Hidden Wonders | Yufuin: A Quiet Onsen Town of Tranquility and Nature

If Kyushu is famous for hot spring towns that dazzle with steam, Yufuin offers a different register. Slower, softer, and shaped as much by local decisions as by geology. The two sit close enough to pair in a single trip, yet they offer very different rhythms.

Yufuin is especially popular with East Asian visitors. Yufu City reports that South Korea, Taiwan, China, and Hong Kong together account for about 85% of foreign visitors.

Built for Calm

Yufuin lies in a small basin at the foot of Mount Yufu, a twin-peaked landmark often likened to a local Mt Fuji. Rice paddies spread out between low hills and wooded slopes, and when temperatures drop in autumn and winter, fog can gather along the river that runs through town, turning ordinary streets into a brief morning dreamscape. Ankle socks not advised.

Yufuin became famous precisely because it refused to chase the kind of growth that reshaped many hot spring areas during Japan's high-growth decades. In the 1970s, local leaders and ryokan owners studied "quiet health resorts" in Germany and chose a model of calm, stay-oriented wellness over large hotels and entertainment districts. They backed the philosophy with self-imposed rules, such as guidelines on building height, colors, and design, so that the views of Mount Yufu and the rural townscape would remain the town's calling card.

Local agency mattered in other turning points, too. In the postwar period, the Yufuin Basin faced a proposed dam project that threatened to submerge the area. The pushback helped spark decades of resident-led discussion about what kind of place Yufuin should become. These included forums and civic initiatives that gradually shaped the town into a stay-oriented destination rooted in landscape and daily life.

A Station That Sets the Tone

Even the town gateway reflects Yufuin's personality. At Yufuin Station, visitors find small pleasures that feel designed for lingering, like the station footbath and an art hall that doubles as a community space and gallery.

From the station, many travelers drift toward Yunotsubo Kaido, the town's best-known strolling street. It's lively, but still distinctly "Yufuin" — more snackable craft-town than neon resort strip. Shops sell pickles, handmade jams, and local burgers, with the street reportedly lined by more than 70 stores.

You'll also notice there's almost no souvenir kabosu hasn't found its way into. Check out the kabosu ice cream, but be careful not to spill it on your kabosu t-shirt.

If you want a lighter, storybook detour, Yufuin Floral Village leans into an English-countryside fantasy aesthetic, complete with a Kiki's Bakery storefront modeled after imagery from Studio Ghibli masterpiece Kiki's Delivery Service.

Mist, Water, and the Town's Iconic Lake

For many visitors, the highlight comes at Lake Kinrin. Here, hot spring water mixes with cooler inflows, keeping the lake warm enough that steam can rise from its surface on cold mornings. The result is one of Kyushu's most quietly cinematic scenes, mist floating low over water as the day starts and lingering on into the late hours of the morning.

Yufuin's onsen credentials are substantial. Official tourism sources describe the area as having the second-highest hot spring water flow in Japan, with bathing traditionally associated with relief for ailments like neuralgia and fatigue.

Cultural Calling Card

Yufuin's calm is not empty but carefully curated. Rather than building an entertainment district, the town strengthened its appeal through culture. The Yufuin Music Festival began in 1975, and the Yufuin Film Festival followed in 1976, drawing artists and visitors who came for more than hot water.

That cultural thread remains tangible in the area's galleries and museums. One standout is COMICO ART MUSEUM YUFUIN, associated with architect Kengo Kuma, and known for showcasing artists such as Takashi Murakami and photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto.

Pushing for Micro-Tourism

Yufuin's approach has worked — perhaps too well. Reporting around local tourism notes visitor totals in the "about four million" range and highlights a sharp rise in inbound tourism in recent years.

To protect what made the town attractive in the first place, Yufuin promoters have begun encouraging "micro-tourism." The idea is to explore quieter areas beyond the busiest streets, support local food culture (seasonal produce and Bungo beef included), and travel with an ethic of low waste and respect for the town's calm.

Yufuin's quiet appeal comes from careful choices, not luck. You feel it in the low skyline, the walkable lanes, and the way art and onsen sit side by side. It shows a different way Japan turns geothermal abundance into a travel experience.

Author: Daniel Manning