Major city · Japan
Yufu由布市
Sleep 1–2 nights in Yufuin, not a day trip: the onsen and Lake Kinrinko reward an early morning before the tour buses arrive.
Yufu is a small city in central Oita whose northwest district, Yufuin, is one of Japan's leading hot spring resorts, with the second-highest hot water outflow in the country. It sits in a green valley under the twin peaks of Mount Yufu (1584 m), and the town is built around a 1.5 km walk from the station to Lake Kinrinko. Most visitors come for one or two nights of onsen, cafés and galleries, or as a stop between Beppu, Fukuoka and Mount Aso.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- JPY
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- avoid Jul–Aug (hot and humid), Golden Week, New Year
- Airports
- OIT · FUK
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 5
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- Japan ↗IC cards (ICOCA/Suica) are topped up with cash at station machines.
- Japan ↗Smoking while walking is banned in most city centres; use designated areas.
- Japan ↗Shinkansen bags 160–250 cm (L+W+H) need a seat reserved with the oversized-baggage area.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Yufu110 ▾
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
- Japan Visitor Hotline (JNTO, 24 h, English)050-3816-2787
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Yufu, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.Japan-wide
- SIM or eSIMData-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.Japan-wide
- Tap waterSafe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.Japan-wide
- TippingRestaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.Japan-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 100 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Japan-wide
- SafetyYufu is a safe, small onsen town; the real risks are mountain weather on the Mount Yufu trail, icy roads in winter…
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet.Japan-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 119 fire and ambulance · 050-3816-2787 Japan Visitor Hotline (JNTO, 24 h, English) (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMuseums close on Mondays (Tuesday when Monday is a holiday); many family restaurants close one weekday, often Tuesday or Wednesday…Japan-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportOIT Oita Airport (Direct bus to Yufuin, about 55 min, ¥1,550 (≈ US$11); flights to Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Seoul).
- Getting aroundPublic transport is limited.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee or café set¥500–900 (≈ US$4–7)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week¥2,000–4,000 (≈ US$14–30)
- Museum or sight ticketOnsen bath entrycheck¥200–800 (≈ US$2–6)
- Budget bedHostel or dorm bed, a night, per person¥3,500 (≈ US$25)
- Mid-range bedRyokan or onsen-hotel double room, a night, per room¥35,000 (≈ US$250)
- High-end bedRyokan or onsen-hotel double room, a night, per room¥80,000 (≈ US$550)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ¥8,000 (≈ US$55) · Mid ¥15,000 (≈ US$110) · High ¥28,000 (≈ US$190)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- OIT Oita Airport (Direct bus to Yufuin, about 55 min, ¥1,550; flights to Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Seoul) · FUK Fukuoka Airport (Direct bus to Yufuin, about 1 h 45 min, ¥2,880; the nearest major airport)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
Feb
not flagged
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Mar
Best
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Apr
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
May
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Jun
not flagged
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Jul
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Aug
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Sep
not flagged
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Oct
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Nov
Best
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Dec
not flagged
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Best: Mar–May, Oct–Nov. Avoid: Jul–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Aug (31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)), coolest Jan (0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C) low), wettest Jun (14 rain days), driest Dec (7). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Yufu: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
8 rd
Feb
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
8 rd
Mar
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
10 rd
Apr
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
10 rd
May
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
11 rd
Jun
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
14 rd
Jul
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
13 rd
Aug
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
11 rd
Sep
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
11 rd
Oct
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
8 rd
Nov
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
8 rd
Dec
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
7 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Public transport is limited. The useful line is Kamenoi bus route 36, roughly hourly, linking the station, Yufumi-dōri, Yunotsubo and the Mount Yufu trailhead on its way to Beppu. Most of Yufuin is walkable: 1.5 km from the station to Lake Kinrinko via Yufumi-dōri and Yunotsubo Kaidō. Horse carriages run from the station Mar–Dec (about 50 min, ¥2,200), and rickshaws operate near the station and the lake.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Beppu
goDoor to door: About 1 h by bus
Kamenoi bus 'Yufuin' Liner from Beppu Station west exit, or JR to Beppu and change
The other big onsen town in Oita, 25 km (16 mi) away; easy half day or overnight.The other big onsen town in Oita, 16 mi (25 km) away; easy half day or overnight.
Hita
goDoor to door: About 1 h
JR Kyudai Line towards Kurume
Small riverside town on the same rail line; pairs well with a slow afternoon.
Taketa
goDoor to door: About 1.5 h
JR Kyudai Line to Bungo-Taketa, then walk or bus
Castle ruins and old streets; a quieter day out.
Usa, Oita
cautionDoor to door: About 1.5–2 h
JR Kyudai Line north, then local transport
Usa Jingū shrine is the draw; check connections before committing.
Mount Aso
overnightDoor to door: About 2 h 15 min to Aso Station
Kyushu Sanko 'Kujū' Ōdan bus towards Kumamoto
Too far for a relaxed return day; continue on to Kumamoto.
