Yufuin walking guide: Yunotsubo Street, Lake Kinrin and transport updates

Plan a walk in Yufuin with the official 10-minute walk from Yufuin Station to Yunotsubo Street, autumn-winter mist at Lake Kinrin, parking advice and updated Beppu–Yufuin bus notices.

Last checked:

  • Oita
  • Hot springs
  • Day trips

Yufuin () is a hot spring town in Oita Prefecture suited to exploring on foot. Two main places in town are Yunotsubo Street and Lake Kinrin. This article summarizes official walking information and driving advice, and includes bus notices for travel from Beppu to Yufuin. For routes from Fukuoka, see Transport from Fukuoka to Beppu and Yufuin.

Key points

  • About 10 minutes on foot from JR Yufuin Station to Yunotsubo Street.
  • The street is narrow; drivers should use nearby paid parking.
  • Lake Kinrin has a path around it. The official page says morning mist may appear from autumn to winter.
  • All services on the sightseeing rapid Yufurin bus between Beppu and Yufuin have been suspended; see below.

Walking route

Place Official information
Yunotsubo Street () About 10 minutes on foot from Yufuin Station. The road is narrow, so drivers should use nearby paid parking; paid car parks are available in the area.
Lake Kinrin () Maintained walking paths surround the lake, where fish and waterbirds can be seen. Morning mist is possible from autumn to winter; paid parking is available nearby.

The official pages for these two places do not list admission fees, shop opening hours or the walking time between them, so this article does not provide those details.

Morning or afternoon?

  • To see morning mist, the official description specifies early mornings from autumn to winter.
  • For shopping on the street, the official page does not specify shop hours; check locally.
  • By car, Lake Kinrin is about 10 minutes from Yufuin IC (according to the access information on Lake Kinrin’s official tourism page).

Bus from Beppu to Yufuin

Kamenoi Bus () has issued two official announcements:

  • All services on the sightseeing rapid Yufurin () have been suspended since 17 October 2026, with no resumption date announced. The operator recommends taking route 36 towards Yufuin from Beppu Station West Exit.
  • From 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, a direct bus departing 9:30 from stop 5 in front of Beppu Station serves only Beppu Station and the Yufuin Station Front Bus Center. The adult fare is 1,100 yen and the child fare 550 yen. Cash, IC cards, Wide 1-day and 2-day passes, and SUNQ Pass are accepted, but contactless credit-card payments are not. Boarding may be refused when crowded.

Checks before departure

  1. Check for updates to the bus announcements.
  2. If driving, find paid parking in advance.
  3. To see morning mist, choose an early morning in autumn or winter.

For other Oita attractions, see the Beppu Hells guide. For a ride on Yufuin no Mori, see Yufuin no Mori (from Fukuoka). For a regional overview, see the Kyushu travel guide.

Sources