Yufuin, a hot spring town in the Yufuin Basin

Feel Fukuoka Japan’s super conscientious (maybe a bit too much) writer “Mentai Rice” is here to show you some of Kyushu’s famous hot springs.
Today we would like to introduce you to Yufuin Hot Springs, a nationally acclaimed hot spring town which attracts a large number of visitors from all over the country and abroad.

This nationally renowned hot spring town is located practically in the center of Oita Prefecture in the Yufuin Basin surrounded by 1,000 meter elevation class mountains, including the symbolic peak of Mt. Yufu.
Famous nationwide for its hot springs, the town has been designated a National Hot Spring Health Resort under the name Yufuin Hot Spring.
Come to Yufuin and you will instantly feel the urge to soak up all the fresh air of the town’s abundant natural beauty each and every time.

38,600 liters per minute

Oita Prefecture is commonly referred to as the Prefecture of Hot Springs, boasting both the highest yield of hot springs water and the largest number of hot spring sources in all of Japan.
Yufuin itself is also the proud home of the second largest number of hot spring sources in the country with a total of some 900, and the third highest hot spring yield countrywide of 38,600 liters per minute.   

38,600 liters each and every minute! Really an unimaginable amount of water, isn’t it?
A typical home bathtub is said to hold an average of 200 liters, meaning that 200 times the amount of water in a typical bathtub gushes forth from Yufuin’s hot springs every minute!
It really makes you appreciate both the magnificence of nature and how insignificant we all are in the grand scheme of things, don’t you think?

More than just hot springs

But Yufuin has much more to offer than just hot springs. The town is also home to beautiful natural scenery, local foods and culture as well as a great number of attractions such as trendy restaurants, cafés, shops, regional cuisines, art museums, and traditional Japanese-style inns (ryokan).
One of the most famous sights in the town of Yufuin is the view of Kinrin Lake as the morning fog rises above the lake to paint a truly magical, picturesque landscape which is well worth getting up early to see for yourself. I just wish I had a friend or girlfriend to go with me…

Something for all seasons

Experience the gentle breeze as the spring flowers begin to bloom and the burning of the fields heralds the coming of spring, and savor natural mountain delicacies such as bracken and royal fern, a culinary delight which city dwellers don’t often have the chance to enjoy, all while surrounded by the beauty of the town of Yufuin’s spring flowers.
Or enjoy the pleasantly cool summer climate of the plateau and the scent of the wild flowers and trees carried by the winds into town from the mountains, and the sparkling glow of the evening sky as the fireflies flutter about town. And as for autumn, needless to say the radiant color of the fall leaves throughout town and the surrounding mountains is quite the sight to see. And in the winter, enjoy what is undoubtedly the best time of the year to let yourself sink into the healing warmth of the Yufuin hot springs.
After your relaxing hot spring bath, indulge in a warm hot pot dish filled with regional ingredients over some spectacular views of snow-covered Mt. Yufu for what will surely be a moment of true bliss.

With something special to offer all year round, why not take a little detour to the hot spring town of Yufuin next time you find yourself in Fukuoka?

インフォメーション

Related website	www.yufuin.gr.jp/index.html
Address	Yufuincho, Yufu City, Oita Prefecture
How to get there	Take the JR train to Yufuin Station