In comparison, the highway bus (高速バス), which was what we took, can be just half the price per person (¥4,110) if you know the right discounts (the general rules are that it is cheaper (i) if you go in in pair, (ii) if you book earlier and/or (iii) if you book online.) Just go to http://www.highwaybus.com/ to reserve. (If you are thinking about going to more than one place in the Northern Kyushu Area by bus, you may also want to check out our blog on the SUNQ Pass.
What to do in Yufuin besides Onsen
Yufuin is a very small, touristy town (think Dazaifu) where everything is within walking distance. We would like to think of it as a large park where you can take a relaxing stroll and spend a relaxing day there.
(However, most of them can’t send the piece overseas (and you wouldn’t want to break the artwork that you made, too!). That means you have to have a Japanese address (maybe a friend) who can receive it for you in 2 months’ time.)
This is the yunomi made during that experience.
2. Kinrinko
The second place we recommend is the famous Kinrinko (金鱗湖), literally the Lake of Golden Scales.
3. Yufuin Floral Village
Finally, we have also found this beautiful little place called Yufuin Floral Village the admission to which is free. There’re cute squirrels, so what more need to be said!
Forest Inn Born
We spent our night not in an onsen, but in an inn deep inside the forest of Yufuin. We can safely say this is one of the best accommodations out there in Kyushu!
The forest is around 30 minutes of drive from the train station. (Even if you don’t drive, the hotel’s staff will pick you up.) That ride itself will take you away from the touristy vibes of Town of Yufuin and into its mystical forest.
There are only three rooms in the inn. Instead of rooms, in fact, they are actual “houses” separate from each other.
Given all these, we suppose it comes as no surprise that the dinner and breakfast were superb! Did we mention that while eating breakfast, a deer was also eating his/her breakfast in the window before us?
This is the deer!
Tsukahara Onsen
Within 30–45 minutes of walk from the inn, there was the Tukahara Onsen (塚原温泉), which is not only an onsen, but also a sightseeing spot in itself.
Interestingly, they also sell onsen eggs! Unlike the normal half-boiled ‘onsen eggs’ that you might think of, this is actually full-boiled but tastes wonderful especially after the hike! Enjoy.
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