Welcome to Yufuin!

Yufu (City) locates in central Ōita Prefecture and consists of the towns of Hasama, Shōnai and Yufuin which are located in Ōita District.

Yufu is known for its Yufuin Hot Spring, whose throughput of hot springs ranks number 3 in Japan. It have won the championship for “once I want to go hot spring” (一度は行ってみたい温泉地) for ten years. There are many kinds of Japanese hot spring hotels and beautiful landscape attracting lots of Japanese ladies.

A trip to Yufuin is the best birthday present for me this year. It leaves me so many wonderful memories that I will remember the beautiful sea of yellow flowers and the hot spring hotel which is full of human warmth in the mountain in Yufuin.

Visited date: Mar. 25 and Mar. 26, 2015

I boarded a red train "Yufu" to Yufuin. The comfortable weather and beautiful scenes beyond the window make me expect the itinerary.

Outside Yufuin station, I felt much colder than I think. My first impression of Yufuin is a clear and silent town since there are two rows of Japanese Houses, clear streets and beautiful Mount Yufu.

The popular tourist attractions in Yufuin are Lake Kirin (金鱗湖) and the stores in street 湯の坪. The distance between Yufuin station and Lake Kirin is about 1.4 kilometers which spends half hour by walking. In the spring, you can see Nanohana (Rapeseed Blossom) and Sakura (Cherry Blossom) at Ōita River (大分川).

Lake Kirin shining under sun light looks like fish scales. Besides, the blue sky mapping to the lake makes the splendid scenes. 下ん湯 is next to Lake Kirin which provides hot spring for tourists with fee 200 yens.

Many restaurants do not open, so I randomly select a Japanese restaurant 味一すぎたや. Suddenly I bump a local delicacy - Bungo cattle (豊後牛) which is juicy and suitable with rice.

There are many special street foods in Yufuin, for example, you can buy delicious croquette at 金賞コロッケ, and many kinds of pudding at 花麹菊家.

There are many kinds of funny stores beside street 湯の坪, such as cat accessories in 由布院の猫屋敷 and dog accessories in ゆふいんの犬家敷.

In どんぐりの森, you can buy souvenirs of Miyazaki Hayao (宮崎駿) Animation. Furthermore, you can take photos with the anime superstars - Kiki and Totoro. In addition, there is a "hand" hot spring in ゆふいんの手湯, you can wash and warm your cold hands.

"YUFUIN FLORAL VILLAGE", which constructed by Northern European style, was built by gray tiles, dark gray bricks and yellow stone walls. There are many little shops, it definitely makes you feel like that you're just living in different lovely fairy tales. If you come here, you must not miss "KIKI'S BAKERY", which is a scene of Kiki's Delivery Service (魔女の宅急便) produced by Miyazaki Hayao Animation.

'Showa' is a Japanese era name corresponding to the years from 1926 to 1989. In 'Showa Retro Park "Yufuin Showakan" -ALWAYS-' (湯布院昭和館), there are many nostalgic streetscapes in Showa era, for instance, an old television in the Japanese living room, grocery store, bath house, coffee bar, market streets and so on.

I stay in a Japanese hot spring hotel in the mountain in Yufuin. By walking to the hotel, I can not only overlook street 湯の坪 and views of Mount Yufu, but also carefully observed this town. Finally, I arrive at hotel “Yufuin Country Road Youth Hostel” before sunset.

The hotel puts up some cute decorations and makes me feel warm and amiable; in addition, it provides free hot spring for tenants to relax themselves.

After dinner, I stay in the living room. Although I can speak Japanese a little, I still try to chat with my landlord whose name is RYO. I ask him where I can see Sakura? He says that Sakura has not opened yet and maybe open after two weeks later. He suggests that I see Nanohana, blooms in early spring beside Ōita river. Therefore, I decide to see Nanohana before I leave Yufuin.

The starry night is beautiful in Yufuin, I drink hot tea beside the window and enjoy the silent night.

RYO drops tenants off Yufuin station every morning. Before leaving the hotel, RYO and his wife play guitar and sing a song for all tenants:

　「Country roads, take me home
　　　　To the place I belong
　West Virginia, mountain mamma
　　Take me home, country road」

I am truly moved by this song at the moment. They make me feel that I have another home in Yufuin.

I leave the hotel to find Nanohana. Turning right from Yufuin station and go straight about 550 meters, I see Ōita river which is occupied with yellow blossoms.

The astonishing view consists of clear Ōita river, Nanohana in full blooming and Mount Yufu. It is the most memorable view in my life. Despite the fact that I do not see Sakura, I am satisfied with this view in this itinerary.

＜Travel Information＞

＊Yufuin-Onsen Tourism Association - Official site
URL: http://yufuin.or.jp/global/index.php?easiestml_lang=en

＊YUFUIN FLORAL VILLAGE
URL: http://www.floral-village.jp/shop/

＊Showa Retro Park "Yufuin Showakan" -ALWAYS-
Address: 大分県由布市湯布院町川上1479-1
Opening time: 9:00 - 17:00
Fees: 500 yens (adults) and 300 yens (students)
URL: http://www.yufuin-syowakan.jp/#!english/c17fc

＊Yufuin Country Road Youth Hostel
Address: 大分県由布市湯布院町川上441-29
URL: http://countryroadyh.com/



＜Author Information＞

Author: Mr. Harry
Blog: http://mrharry.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mrharryfp/
Email: mrharrynet@gmail.com