Itinerary · Japan

First time in Beppu & Yufuin: getting there from the airport, and how many days do you need?

Fukuoka Airport to Beppu and Yufuin by Sonic, Yufuin no Mori or highway bus, Oita Airport buses, a 3 to 4 day route, Beppu-Yufuin buses and seasonal weather.

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The steaming blue hot-spring pond of Umi Jigoku in Beppu. — Beppu Hells tour (Umi Jigoku) · Photo: Bpcon98 / CC0

Published 2026-10-06

How many days for Beppu & Yufuin? 3 to 4

Beppu & Yufuin is Oita's signature hot-spring region. Beppu is an onsen city where steam rises all over town, famous for its tour of boiling 'Hells' and sand baths; Yufuin, about an hour away by bus, is a quiet hot-spring village beneath Mount Yufu. The guide suggests 3 to 4 days, or longer if combined with Fukuoka.

The basic flow: enjoy the Hells and hot springs in Beppu, spend a night at a Yufuin onsen lodging, see Lake Kinrin early the next morning and head back to Fukuoka.

Day 1: Fukuoka Airport → Hakata, then the Limited Express Sonic to Beppu → check in → sand bath at Takegawara Onsen in the evening, toriten for dinner
Day 2: bus to Kannawa → the five Hells there → jigoku-mushi lunch → Chinoike and Tatsumaki in Shibaseki → Mount Tsurumi ropeway in the afternoon
Day 3: bus to Yufuin → Yunotsubo street (early morning) → Lake Kinrin → a night at a Yufuin onsen lodging
Day 4: early-morning mist at Lake Kinrin → Yufuin no Mori (or Yufu) or a highway bus to Fukuoka → on to the airport with plenty of time

From Fukuoka Airport: the Sonic, the Yufuin no Mori or a highway bus

The guide uses Fukuoka Airport (FUK) as the gateway. From the international terminal, take the free shuttle bus to the domestic terminal, then the subway Airport Line to Hakata Station in about 5 minutes. The subway costs about 260 JPY.

For Beppu, take the JR Limited Express Sonic from Hakata. It runs to Beppu Station without changes in about 2 hours, with frequent departures. For Yufuin, the Yufuin no Mori sightseeing train (all seats reserved) takes about 2 hours 15 minutes. It runs on set operating days, and when it doesn't run the Limited Express Yufu runs at the same times, so reserve seats in advance. Check JR fares officially.

Highway buses are another option. The Yufuin-go (to Yufuin) and Toyonokuni-go (to Beppu) also stop at Fukuoka Airport's international terminal. From Tenjin they take about 2 hours 20-25 minutes to Yufuin and about 2 hours 50 minutes to Beppu, a little less from the airport. The fare is about 3,250 JPY (web discounts available; check official), and seats are assigned, so reservations are required.

Subway Airport Line: about 5 min to Hakata, about 260 JPY
Limited Express Sonic: Hakata to Beppu about 2 hours; check JR fares officially
Limited Express Yufuin no Mori (or Yufu): Hakata to Yufuin about 2 hours 15 min, all seats reserved
Highway buses Yufuin-go and Toyonokuni-go: about 3,250 JPY, reservation required

Arriving at Oita Airport: about 53 minutes to Beppu, 55 to Yufuin

If you fly into Oita Airport (OIT) via another city, airport buses are easiest: the Airliner to Beppu and a non-stop bus to Yufuin Station.

It takes about 53 minutes and about 1,600 JPY to Beppu Station, and about 55 minutes and about 2,000 JPY to Yufuin Station. Buy tickets at the airport ticket machines; IC transit cards also work. Airport and highway buses stop around Beppu Station and Kitahama, Beppu's hub with the JR station and restaurants.

Airliner: about 53 min to Beppu Station, about 1,600 JPY
Non-stop bus: about 55 min to Yufuin Station, about 2,000 JPY
Tickets: airport ticket machines; IC transit cards accepted

Getting around: Kamenoi buses, Beppu-Yufuin buses, JR and rental cars

In Beppu, use Kamenoi buses. Routes run from Beppu Station to Kannawa (the Hells), Shibaseki, Myoban and the ropeway, and you can pay by cash, national IC cards such as Suica, or contactless credit card. Notes of 2,000 JPY and above cannot be changed on board, so carry small change. One- and two-day passes are available; check official information for prices.

Between Beppu Station and Yufuin, the regular route bus (No. 36) takes about 50 minutes, and the Yufurin sightseeing rapid bus runs via the ropeway and Kannawa. Beppu is on the Nippo Line and Yufuin on the Kyudai Line, so traveling between them by JR means changing at Oita. That is why the bus is often easier.

A rental car is handy for drives around Mount Yufu or the Kuju highlands. Japan drives on the left, you need an International Driving Permit, and mountain roads can be icy in winter.

