What to do in Yufuin

Activities, attractions and tours

Yufuin
Yufuin
Yufuin
Yufuin
Yufuin

Yufuin Attractions

Let Expedia help you to experience the best that Yufuin has to offer! If you’re planning a trip to Yufuin, 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 to Yufuin 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.

Places of interest in Yufuin

Yufuin is crammed with must-see places to visit and things to do. We can help you decide where to stay in Yufuin, and make it a breeze to explore Yufuin and 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 Yufuin to make sure that you enjoy your holiday 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 to Yufuin, 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 in Yufuin.

Yufuin attractions

Yufuin 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 in Yufuin to keep you entertained. Expedia makes it easy to book your flight, hotel and rental car in advance, making for hassle-free travel and freeing you up to explore the sights of Yufuin.

Looking for things to do in Yufuin 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 of Yufuin or catch up with the vibrant local culture, our guides to Yufuin attractions ensure that you’ll have a successful trip, whatever the season. Happy trails!

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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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2. 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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3. Showa Retro Park

Although the Showa Retro Park is a blast from the past, in many ways it celebrates change. It is seemingly dedicated to the entire Showa Period, during the reign of Emperor Hirohito, from 1926 to 1989. In particular it celebrates the Showa 30s (1955-1965), an era of radical shifts in Japanese history.
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4. 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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5. 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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6. Sueda Art Gallery

Husband-and-wife duo Ryusuke Sueda and Shiori Sueda have been emblems of Japan’s artistic life for decades. There is no better place to get close to and understand their work than the Sueda Art Gallery. Housed in a building designed by the famous modernist architect Hiroshi Hara, it is an immersive experience. Walk past many iterations of work by the two both inside the building and outside, in a well-maintained garden whose landscaping is set off by the almost impersonal forms of the art.
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7. Norman Rockwell Yufuin Museum

Yufuin may not be the most obvious place to celebrate midcentury American illustration, but the Normal Rockwell Yufuin Museum serves this role quite nicely. The art here is made up of private works owned by several Yufuin families, who saw captured in the illustrations a common sensibility.
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Recommended things to do in Yufuin

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What to do in Yufuin

Popular places to visit

Kinrin Lake

Kinrin Lake

4.5/5(10 reviews)

The picturesque emblem of Yufuin, this geothermal lake has a remarkable beauty that is best appreciated when the air is chilly.

Kinrin Lake
Mount Yufu

Mount Yufu

4.5/5(3 reviews)

A long hike up the volcano pays off, both from the beauty of the walk and the stunning sea and valley views from the peak.

Mount Yufu
Yufuin Stained Glass Museum

Yufuin Stained Glass Museum

Soft light streaming through colored windows suggests the north of England, but this museum is in the thoroughly Japanese neighborhood of Yufuin.

Yufuin Stained Glass Museum
Showa Retro Park

Showa Retro Park

Japan of the 1950s is reproduced in remarkable detail in a museum celebrating the daily life of a recently passed era.

Showa Retro Park
Bussanji Temple

Bussanji Temple

Set in a shaded forest, this 16th-century temple with a long history offers relaxation and meditation to visitors of any faith.

Bussanji Temple
Yufuin Retro Motor Museum

Yufuin Retro Motor Museum

Examples of some of the world’s best-known sports cars appear alongside motorcycles, a bus and even a few small planes in this private collection.

Yufuin Retro Motor Museum
Sueda Art Gallery

Sueda Art Gallery

Works of two of Japan’s best-known modernist sculptors and artists fill this private museum, making it feel a bit like entering their home, full of an easy intimacy.

Sueda Art Gallery
Norman Rockwell Yufuin Museum

Norman Rockwell Yufuin Museum

Best known for his covers of the Saturday Evening Post, a great American illustrator is the subject of this small but enthusiastic collection in Japan.

Norman Rockwell Yufuin Museum
Yufuin Trick Art Meikyukan Museum

Yufuin Trick Art Meikyukan Museum

Mind-bending optical illusions offer opportunities for photos, special events and good fun on rainy days right off Yufuin’s main tourist street.

Yufuin Trick Art Meikyukan Museum

 

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Frequently asked questions

Is Yufuin worth visiting?
Providing a blend of nature and hiking, there are many things to do in Yufuin. When you're here, head to Yunohira Hot Spring, a top attraction in the area.
How do I spend a day in Yufuin?
When you've checked off leading attractions like Yunohira Hot Spring and Kinrin Lake, spend some time enjoying the food and retail options in Yufuin.
What is the top tourist attraction in Yufuin?
You can't go home without visiting Yunohira Hot Spring, rated the top tourist attraction in Yufuin.
Is three days enough to stay in Yufuin?
Three days in Yufuin is more than enough to visit the city's main highlights. Many guests spend two days on average. Yunohira Hot Spring, Kinrin Lake and Bussanji Temple are highly rated sights. Like to see more? Stick around a bit longer to explore nearby hotspots like Beppu.
What are some activities to do in Yufuin with kids?
Deciding what to do in Yufuin with kids has never been simpler. Whether you're travelling with little ones or teenagers, there's a range of family-friendly activities to keep everyone happy here.
What to do in Yufuin for adults?
Whether you're a culture enthusiast, food connoisseur or thrill seeker, there's lots of things to do in Yufuin for adults including Yufuin Trick Art Meikyukan Museum.
Are there free things to do in Yufuin?
In Yufuin, Kinrin Lake is a popular spot for anyone wanting to enjoy the city without reaching for their wallet. Also, check out the other neighbourhoods and green spaces, and ask for recommendations from a local tour guide. It's an easy way to find out about the best free things to do in Yufuin.