Mist-draped Kyushu valley — art museums, wagyu, and intimate onsen
Yufuin is a small hot spring resort in the mountains of Oita Prefecture, Kyushu — a deliberate contrast to Beppu's commercial bustle. The town sits in a high-altitude valley below the twin peaks of Yufu-dake, surrounded by ricefields and ryokan with private outdoor baths. The main street (Yufuin Hanamachi) is lined with craft shops, small art museums, and cafes. Yufuin wagyu beef is among the finest in Japan. The iconic image is morning fog over Lake Kinrin, with hot spring water mixing with the cold mountain air.
Yufuin was a small farming and forestry village before the Kyushu Railway opened a station in 1915. Unlike most Japanese resort towns, Yufuin's transformation into a tourism destination was driven by two local inn owners — Nakaya Kenichi and Soltau Wakako — who visited European spa towns in the 1970s and returned determined to create a destination focused on nature, culture, and small-scale artisanal craftsmanship rather than mass tourism. Their vision, implemented through strict development controls and cultural programming, created the distinctive Yufuin character.