Mount Yufu in autumn afternoon light. — Mount Yufu · Photo: Suicasmo / CC BY-SA 4.0

Kamenoi buses: cash, IC cards, contactless credit cards; notes of 2,000 JPY and above can't be changed on board
Beppu to Yufuin: route bus No. 36 about 50 min, Yufurin sightseeing rapid bus
JR: Beppu to Yufuin means changing at Oita
Rental car: drive on the left, International Driving Permit, icy mountain roads in winter

What to see: from the Hells to Lake Kinrin, plus a daily budget

The Beppu Hells tour is a circuit of seven 'Hells': sea-blue and blood-red pools, a geyser and more. Five are in Kannawa and two (Chinoike and Tatsumaki) are in Shibaseki. They are open 8:00-17:00 year-round; check official information for fees. For lunch, try jigoku-mushi in Kannawa, vegetables and seafood steamed over hot-spring vents.

Takegawara Onsen, within walking distance of Beppu Station, offers a sand bath; it takes no reservations, so you may have to wait. On Mount Tsurumi, a ropeway ride of about 10 minutes brings views over Beppu, Beppu Bay and Mount Yufu. In Yufuin, walk Yunotsubo street early in the morning and continue to Lake Kinrin.

Daily budgets per person: about 7,000 JPY with a business hotel, a toriten set meal and buses; about 15,000-22,000 JPY with an onsen hotel, restaurants and the Hells tour; about 40,000 JPY+ for a Yufuin onsen ryokan with a kaiseki dinner.

Hells tour: seven sites (five in Kannawa, two in Shibaseki), 8:00-17:00, year-round
Takegawara Onsen: sand bath, no reservations
Mount Tsurumi: ropeway about 10 min; check hours officially
Yunotsubo street and Lake Kinrin: early morning
Daily budget per person: about 7,000 / 15,000-22,000 / 40,000+ JPY

When to go: March-May and October-November

March-May and October-November are pleasant for walking and bathing. On early winter mornings, mist rises off Lake Kinrin. June to early July is the rainy season, and typhoons may come in August-September.

Average highs and lows are 13°C and 1°C in March, 19°C and 6°C in April, 23°C and 11°C in May, 21°C and 10°C in October, and 16°C and 4°C in November. August is the hottest month at 30°C and 20°C, and January the coldest at 7°C and -2°C. June is the wettest with 363 mm, July close behind with 355 mm, and December the driest with 55 mm.

Climate figures are 1991–2020 normals from the Japan Meteorological Agency's Yufuin station.

Lake Kinrin in Yufuin wrapped in early-morning mist. — Lake Kinrin · Photo: Tzu-hsun, Hsu / CC BY-SA 4.0

March-May: good for walking and bathing, April high 19°C
June to early July: rainy season, June rainfall 363 mm
August-September: possible typhoons, August high 30°C
October-November: good for walking and bathing, October high 21°C
Winter: early-morning mist at Lake Kinrin, January low -2°C

Onsen etiquette, Yufuin manners and entry checks

At hot springs, wash before entering the bath and keep your towel out of the water. Some facilities restrict guests with tattoos, so check in advance.

Yufuin's Yunotsubo street gets very crowded at midday and on weekends and holidays. Don't block the path or eat while walking; use the space in front of shops to eat. The Yufuin no Mori and highway buses require reservations, so book once your plans are fixed.

The rainy season (June to early July) and typhoons (August-September) can stop trains and buses, so check the Japan Meteorological Agency and transport operators' service information. Entry procedures and online arrival forms can change, so check Japanese government or embassy information before you travel.

Onsen: wash first, towel out of the water, some facilities restrict tattoos
Yunotsubo street: don't eat while walking; eat in front of the shop
Rainy season and typhoons: check JMA and operators' service information
Entry procedures and online arrival forms: check official info

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FAQ

How many days do I need for Beppu & Yufuin?

The guide suggests 3 to 4 days. The basic route is the Hells and hot springs in Beppu plus a night at a Yufuin onsen lodging; plan longer if you combine it with Fukuoka.

How do I get from Fukuoka Airport to Beppu?

Take the subway Airport Line to Hakata (about 5 min, about 260 JPY), then the JR Limited Express Sonic for about 2 hours. You can also take the Toyonokuni-go highway bus from the international terminal (about 3,250 JPY, reservation required).

How do I get from Beppu to Yufuin?

The route bus No. 36 from Beppu Station takes about 50 minutes, and the Yufurin sightseeing rapid bus also runs. By JR you have to change at Oita, so the bus is often easier.

What about Oita Airport?

Take an airport bus: the Airliner to Beppu Station in about 53 minutes (about 1,600 JPY), or the non-stop bus to Yufuin Station in about 55 minutes (about 2,000 JPY).