Fukuoka
goDoor to door: About 2 h 15 min
JR Yufuin no Mori limited express, 3 times a day
Book ahead; the train itself is part of the trip.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Around Yufuin Station
Closest to the bus centre, luggage lockers and footbath; the simplest base if you arrive by train with bags.
Yunotsubo Kaidō and Lake Kinrinko
The shopping street and lake end of town; walkable to most sights but 1.5 km (0.9 mi) from the station.The shopping street and lake end of town; walkable to most sights but 0.9 mi (1.5 km) from the station.
Yunohira Onsen
A smaller traditional hot spring village about 15 km (9.3 mi) away; quieter, needs a car or bus.A smaller traditional hot spring village about 9.3 mi (15 km) away; quieter, needs a car or bus.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ¥8,000–13,000 (≈ US$55–90) excl. bed
- Mid
- ¥13,000–22,000 (≈ US$90–150) excl. bed
- High
- ¥22,000 (≈ US$150)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Ryokan or onsen-hotel double room1 × 2 nights × ¥35,000 | ¥70,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × ¥15,000 | ¥60,000 |
| Bus from Oita Airport, one way2 × ¥1,550 | ¥3,100 |
| Bus from Fukuoka, one way2 × ¥2,880 | ¥5,760 |
| Baggage delivery to hotel2 × ¥500 | ¥1,000 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × ¥2,500 | ¥5,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ¥14,490 |
| Trip total≈ ¥39,840 per person per day, bed included | ¥159,350≈ US$1,100 |
2026 estimate in yen; flights and rail passes excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee or café set | ¥500–900 (≈ US$4–7) |
| Croquette on Yunotsubo KaidōThe 'gold medal' croquette is the famous one. | ¥160–300 (≈ US$2–3) |
| Yuzukoshō souvenir jar | ¥400–800 (≈ US$3–6) |
| Horse carriage tour from the stationMar–Dec, about 50 min | ¥2,200 (≈ US$15) (child ¥1,650 (≈ US$12)) |
| Onsen bath entrycheck | ¥200–800 (≈ US$2–6) |
| Japanese set meal (toriten, grilled beef, sashimi) | ¥2,000–4,000 (≈ US$14–30) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | ¥2,000–4,000 (≈ US$14–30) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Luggage lockers at the station fill up; the tourist information centre stores bags for ¥300–500 (≈ US$3–4) per bag per day and delivers them to your hotel for ¥500 (≈ US$4).
- Route 206 to Lake Kinrinko jams badly in peak season; drivers should detour via Minami Yufu.
- Snow and ice on the expressway and mountain roads require chains; Yufuin sits at high elevation.
- Mount Yufu has no facilities on the trail: carry your own food and water, and allow 4–5 hours.
- Yunotsubo Kaidō is packed with tour groups during the day; go early or late.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Fire and ambulance
- 119
- Japan Visitor Hotline (JNTO, 24 h, English)
- 050-3816-2787
Pocket card
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Yufu由布市
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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—
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ここまでお願いしますTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
- Japan Visitor Hotline (24 h, English)050-3816-2787
Embassy
No embassies in Yufu; most are in Tokyo, with consulates in Fukuoka and Osaka (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Oita Airport → Yufuin, bus: about ¥1,550 (≈ US$11), about 55 min
- Fukuoka → Yufuin, bus: about ¥2,880 (≈ US$20), about 1 h 45 min
- Yufuin → Beppu, Kamenoi bus: about 1 h
- Yufuin → Fukuoka, Yufuin no Mori: about ¥4,550 (≈ US$35), 2 h 15 min
Say or show
- すみません — Excuse me / Sorry (sumimasen)
- ありがとうございます — Thank you (arigatō gozaimasu)
- 大人一枚お願いします — One adult, please (otona ichimai onegaishimasu)
- いくらですか？ — How much is it? (ikura desu ka)
- お風呂はありますか？ — Is there a bath? (ofuro wa arimasu ka)
- トイレはどこですか？ — Where is the toilet? (toire wa doko desu ka)
The tourist information centre beside Yufuin Station has English maps and a walking route; it opens 09:00–17:30.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Yufu. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov · avoid Jul–Aug (hot and humid), Golden Week, New Year · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 6 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for OIT and FUK: last bus times field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: station and Yufumi-dōri, Yunotsubo Kaidō, Lake Kinrinko, Yunohira.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Lake Kinrinko, Shitanyu, Yufuin Art Museum, Mount Yufu trailhead) and eat pages with last orders.
- Onsen etiquette and tattoo-policy fixtures so gates A–D can go green.
Sources
- officialYufu City official site
- officialYufu City tourism section
- officialYufu tourist association portal
- officialOita Airport access
- officialJR Kyushu — Yufuin no Mori
- officialKamenoi Bus timetables
- secondaryWikivoyage: Yufu, revision 5296598 (CC BY-SA 4.0)