, Yufuin; the closest communal bath to JR Yufuin Station. Parking on site.
- Hours
- 6:30–22:00
- Closed on
- Third Thursday of the month
- Price
- ¥300
3Yufuin sightseeing horse carriage観光辻馬車
Horse-drawn carriage ride · Yufuin Station
A horse-drawn carriage that leaves from Yufuin Station and visits Bussanji Temple and Unagihime Shrine, taking about 60 minutes. Seats are booked on the day only, from 9:00, first come first served, and bookings cannot be changed or cancelled.
Same-day booking only, from 9:00 at the Tourist Information Center. No service 1 January – 1 March.
- Access
- Book at the Yufu City Tourist Information Center counter (8-5 Kawakita, next to Yufuin Station) or by phone (0977-84-2446) from 9:00; phone bookings check in at the counter at least 15 minutes before departure.
- Hours
- Departure times vary by day; confirmed at booking
- Closed on
- 1 January – 1 March. May stop without notice for the horses' condition or weather (rain, strong wind, icy roads, extreme heat)
- Price
- Adults (junior high and up) ¥2,500; ages 4 to elementary ¥1,800; under 4 free on a lap
4Yunotsubo Kaido湯の坪街道
Shopping street · Yunotsubo
Yufuin's main street, about 800 m long, lined with souvenir and sweets shops. Side alleys lead down to a quieter path along the upper Oita River, with Mt. Yufu in view on clear days.
- Access
- From JR Yufuin Station, walk straight along the station-front street and Yufu Mitoori to Shirataki Bridge; the street runs on from there.
- Hours
- Varies by shop
- Closed on
- Varies by shop
5Yunotsubo Onsenゆのつぼ温泉
Communal hot spring bath · Yunotsubo
A communal bath beside the Oita River, a little off Yunotsubo Kaido, with indoor hinoki baths for men and women. Its name appears in Edo-period records.
- Access
- 1087-1 Kawakami, Yufuin, a short way off Yunotsubo Kaido by the Oita River. Parking on site.
- Hours
- 10:00–22:00 (may vary)
- Closed on
- None
- Price
- ¥200
6Lake Kinrin金鱗湖
Lake and lakeside walk · Kawakami (Lake Kinrin)
A small lake with a walking path around it, named in 1884 for the fish scales shining in the evening sun. On cold early mornings from autumn through winter it can be wrapped in morning mist.
- Access
- In the Kawakami district of Yufuin, reached on foot through town from JR Yufuin Station. The tourism association gives a map link, not a walking time. No dedicated parking; use nearby paid car parks.
- Closed on
- None
7COMICO Art Museum YufuinCOMICO ART MUSEUM YUFUIN
Contemporary art museum · Kawakami
A museum designed by Kengo Kuma, showing works by artists including Yoshitomo Nara, Tatsuo Miyajima, Takashi Murakami and Mariko Mori. Entry without a reservation is possible when capacity allows; online booking is offered.
- Access
- 2995-1 Kawakami, Yufuin. No parking.
- Hours
- 9:30–17:00 (last entry 16:00)
- Closed on
- Every other Wednesday; may also close for exhibition changes or maintenance (dates on the museum's calendar)
- Price
- General ¥1,700; university and vocational students ¥1,200; junior and senior high ¥1,000; elementary ¥700; preschool free
8Yufuin Stained Glass Museum由布院ステンドグラス美術館
Museum · Kawakami
A red-brick museum facing Mt. Yufu that shows antique European stained glass from the 1800s onward, described as Japan's first full-scale stained glass museum.
- Access
- 2461-3 Kawakami, Yufuin. Parking on site.
- Hours
- 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30)
- Closed on
- Irregular; each month's closing days are posted on the museum's site
- Price
- Adults ¥1,000; children ¥500
9Unagihime Shrine宇奈岐日女神社
Shinto shrine · Kawakami
Known locally as Rokusho-sama, for the six deities enshrined here. Most of its large cedars were felled by a typhoon in 1991, and the stumps are now enshrined. The horse-carriage course stops here.
- Access
- 2220 Kawakami, Yufuin. Parking on site; the tourism association gives a map link, not a walking time.
- Closed on
- None
10Kuage Yufuinクアージュゆふいん（湯布院健康温泉館）
Public hot spring and Kurhaus · Kawakami
A city-run bath house with German-style therapy pools (swimwear required; rental available) and separate men's and women's hot spring baths with open-air baths.
- Access
- 2863 Kawakami, Yufuin. Parking on site. The city page gives no walking time; phone 0977-84-4881.
- Hours
- 10:00–21:00 (last admission 20:30)
- Closed on
- Thursdays (the next day when Thursday is a holiday); 31 December – 2 January
- Price
- Visitors: adults ¥930; high school age and under (3–18) ¥460; 65 and over ¥460
11Sagiridai Viewpoint狭霧台
Viewpoint · Above the Yufuin basin
An observation point over the whole Yufuin basin. From autumn into winter it is a viewpoint for the morning mist that settles over the basin, and it is also used as a rest stop.
- Access
- On the Kyushu Odan Road (the trans-Kyushu road) above Yufuin, 1946-14 Kawakami. Parking on site; reached by car.
- Closed on
- None
12Mt. Yufu由布岳
Mountain hike · Yufudake foothills
The 1,583 m twin-peaked mountain above Yufuin. The climb from the Yufu trailhead and back takes about 4–5 hours; there are no toilets on the trail and steep sections near the summit.
- Access
- From the Yufu trailhead (Yufu Tozanguchi), which has a bus stop. Trail conditions change with the season.
