is an extensive hot spring system in the city of Yufu, Ōita Prefecture, Japan.

Yufuin is famous for natural , resulting in a local economy based on domestic tourism, gift shops and hot-spring bathing. Some onsen are available to day tourists, but many are strictly for overnight guests. There are also , which are the traditional public baths used by locals. Some of these, soaplands, can be used by tourists, while the others are for use by local residents only.

Located in a green valley beneath the spectacular , a short walk from the town centre is a mix of paddy fields, housing and upmarket ryokan, with a few temples. Mount Yufu, or Yufu-dake, can be hiked in about 90 minutes. Although still connected to its rural roots, Yufuin is a tourist town and a popular destination for coach tours, especially among South Korean, Chinese, Thai, and Taiwanese tourists. There is the picturesque Lake Kinrin and rivers flow down and across the valley. Some hotels have outdoor baths called rotenburo with a view of Mount Yufu.

Sightseeing

The two-peaked Mount Yufu and are commonly viewed and photographed by tourists. Lake Kinrin is known for its fall leaves and the steam that rises from the lake's surface on cold mornings.

is another well-known tourist attraction in Yufuin. It features many small houses (acting as gift shops) modeled after the Cotswolds region of England.

With a suspension in COVID-19-related travel restrictions and the reintroduction of flights connecting Incheon International Airport and Oita Airport in 2024 for the first time in five years, Yufuin has seen a large increase in tourism from South Korea. In December 2023, 55,000 Korean tourists stayed overnight in Yufuin, more than four times higher than pre-COVID numbers.

Annual events July: August: October:

Transport

Railway JR Kyushu – Kyūdai Main Line

Yufuin - Minami-Yufu - Yunohira

Highway

Ōita Expressway – National Route 210

Bus Highway bus from Fukuoka

TV drama Yufuin is the setting for the NHK Japanese television drama "Kaze no Haruka"

References

External links Yufu official website