Yufuin in Winter: A Relaxing 2-Day Itinerary for a Peaceful Getaway

2026.11.10

Take the limited express Yufuin no Mori from Hakata to Yufuin and enjoy a relaxing winter getaway. Stroll along quiet streets, visit Lake Kinrin (Kinrinko) in the early morning, and unwind with a kaiseki dinner and hot springs at a riverside ryokan. Discover the peaceful charm of Yufuin with an overnight stay.

• Table of Contents
• A Peaceful Escape to Nature-Rich Yufuin
• Scenic Views on the Yufuin no Mori Limited Express
• A Traditional Ryokan Stay at Oyado Nakaya
• Yufuin at Dawn: Lake Kinrin  (Kinrinko) & Quiet Yunotsubo Kaido Street
• A Countryside Walk Through Yufuin’s Natural Beauty
• Yufuin’s Quiet Charm Revealed by an Overnight Stay

A Peaceful Escape to Nature-Rich Yufuin

What images come to mind when you hear the name Yufuin? The shopping street of Yunotsubo Kaido Street, the street lined with street food vendors, and souvenir shops that are fun just to browse. These are all aspects of the lively town.

In fact, Yufuin is originally a quiet hot spring town. If you take a side street, picturesque rice fields unfold, and you can encounter the unspoiled Yufuin, far removed from the hustle and bustle.

Scenic Views on the Yufuin no Mori Limited Express

Boarding the limited express "Yufuin no Mori" from Fukuoka Station, the scenery outside the window gradually transforms into tranquil rice fields, rivers, and rolling mountains. The way the view from the window slowly changes to the rich natural beauty unique to the Kyushu inland region is one of the highlights of this route.

The train's interior boasts a resort-like design, and the large windows allow passengers to leisurely enjoy the scenery along the route. The journey itself becomes an essential part of any trip to Yufuin.

It takes about two hours to get from Hakata to Yufuin Station. Once you leave the station, your stay in Yufuin will officially begin.

A Traditional Ryokan Stay at Oyado Nakaya

The recommended inn we're introducing this time is "Oyado Nakaya," located along the Yunotsubo River, about a 5-minute walk from the heart of Yunotsubo Kaido Street and Lake Kinrin (Kinrinko) . This family-run inn will soon celebrate its 100th anniversary, and can only accommodate a maximum of 7 groups per day. Unlike the bustling atmosphere of large inns, you can enjoy a high-quality stay enveloped in warm hospitality.

The guest rooms feature elegant Japanese-style decor, creating a calm and relaxing atmosphere. Each room also has a private restroom, making it convenient and comfortable for elderly guests and families with young children.

A beautiful view of Mt. Yufu unfolds outside the window. Even on rainy days when the mountaintop is shrouded in clouds or mist, it has a different charm than on sunny days. Sitting on a chair on the veranda and gazing at the mountain range without doing anything in particular, you can feel a tranquility that makes you forget about everyday life.

Another highlight of staying at a traditional Japanese inn is, of course, dinner. The cuisine at "Oyado Nakaya" makes ample use of Oita Oita ingredients, and there is a wide variety of dishes from appetizers to main courses. The time spent slowly savoring each dish, which is carefully brought to your table one by one, enriches your evening at the inn.

After dinner, relax and soothe your travel fatigue in the inn's natural hot spring. Looking up from the bath, you'll see a clear night sky unobstructed by city lights.

I recommend taking a stroll outside in the evening. Yunotsubo Kaido Street, which is bustling with people during the day, becomes eerily quiet at night, revealing a completely different side of itself.

Find out more about Oyado Nakaya

Yufuin at Dawn: Lake Kinrin  (Kinrinko) & Quiet Yunotsubo Kaido Street

One of the attractions of staying overnight in Yufuin is that you can enjoy the town at its quietest time, before it gets crowded with tourists.

If you take a walk to Lake Kinrin (Kinrinko) in the early morning, the area is still quiet and bathed in the gentle morning light. Especially from late autumn to winter when it gets colder, morning mist may rise from the lake's surface. Combined with the surrounding mountains and lakeside scenery, a fantastical scene unfolds that is different from that of daytime. It is precisely because there are so few people at this time that you can fully enjoy the natural scenery unique to Yufuin.

Next, let's take a walk along Yunotsubo Kaido Street. The shopping street, usually bustling with activity, is still closed in the early morning, and the whole town is enveloped in a relaxed atmosphere. With few people around, you can leisurely admire the townscape and Mt. Yufu in the distance, and feel the true pace of life in this hot spring town.

This quiet morning moment is a luxury that only an overnight trip can offer.

A Countryside Walk Through Yufuin’s Natural Beauty

Leaving the bustling Yunotsubo Kaido Street behind, try venturing out to the rice paddy paths that stretch across the outskirts of Yufuin. As the number of shops and people decreases, vast rice fields, farmhouses, and mountains open up before you, revealing another side of Yufuin: a peaceful and unspoiled landscape.

During your stroll, you might encounter Horse-drawn Carriage (Tsujibasha) making their way slowly through the countryside. The sound of hooves, the distant mountain ranges, and the vast rural landscape combine to give you the feeling of having visited the European countryside. It's a completely different atmosphere from the hustle and bustle of the hot spring town center.

*Please note that Horse-drawn Carriage (Tsujibasha) operate on reduced hours and fewer services throughout December, and are typically suspended for the winter season from January 1st to early March.

Along the way, we recommend stopping by the historic Unagihime Shrine and Bussanji Temple. Surrounded by trees, these shrines and temples are quiet and peaceful, and taking a moment to stop and enjoy them will allow you to experience a deeper side of Yufuin.

On a clear day, you can see Mt. Yufu beyond the rice fields. The white steam rising from the hot springs adds a unique charm to the rural landscape. If you take a leisurely stroll through these fields, you'll realize that not only are the shops and cafes appealing, but the natural scenery and everyday life are also charming.

Yufuin’s Quiet Charm Revealed by an Overnight Stay

The charm of Yufuin isn't limited to visiting famous souvenir shops and cafes. Take a stroll down a small path that catches your eye and walk through the countryside. By experiencing the scenery in its natural state, you'll be able to feel the inherent charm of this place more deeply.

Take the time to experience the different facets of Yufuin that you can only discover by staying overnight, such as Lake Kinrin (Kinrinko) in the early morning or the tranquil streets at night.