What to do in Yufu

Activities, attractions and tours

A traditional Japanese street with wooden buildings and a crowd of people.
A group of people standing on a bridge overlooking a lush green valley with a mountain in the background.
A winding road through a lush valley with a mountain in the background.
A traditional Japanese gate with intricate woodwork and a sign above it.
A traditional wooden house with a red umbrella, surrounded by lush greenery and a stone pathway.

Yufu Attractions

Let Expedia help you experience the best that Yufu has to offer! If you’re looking for fun itinerary ideas, we can provide you with a list of the top sightseeing attractions, as well as helping you to find unmissable activities. Whether you’re travelling with your family, planning a romantic trip with your loved one, or visiting on business, we’ll make it easy to plan an unforgettable holiday that checks all the boxes.

Activities and Tours

Yufu is crammed with must-see places to visit and things to do. We can help you decide where to stay, and make it a breeze to explore the surrounding areas with our guides on where to go, what to see and when to see it. No matter how long your stay, it’s easy to find places of interest in Yufu to make sure that you enjoy your experience to the fullest and don’t miss a thing. Leave the local knowledge to us and leave the hassle behind.

If you’re planning a visit, why not check out our handy guides to places of interest in the area? You can browse lists of things to do, learn about the most popular attractions, and get help with planning the details of your trip. Expedia makes it easy for you to check out all the top sights.

Yufu Attractions

Expedia has something for everyone, so whether you’re planning to get active on a summer holiday, put a spring in your step with a romantic rendezvous, or pamper yourself with a leisurely winter trip, you’ll find plenty of attractions to keep you entertained. In addition to scheduling local tours, booking reservations and scoring advance event tickets, Expedia makes it easy to book your flight, hotel and rental car in advance, all on one consolidated travel itinerary, making for hassle-free travel and freeing you up to explore the sights of Yufu.

Looking for things to do can be time consuming, but we can take the hassle out of planning your holiday. Whether you’re looking to get active in the great outdoors, sample the cuisine or catch up with the vibrant local culture, our guides to Yufu attractions ensure that you’ll have a successful trip, whatever the season.

Things to do


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Top places to visit

1. Kinrin Lake

When mist creates a cloud over the surface of the warm water, Kinrin Lake seems like a portal to another world, suffused with a potent magic. Fed by a volcanic spring at its base and other springs whose cooler streams pour in, the lake stays warm year round with the same geothermal energy that feeds the onsen baths throughout Yufuin. Knowing how it works doesn’t make it any less magical in early morning, when the contrast between hot water and cold air creates the lake’s signature fog. Start the day here to be full of the relaxing energy that makes Yufuin such a popular destination.
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A calm lake surrounded by mountains and trees.

2. Mount Yufu

Yufuin’s natural protector, Mount Yufu, is one of the town’s most distinctive sights with its camel-backed peak. The perfect backdrop for camera shots of Yufuin’s main street, Mount Yufu is also a great place for hiking. The walk is rather long, at 5 miles (8 kilometers), taking about 4 or 5 hours round-trip. Do the moderate hike relatively easily with a basic level of fitness and strong motivation.
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A green hillside with scattered trees and a mountain in the background.

3. Yufuin Retro Motor Museum

The founder of Yufuin Retro Motor Museum, a town local, has amassed quite an impressive collection of motor vehicles. With a collection of 70 cars, 30 motorcycles, tricycles, small airplanes and retro buses, he is one of the region’s biggest amateurs and opened the museum in 1988. Get a sense both of his own idiosyncratic tastes and the history of Japan’s mechanized transport at a museum right off Yufuin’s main street.
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A vintage car exhibit with a checkered floor, Route 66 sign, and a Datsun sign.

4. Yufuin Stained Glass Museum

Everything in the Yufuin Stained Glass Museum, from the bricks to the furniture, was imported from Europe. Japan’s first full-scale stained-glass museum is a celebration both of this distinctly European art form and of European culture more generally, perfect for a town modeled on the continent’s spa towns. Visit for the art and the pleasing cultural dissonance.
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A room with shelves of colorful lamps, a stained glass window with a bird, and a table with a candle.

5. Bussanji Temple

With its heavy thatched roof, Bussanji Temple announces its heritage at first glance. Though the history is hazy, legend says that a monk founded the shrine more than a thousand years ago after receiving an oracle at Kirishima Shrine, at the southern end of the island. He carved a statue of Kannon bodhisattva and placed it on Mount Yufu, where a monastery grew up around it. There it remained until the late 16th century, when an earthquake brought the statue down to the valley and the people of Yufuin built a temple where it fell. Sense the deep spirituality of the space, which has been a center of religious life in the village for a very long time.
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A traditional Japanese building with a tiled roof and wooden beams.

What to do in Yufu


Stay near popular Yufu attractions

Where to stay in Yufu

Find the best Yufu areas and neighborhoods for the activities you enjoy most.

Yufuin Onsen

Unique features of Yufuin Onsen include the hot springs and lake views. Make a stop by Kyushu Yufuin Folk Village or Yufuin Retro Motor Museum while you're exploring the area.

 

Looking for fun things to do nearby? Check things to do near me to find and book the best things to do, fun activities, and top attractions wherever you happen to be.

 


 

Day trip destinations from Yufu

Frequently asked questions

Is Yufu worth visiting?
Famous for its nature and views, discovering fun things to do in Yufu is a cinch. Don't forget to add Takegawara Onsen to your itinerary while here.
How do I spend a day in Yufu?
Once you've visited top attractions like Takegawara Onsen and Kijima Kogen Park, spend some time exploring the retail and food options in Yufu.
What is the top tourist attraction in Yufu?
The top tourist attraction in Yufu is Takegawara Onsen, so make sure to include it on your sightseeing agenda.
Is three days enough to stay in Yufu?
Three days in Yufu is plenty of time to visit the city's main attractions. Many travellers book for two days on average. Kijima Kogen Park, Yunohira Hot Spring and Shidaka Lake are highly rated sights. Want to discover more? Hang around a little longer to visit nearby hotspots such as Beppu.
What are some activities to do in Yufu with kids?
Whether you're vacationing with young explorers or adventure-seeking teens, an itinerary filled with cool activities makes a big difference. Take a look at our recommendations for what to do in Yufu with kids.

What to do in Yufu for adults?
Whether you're a food lover, culture enthusiast or outdoor adventurer, there are plenty of things to do in Yufu for adults including Yufuin Trick Art Meikyukan Museum.
Are there free things to do in Yufu?
One of the easiest ways to find free things to do in Yufu is to speak with a local tour guide. You'll get insider tips on cool neighbourhoods, parks and other attractions you can enjoy without reaching for your wallet. Shidaka Lake is one sight that doesn't charge an admission fee.