The 10 Best Ryokans in Yufuin Onsen

Located at the foot of Oita Prefecture’s Mount Yufu is the tranquil and idyllic hot spring town of Yufuin, where scenic landscapes of rolling hills and lush fields provide the backdrop for the quaint town center. Accommodations here tend to be spread out, giving guests the opportunity to spend a healing getaway surrounded by nature. Among Yufuin’s variety of superb accommodation options, these 10 ryokans (traditional Japanese inns) stand out as some of the best.

Reminiscent of a village in the mountains, the luxurious Yufuin Baien Garden Resort boasts 26 spacious and stylish rooms, most designed in the Japanese-western fusion style. Guests can unwind in various ways here, whether through a soak in the hot-spring baths — one of which faces Mount Yufu — or a walk through the inn’s vast, forest-like garden.

The creative kaiseki dishes here are as delectable as they are artfully presented. They use fine local ingredients such as Kanmuri-jidori chicken and Bungo beef — Oita’s premium homegrown breeds.

Feel at home, as if you have the entire place to yourself, at Yufuin Onsen Oyado Gorinka. At this villa-style accommodation, all of the main building’s rooms are set up like detached houses, and outside each room, a garden and a private open-air bath await. Also on the premises is an annex with modern Japanese-style rooms which come with private open-air baths as well.

Each room can accommodate up to five people, and while no meals are served here, you can stock up on food at Yufuin’s main shopping street on the way. A 15-minute walk or two-minute drive from JR Yufuin Station, Gorinka is located slightly away from the town center; but that means you can spend a relaxing time away from the hustle and bustle of downtown.

Just eight minutes on foot from Yufuin Station is Yufuin Onsen Yufuin Sansuikan, a ryokan with an on-site craft beer brewery. Japanese, western, and fusion rooms are available here, with some rooms facing Mount Yufu. Two bathing facilities offer a mix of indoor and outdoor hot spring baths, plus panoramic views of Yufuin’s scenery.

Breakfast and dinner are buffet-style, featuring diverse local specialties and gourmet delights such as wagyu beef and snow crabs. After dinner, take a dip in the hot spring, then cool yourself off with free-flowing drinks at the lounge.

Close to Lake Kinrin, the secluded Yufuin Onsen Ryokan Hotaru no Yado Sendo is surrounded by trees, with a stream flowing nearby. During the day, you can hear birds chirping, and the illuminated lodge takes on an ambient glow at night.

Rooms come in Japanese, western, and fusion styles. In addition to its open-air bath, Sendo also has private indoor baths. After bathing, guests can enjoy free-flowing beer and other drinks at the rest area.

Elegant Japanese aesthetics with a western touch take center stage at the beautifully designed Yufuin Onsen Soan Kosumosu. At this luxury ryokan, rooms in the main building are spacious enough to accommodate families or groups. At the same time, the annex is home to maisonette-style houses and a detached room, all of which come with private open-air baths and garden views.

Not to be missed is Soan Kosumosu’s kaiseki cuisine, which has earned positive word-of-mouth reviews for its flavor, gorgeous presentation, and excellent choices of local and seasonal ingredients: high-grade Bungo beef, rice grown from the ryokan’s paddies, and more.

A five- to ten-minute drive from Yufuin Station is Yufuin Yado Seikoen, whose silky smooth hot spring waters are directly sourced. The four rooms in its annex, one of which faces Mount Yufu, all come with private semi open-air baths. Meanwhile, its main building’s six Japanese-style rooms are equipped with a sink and toilet but no shower or bath.

In addition to indoor and outdoor communal baths, the ryokan also has two private baths that guests can reserve for free. Premium Oita wagyu beef is the highlight of its kaiseki dinners, while the breakfast course features a fish-based hotpot.

Enjoy bath time in peace at Yufuin Onsen Oyado Yufuintei, where each room is a detached unit with a private hot spring bath. Though this ryokan is located in a quiet area surrounded by greenery, it’s only a five-minute drive from Yufuin Station and a short walk to the main shopping street.

There's also a communal bath for those who still can’t get enough of the traditional hot spring bathing experience. Moreover, the rest area provides free drinks and even boiled eggs to refresh yourself afterward. For those booking with the meal options, enjoy a creative kaiseki course with wagyu beef steak for dinner and a healthy Japanese-style set for breakfast.

Tucked away in Yufun’s Tsukahara Highlands is Yufuin Onsen Oyado Yufunosho, a sprawling complex with eight detached rooms and four private bathing facilities. A 15- to 20-minute drive from the town center (a free shuttle service is available from Yufuin Station with prior reservation), this inn positions guests closer to nature. You can wake up to see morning mist blanketing the hills or stargaze from the open-air baths.

There’s plenty to keep you occupied here. Stroll around, bathe, and relax by the main building’s sunken hearth. Indulge in Oita’s specialties for dinner: A5 Bungo beef, local mountain vegetables, and basashi (horse sashimi). The nourishing breakfast, inspired by mountain hut cuisine, will remind you of a home-cooked meal.

Also in the Tsukahara Highlands is Yufuin Onsen Sanso Shikian, a villa consisting of 16 detached guestrooms with private baths. If the thatched-roof main building’s architecture looks familiar to you, it was originally a farmhouse brought over from the famous Shirakawa-go Village.

Feast on a sumptuous course featuring wagyu beef for dinner and a buffet of rural delicacies for breakfast. In addition to unwinding at the private and communal baths, recharge yourself by admiring the rich surrounding nature — and say hello to any farm animals that may be wandering around!

Fantastic views of Mount Yufu and soothing hot spring baths beneficial to the skin await at Yufuin Onsen Yufudake Ichibo no Yado Kirara. A five-minute drive from Yufuin Station, with a free shuttle service for guests (with prior reservation), this inn is close enough to nature to enjoy the views and feel the gentle breeze at the terrace.

All nine rooms come with scenic views of Mount Yufu and private baths with hot spring water directly flowing from the source. Dinner consists of creatively presented kaiseki cuisine featuring seasonal Oita seafood and produce, and breakfast is the chef's recommended Japanese set meal.