Yunotsubo Street — Local services in Yufu

Yufuin is such a peaceful and beautiful village, and it’s great for a day trip if you’re staying in Fukuoka. It’s super easy to get to from Hakata Station with options like the Yufuin no Mori tourist train or the Limited Express to Beppu. If you visit during colder weather, Yufuin is also known for its hot springs, or you could head to Beppu, which is just over an hour away by train.

We went in mid-December, so we missed the autumn colors, but it was still worth the trip. Even during the off-season, there are quite a few visitors, but the crowds aren’t too overwhelming. A day is more than enough to explore the village, and Mount Yufu looks amazing at sunset.

As with most places in Japan, the food here is definitely a highlight. There are tons of stalls with delicious snacks like golden croquettes and giant crab sticks—perfect for warming up after walking around in the cold. No matter the weather, though, you’ve got to try the soft-serve ice cream, especially anything with Yufuin Milk....

Nice area to stop by on the way to Beppu. There's a famous Totoro store and lots of people go there to shop. Prices are way over the top, but it's famous from the cartoon. The area is nice when you reach the lake area. There are tourist, but less. If you have kids, bring them. No cars!

As for parking, there's a secret spot. Make a right at the river, go down a little and there are some "unofficial parking spots" on the left. They are...

A street filled with small shops and restaurants.

Food such as famous croquettes and yakitori and various souvenir shops. Always crowded streets. The place where I saw the most people during my summer trip to Japan.

There are so many delicious foods to eat, so it would be a good idea to lighten your meal and eat a variety of snacks. It's a shame that I didn't get to try a variety of snacks because I ate a...