24 Hours In Yufuin: The Traveler’s Guide To What To Do, Eat, and See

Yufuin was stop two of my back-to-back-to-back onsen escapade in Kyushu. After taking the overnight Sunflower Ferry from Osaka to Beppu, which technically would be a 4th ‘back‘ since there was an onsen onboard, I continued onto Yufuin for a day before heading to Kurokawa.

I’d heard mixed review of Yufuin prior to visit. It was a cute walkable onsen town with fairytale vibes, a lane of food stalls churning out all the street snacks, and a modern art museum. At the same time, it was said to be touristy. But that word is so easily tossed around when it comes to Japan, so I take it with a grain of salt until I can visit for myself.

So when I mapped out my route from Beppu to Kurokawa, and onwards to Mt. Aso and Kumamoto, Yufuin made perfect sense as a stop.

24 Hours In Yufuin (A Little Less)

I took the morning bus from Beppu and arrived quite early in Yufuin with a pretty much a full day and the next morning to explore. I quickly dropped off my bag at my ryokan, conveniently located near the bus station and set out.

The layout of the town is pretty straightforward and very walkable. Think of it like a curving line starting from the train station and ending at Kinrin Lake.

If you barely deviate from this path, you’ll more or less experience the main parts of Yufuin.

Stroll Through Yunotsubo Kaido

This is Yufuin’s main drag. A long pedestrian-friendly lane of cafes, snack stalls, handmade crafts, and boutique shops stretching from the river all the way to the lake.

On my first pass, I made mental notes of all the street food I had to come back for. Piping hot croquettes, marbled beef sandos, crispy karaage, and milk pudding from a shop aptly named Milch. I would have to make some choices and cuts. If I indulged freely in Japan, even the daily 20,000 steps would not help me.

The entire stretch is, as others fairly pointed out, quite touristy. But it’s also charming in the same way a movie set is. Everything looks like it was put there to be photographed, and I’m fine with that.

Quaint But Crowded

Yufuin attracts a large contingent of Korean and Chinese travelers on day trips from Fukuoka on one of the endless rotation of buses or via the direct Yufuin No Mori.

I make not be the target audience for all the souvenirs, but they are, as everyone seems to have bags of purchases.

That said, if you go at a relaxed, and give the whole place a chance, you might even find a few regional goodies you won’t find in Tokyo or Osaka.

I found a great shop where you can try and buy locally produced soy sauce and this shop next door had some great furikake. I picked up one with sea urchin or uni in Japanese. Both purchases were worth lugging around.

Visit the Comico Art Museum

Just off the main street, the Comico Art Museum feels like a companion museum airlifted from Aomori’s Museum of Art. They both share a clean minimalist design and a massive dog sculpture by Yoshitomo Nara. Personally, I like the one in Aomori a bit more.

The architecture and reprieve from the crowd alone was worth the visit. The rotating exhibits contemporary Japanese art, and there was even a Yayoi Kusama exhibition of some less well-known works on display.

The museum isn’t too big, so an hour is plenty here. Yufuin actually has quite a few random museums. You might also consider the artegio modern art gallery, the vintage guitar museum, or the stained glass museum housed in an old church.

There’s even the LA RUCHE gallery dedicated to works by Marc Chagall.

Indulge In Street Food

After the museum, I did a second pass down Yunotsubo Street, and this time, I stopped and told the many vendors to take my money.

The ¥200 croquettes from Kinsho were hot and creamy on the inside while being light and crispy outside. There are a few different fillings, so don’t do what I did and only get two. Get them all.

The fresh chicken karaage at Nakathu hit the spot and I also had something like a donut that was definitely better than a donut. Think crusty fried dough filled with chicken and beef curry filling. I had two from this stall washing it down with a homemade lemonade from Limo.

I finished with the milk pudding and ‘cheesecake’ from Milch that could give the ones in Hokkaido some competition. The cheesecake is more like a soufflé with a sponge cake at the top, a creamy center, and a soft crumble for its base. If you happen to see the line wane for a bit, do yourself a favor and stop.

Roam Around The Yufuin Floral Village

Just before the lake, I stumbled into the Yufuin Floral Village, which looks like someone recreated a Beatrix Potter pop-up book in real life. Modeled after England’s Cotswolds, the cobblestone paths, tiny shops, and even tinier doors are designed to look like they belong in the Peter Rabbit world.

