Yufuin Station 湯布院駅
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Yufuin Station serves the very popular rural hot spring resort of Yufuin in the mountains of Oita Prefecture in Kyushu. It is on the Kyudai Line which connects Oita city on the east coast with Kurume in Fukuoka, passing through Hita.
Yufuin Station serves the very popular rural hot spring resort of Yufuin in the mountains of Oita Prefecture in Kyushu. It is on the Kyudai Line which connects Oita city on the east coast with Kurume in Fukuoka, passing through Hita.
Trains to Yufuin
By regular train it is just over an hour from Oita Station, just over an hour from Hita, or almost 3 hours to Kurume. Many people choose the Yufuin no Mori, a luxury express train with picture windows, wooden interiors as well as a snack bar.
Normally the Yufuin no Mori runs three times a day in each direction from Hakata Station via Kurume and Hita. However storm damage closed part of the line near Hita so at the moment the train has been rerouted. It now runs twice a day from Hakata up to Kokura, and round the coast through Beppu and Oita before reaching Yufuin. It is expected that by late summer 2018 the original route will be reopened.
Yufuin Station Facilities
Yufuin has distinguished itself from other hot spring resorts by developing a thriving art scene, and it starts right at the station. One of the nicest station waiting rooms in Japan doubles as an art gallery with exhibitions that change monthly.
In the station is the Tourist Information Office, with two counters opposite each other. One deals with general inquiries, maps, pamphlets etc, the other with booking the various transportation options to explore the town. English is usually spoken at both.
Tourist Information Office in Yufuin Station
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There are numerous transport options from the station. Taxis run from the station, the town bus terminal is less than 100 meters away. It is shared by local buses, long distance highway buses, as well as tour buses.
Bicycles can be rented from the Tourist Information Office, 250 yen per hour with a maximum daily charge of 1,250 yen. A cycling course map is provided.
Rickshaws carrying two passengers operate from a terminal at the crossroads just up from the station. They can be used as a taxi to take you to specific spots, or they have a series of tours.
Yufuin Bus Terminal
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Rickshaw terminal near Yufuin Station
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Scarborough is a small, vintage British bus, one of only two in Japan. 5 times a day it runs a 50 minute course around the town for 1,300 yen per person. Book at the Tourist Information Office.
The signature mode of transport for Yufuin is the horse-drawn carriage. Operating every 30 minutes, the 4 kilometer course around Yufuin takes 50 minutes. Price is 1,500 yen for adults, 1,000 yen for kids. It does not operate in late January or February. Book at the Tourist Information Office.
The very popular horse-drawn carriage ride around Yufuin
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Rental cycles at Yufuin Station
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Accommodation in Yufuin
Like most Japanese towns and cities, the area around the main railway station is dotted with a variety of hotels. Some recommended places to stay in Yufuin include the two star Etavia Yufuinekimae, the four star Yufuin Kotobuki Hananosho, the four-star Ryokan Jo-no-yu and the Yufuin Sansuikan also with four stars.
