#summervacay
I was lucky enough to snag a reservation for the Yufuin no Mori train! I managed to book it in person at Hakata Station. Honestly, it wasn't quite as unique as the "Tamatebako" train, but that might have been partly due to the gloomy weather.
Yufuin itself is primarily a charming commercial street with lots of character. Since the weather was so bad, my travel companions and I decided to find a private onsen (hot spring bath). We just picked a random one on the street, without any prior research, and there were quite a few options. We chose an indoor private bath for 2000 JPY/hour; outdoor ones were 2600 JPY/hour. The front desk staff were an elderly couple, and while there was a language barrier, Google Translate helped us communicate effectively. After our soak, we felt incredibly refreshed and relaxed – all our fatigue just vanished!
Kinrinko Lake is quite small, but it held a pleasant surprise: I spotted a golden fish! The rainy weather made the lake look extra ethereal, almost like a fairy tale.
Many places in Yufuin seem to specialize in soba noodles, but to be honest, I'm not quite used to the taste. The soba restaurant I went to had a nice view facing Kinrinko Lake
As for recommendations, we simply wandered and tried various local treats like ice cream, snacks, fried foods, dorayaki, and daifuku. For me, it's less about whether a place is "worth it" and more about enjoying the journey. When you're traveling, it's all about exploring and having a happy trip!
#yufuinnomori #yufuin #fukuoka #japantrain #privateonsen #hotsprings