The whole area is basically one giant souvenir shop that’s absolutely kitschy, but also undeniably photogenic. I didn’t know that it was one of Yufuin’s iconic attractions.

Circle Kinrin Lake

The lake marks the end of the walk and the town. On one side is Tenso Shrine  you can walk up to and make a prayer. When I finished my loop, I ended at a handmade soba restaurant. I didn’t really need lunch after all the snacks, but it looked light and the view of the water was worth stopping for.

There’s a rustic public onsen by the waters. Bring a towel with you on your walk and stop in for a quick soak.

Kinrin Lake is famous for its misty mornings. I made mental plans to return at dawn the next day. Unfortunately, my jet lag decided to wear off, and I ended up sleeping in past 6 am. I still wonder if I missed out on some magical Studio Ghibli sunrise.

Bonus Stops: Yufuin Showa Museum and Retro Motor Museum

A bit random, but if you’re a fan of vintage Japan, the Showa-kan Museum is packed wall-to-wall with retro appliances, posters, toys, and everything a hoarder with good taste would be collecting from the mid 20th century. They’ve recreated many rooms from the period that oddly fascinating and nostalgia inducing.

Outside, there’s even a vintage soda machine where you can get a refreshing soda in a glass bottle.

Car lovers should check out the Retro Car Museum with its collection of vintage and restored cars, motorcycles, and even racers.

Where To Stay In Yufuin

The main parts of Yufuin is quite compact and getting from one end to the other takes only about 20 minutes on foot.

I recommend staying near the where most of the restaurants are located or somewhere near Yunotsubo Street, the main tourist area in Yufuin.

Yufuin Akarinoyado

I’ll be honest. Yufuin Akarinoyado wasn’t my first choice. I’d shortlisted a handful of ryokans a month earlier, but I didn’t lock anything down until last minute, which meant surprisingly slim pickings.

Despite a lower review score than I’d normally go for, Akarinoyado ended up being a solid choice. It was clean, simple, and most importantly, just a few minutes from the station.

They also have several private baths that you can reserve at check-in. I lucked out with a prime slot in the early afternoon after walking around all day. Just in time to relax and clean up before dinner.

Having this amazing bath to myself was a highlight of Yufuin.

You can view my shortlist of hotels and ryokans I had bookmarked for my trip HERE.

Recommended Restaurants In Yufuin

I checked out a few restaurants for lunch and dinner. Many are located near the bus station.

Samurai Ramen is great little ramen shop. No frills. Place your order and get a ticket from the vending machine and wait to be seated. The broth was very flavorful.

For a quick lunch, you can grab a lunch special with a couple of musubi and chicken tempura from Tabimusubi.

There was a line already formed before opening at Yufu Mabushi. They are known for the claypot rice dishes with roasted chicken and the famous Bungo beef, the regional version of Wagyu.

I had mentally noted the Michelin Guide recommended Yakiniku at Wasaku. For some reason, it ended up being closed that night to my detriment.

Carne is an upscale yakitori spot.

So many places looked good, so don’t feel like you need to stick to this list. But you probably can, because I spend a lot of time looking for good food on my travels.

How To Get To Yufuin

Yufuin is easily connected from the Fukuoka and Beppu.

From Beppu, there are direct buses that take less than hour. Very scenic cutting through the mountains approaching Yufuin.

From Fukuoka, the Yufuin no Mori scenic train runs a few times a day and is arguably the most iconic way to arrive. It’s a little pricier and often sells out in advance, but the vintage green train with its huge windows and panoramic views are worth it.

From Kumamoto or Mt. Aso, you can bus through Kurokawa and then onward to Yufuin. The buses only run a few times a day, so check the schedule and book it in advance if you can.

Final Thoughts

I’d say Yufuin is compact enough that you can visit as a day trip. However, given it’s close location to Kurokawa and Beppu, it’s worth taking your time and spending at least a night.

It’s touristy, but still manageable. You can spend your whole time with the crowd and complain, or you can venture off down the side streets, and explore some of the many museums here to keep things interesting.

I had an hour where I just picked up some fresh sushi from the A-COOP supermarket and enjoyed it in a nearby park. It was just lovely.

While it may not have the mountain escape of Kurokawa or the steamy geysers of Beppu, it it’s still worth making a stop, especially if you’re already en route.

And also, that pudding and cheesecake.

Updated on July 8, 2025