Good to know
From JR Yufuin Station, walk along the station-front street to Shirataki Bridge, where Yunotsubo Kaido begins; the street runs for about 800 m. Lake Kinrin, Unagihime Shrine and the two museums are all in the Kawakami district. Sagiridai looks over the basin from the Kyushu Odan Road, and Mt. Yufu is climbed from the Yufu trailhead.
The station building itself is closed for repair works until around winter 2026. Trains use a temporary building beside it, the ticket office is open 7:00–18:00, and the platform footbath and art hall are shut. Large bags can be left at Yufuin Chikki in the Tourist Information Center (9:00–17:00, ¥500–¥800 per item), which also delivers to member ryokan.
Getting here: the Yufuin no Mori limited express from Hakata is all reserved seats and often fully booked; JR Kyushu suggests going via Kokura and Oita instead. The Yufuin-go highway bus from Fukuoka runs 14 round trips a day, about 2 hours 25 minutes from Tenjin (reservation required). From Beppu, take Kamenoi Bus route 36 from Beppu Station West Exit stop 1. The Yufurin sightseeing express bus has been suspended since 17 October 2026.
Town walk, museums, baths or the mountain
How you get there, what it costs, and how late it is open. Adult prices; other prices are on each card above.
| What | Getting there | Entry (adult) | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yunotsubo Kaido and Lake Kinrin | On foot from JR Yufuin Station via Shirataki Bridge | No fee stated | Shops vary; the lake has no closing day |
| Horse carriage | Leaves from Yufuin Station; book on the day at the Tourist Information Center | ¥2,500 | About 60 min; departure times vary by day; no service 1 Jan – 1 Mar |
| Museums: COMICO, Stained Glass | Kawakami district; COMICO has no parking | COMICO ¥1,700 · Stained Glass ¥1,000 | COMICO 9:30–17:00 (last entry 16:00) · Stained Glass 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30) |
| Communal baths: Otomaru, Yunotsubo | Otomaru is the closest to the station; Yunotsubo is just off Yunotsubo Kaido | Otomaru ¥300 · Yunotsubo ¥200 | Otomaru 6:30–22:00 · Yunotsubo 10:00–22:00 |
| Kuage Yufuin | Kawakami district; parking on site | ¥930 | 10:00–21:00 (last admission 20:30); closed Thursdays |
| Sagiridai and Mt. Yufu | Sagiridai by car on the Kyushu Odan Road · Mt. Yufu from the trailhead bus stop | No fee stated | Mt. Yufu climb about 4–5 hours up and down |
By kind of trip
First trip, on foot from the station
Yunotsubo Kaido starts at Shirataki Bridge and runs about 800 m. Lake Kinrin is in the Kawakami district beyond it. The horse carriage leaves from the station and stops at Unagihime Shrine.
Yunotsubo Kaido · Lake Kinrin · Yufuin sightseeing horse carriage · Unagihime Shrine
Morning mist
The tourism association says the mist can cover Lake Kinrin on cold early mornings from autumn through winter. Sagiridai looks down on the whole basin when the mist settles over it.
A hot spring without staying the night
Otomaru (¥300, from 6:30) is the communal bath closest to the station. Yunotsubo Onsen (¥200) is just off the main street. Kuage Yufuin (¥930) adds open-air baths and swimwear therapy pools and is open until 21:00.
Rainy day
These three are indoors. COMICO and the Stained Glass Museum both stop entry by 16:00–16:30; Kuage is open until 21:00 except Thursdays.
COMICO Art Museum Yufuin · Yufuin Stained Glass Museum · Kuage Yufuin
A day outdoors
Mt. Yufu is 1,583 m. The climb from the Yufu trailhead and back takes about 4–5 hours, with no toilets on the trail. Sagiridai, on the road above town, has parking.
Questions
How do I get to Yufuin from Fukuoka?
By train: the Yufuin no Mori limited express from Hakata, all seats reserved, runs two round trips a day to Yufuin plus one to Beppu via Yufuin (about 2 hours 12–21 minutes on the January 2026 timetable). On days it does not run, the Yufu limited express runs to the same timetable. Both are often fully booked, and JR Kyushu suggests going via Kokura and Oita instead. By bus: the Yufuin-go runs 14 round trips a day from Hakata Bus Terminal, Tenjin and Fukuoka Airport International Terminal to the Yufuin Station Bus Center, about 2 hours 25 minutes from Tenjin, ¥3,250 one way, with reservation required.
How do I get from Beppu to Yufuin by bus?
Take Kamenoi Bus route 36 to Yufuin from stop 1 at Beppu Station West Exit. The Yufurin sightseeing express has been suspended since 17 October 2026 for the time being, and Kamenoi Bus points passengers to route 36 instead.
When can I see the morning mist on Lake Kinrin?
The Yufuin tourism association says it can appear on cold early mornings from autumn through winter. It lists Sagiridai, on the Kyushu Odan Road above town, as a viewpoint for the mist over the whole basin in the same season.
Is Yufuin Station open?
Trains use a temporary station building beside the old one, which is closed for repair works until around winter 2026. During the works the ticket office is open 7:00–18:00, and the platform footbath and the art hall are closed.
Where can I leave my luggage in Yufuin?
Yufuin Chikki, on the first floor of the Tourist Information Center, stores bags 9:00–17:00 (¥500–¥800 per item). It also delivers bags to ryokan that belong to the Yufuin Onsen Tourist Association (¥300–¥1,200 each way, cash only); deliveries are requested 9:00–15:00.