[Introduction]

We will be spending a day trip exploring the quaint (and rather touristy) town Yufuin, where one could experience mountains, lakes and onsen in this small town.

[Trip Report]
Day 1: Explore around Nagano
Day 2: Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route
Day 3: Matsumoto Castle, Nakamachi District, Matsumoto City Museum of Art and night exploring around Nagano
Day 4: Nagano Zenkoji Temple and Kanazawa Higashi Chaya District
Day 5: Shirakawago
Day 6: Hida-Takayama, Hida-Furukawa, and “Your Name” location spots
Day 7: Kanazawa Omicho Market, Kenrokuen Garden, and Kanazawa Castle Park
Day 8: Explore around Osaka
Day 9: Osaka Shinsekai, Tempozan Ferris Wheel, Glion Museum, and Cosmo Tower Observatory
Day 10: Osaka Castle, Gozabune Boat, HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel, and Kuchu Teien Observatory
Day 11: Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Kinkakuji, and Yasaka Shrine
Day 12: Osaka Dotonbori, Kaiyukan, and Shinsekai
Day 13: Kyoto Fushimi Inari, Ginkakuji, and Arashiyama
Day 14: Okayama Korakuen, Okayama Castle, and Kojima Jeans Street
Day 15: Miyajima
Day 16: Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Dome, Peace Memorial Park, Peace Memorial Museum
Day 17: Yufuin [current post]
Day 18: Hakata Ohori Park, Fukuoka Castle Ruins, and Fukuoka Tower
Day 19: Nanzoin Temple

[Travel Date]
2019-10-27 to 2019-11-14

[Arriving at Hakata Station 博多駅]

As we took the Shinkansen from Hiroshima Station straight to Hakata Station, which will be our based for 2 nights.

After dropping our luggages at our hotel in Fukuoka, we went back to Hakata Station to get some breakfast; croissants from il FORNO del MIGNON (delicious and affordable), and an ekiben at the station too before making our way to Yufuin.

[Huis Ten Bosch ハウステンボス Train]

Ah nope, this is not the train we are taking to Yufuin.

But it looks unique and nice, so I took some photos of it.

As its name, it runs between Hakata Station and Huis Ten Bosch Station, where the latter is a theme park (of the same name) that recreates the Netherlands by displaying life-sized copies of old Dutch buildings.

[Yufuin no Mori ゆふいんの森 Train]

Ah yes, this is the themed sightseeing train we are taking to Yufuin! The Yufuin no Mori ゆふいんの森 train.

The train itself is like an old school elegant style, decor mainly of wooden style flooring, green walls and chairs; trying to replicate a forest which their train is named as; Yufuin’s Forest in direct translation.

**As usual bought an Ekiben for this 2h 13m trip**
Yufuin

**Bought Yufuin Cider (too sweet for us)**
Yufuin

**Took photo of wife in the theme train’s interior**
Yufuin

**There’s also a section in the train you can stamp to collect “your visit” to this place/train**
Yufuin

**Nice sized window to look out at a relaxing pace**
Yufuin

**Countryside views on route to Yufuin**
Yufuin

[Yufuin Station 由布院駅]

Upon exiting Yufuin Station, this is the view of the station itself, and the below photo what one could see coming out from the station, nice small town with a picturesque scene of a mountain (Mount Yufu) in the backdrop.

**Yufuin town center with Mount Yufu in the backdrop**
Yufuin

**Just a nice moment of light and shadow**
Yufuin

[B-Speak ビー・スピーク]

As we are walking towards Yunotsubo Kaido and Yufuin Floral Village, you will definitely walk past B-Speak - A popular roll cake speciality shop in Yufuin, where their roll cake sells out regularly by afternoon or even earlier. Definitely one of the must do to order their roll cake before continuing on route to our destinations.

So…does the taste lives up to its hype?

Do click on the link for the detailed review and photos.

[Donguri No Mori どんぐりの森]

A shop selling lots of Studio Ghibli’s merchandise and other souvenirs, bought some Kiki's Delivery Service plush and some smaller souvenirs too.

…And took quite a number of photos with the giant plush toys outside the shop too.

[Dessert time at Milch ミルヒ]

Milch is located in a small quaint town of Yufuin is famous for the German cheesecake and pudding, and they do have a few accolades under their belt too!

By the way, Milch is the german word for milk. Based on their website they use 100% locally produce Yufuin milk.

Do click on the link for the detailed review and photos.

[Yunotsubo Kaido 湯の坪街道]

As you can see from the several pictures of snacks, you would have guessed we have already entered Yunotsubo Kaido. The entire street is rather short, you could probably cover it in 30 minutes IF you do not enter any shops.

But that defeats the purpose isn’t it, it is so tempting to enter every shop, gallery, and cafe. I will say buffer in at least 1-2 hours for this portion.

Sadly, one of the cafes (Yufuin Fuwari) we wanted to try was closed that day.

[Yufuin Floral Village 湯布院フローラルビレッジ]

Yufuin Floral Village is a theme park based on the Cotswolds area in England, where the famous movie “Harry Potter” was made.

There will be many chances for souvenirs and plush toys purchasing, from My Neighbour Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Moomin, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Rabbit, and many more interesting shops.

Of course many photo ops in the area too!

[Miffy Forest Bakery]

Very cute Miffy theme bakery in Yufuin! But we didn’t go in or purchase any bread as we are still full from the various snacks we kept eating on the way.

So just took some photos to quench our eyes (and yours too hopefully!).

While I was writing this post (30 Dec 2021), I am not sure whether this shop is still around (or might have closed down due to COVID) as I can’t find any information about this outlet on Google.

Just to let my readers know if you are reading this post in future when we can do internationally travel leisurely again.

[Retro Motor Museum]

We did not go in due to both time constraints and not that interested, but as the caption says; Retro Motor Museum is a private collection of retro cars and motorcycles, and even a plane (photo below).

**My wife loves red maple leaves**
Yufuin

[Lake Kinrin 金鱗湖]

Lake Kinrin is one of the most popular scenic spots in Yufuin, famed for their mists floating above the surface of the lake in the early morning (which you can’t see unless you drive or stay a night in Yufuin).

Even though we can’t experience the misting, it was a very tranquil moment when we sit and relax on the bench near the mini shrine (and mini torii gate) under the giant trees with golden light peering through the leaves.

Another great spot for photo ops too!

**Couple photo with Lake Kinrin 金鱗湖 in the backdrop**
Yufuin

**Best spot to sit and take in the view of Lake Kinrin**
Yufuin

[Time to make our way back to Yufuin Station]

After a relaxing time sitting at the bench viewing the scenery of Lake Kinrin, it’s time to head back to Yufuin Station and take the limited express train back to Hakata Station.

Took quite a bit of street shots while on our way back to the station (golden light is just so nice that day), and also to pick up our roll cake from B-Speak.

**Casual snap of wife, as I just like the golden light in the evening**
Yufuin

**Mount Yufu with some golden light**
Yufuin

**Yufuin town basked in golden light**
Yufuin

[Back at Hakata Station]

Shop around the station’s many convenience stores to get some water, and we saw a cute Kumamon plushie!

While making our way to our dinner place, we saw quite a few Anpanman adverts/decor too around the station.

[Dinner at Hakata Issou 博多一双博多駅東本店]

Hakata Issou is one of the most raved ramen restaurants in Hakata, and probably the most popular around Hakata Station area. Furthermore, tonkotsu ramen originates from Hakata, so we are very excited to try it from the originating city!

Do click on the link for the detailed review and photos.

ps: It is really overrated…

[Closing]

It was a full and tiring day, cause I was monitoring the seat availability of Yufuin no Mori theme train every 10 minutes while checking out, rushing to shinkansen, etc. Cause the missus really wanted to try the theme train, just trying my best on it and we did get it, so it work out well in the end!

For the last 2 days in Fukuoka, we planned to go/do more stuff, but I’m just too tired from the schedule and travelling. Actually, since Osaka I’m rather drained, cause our hotel in Osaka wasn’t in an optimum location especially for a very packed scheduled and needed to walk long distances daily really tires us out, furthermore the photography equipment that I need to carry too.

So the next 2 days are really us sleeping in quite a bit (9-10am going out vs 6-7am going out by schedule) and taking things really slow.

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Japan 2019 Trip Day 17: Yufuin

[Introduction]

[Arriving at Hakata Station 博多駅]

[Huis Ten Bosch ハウステンボス Train]

[Yufuin no Mori ゆふいんの森 Train]

[Yufuin Station 由布院駅]

[B-Speak ビー・スピーク]

[Donguri No Mori どんぐりの森]

[Dessert time at Milch ミルヒ]

[Yunotsubo Kaido 湯の坪街道]

[Yufuin Floral Village 湯布院フローラルビレッジ]

[Miffy Forest Bakery]

[Retro Motor Museum]

[Lake Kinrin 金鱗湖]

[Time to make our way back to Yufuin Station]

[Back at Hakata Station]

[Dinner at Hakata Issou 博多一双 博多駅東本店]

[Closing]

[Buy Me A Coffee]

[Dinner at Hakata Issou 博多一双博多駅東本店]