View source for Yufuin, Ōita

{{short description|Spa town in Ōita Prefecture, Japan}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2012}}
[[File:Yufuin and Mount Yufu.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Mount Yufu]] (由布岳, ''Yufudake'') is the representative sight of Yufuin]]
[[File:Yufuin panorama.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Yufuin panorama]]

{{nihongo|'''Yufuin'''|湯布院町|Yufuin-chō}} was a [[List of towns in Japan|town]] located in [[Ōita District, Ōita|Ōita District]], [[Ōita Prefecture]], [[Japan]]. Yufuin is now a district ({{linktext|町}}) within the [[Cities in Japan|city]] of [[Yufu]]. Its elevation is approximately 400 meters above ground.

As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 11,342 and [[population density|density]] of 88.77 persons per km<sup>2</sup>. The total area was 127.77&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.

On October 1, 2005, Yufuin, along with the towns of [[Hasama, Ōita|Hasama]] and [[Shonai, Ōita|Shonai]] (all from [[Ōita District, Ōita|Ōita District]]), was merged to create the city of [[Yufu]]. This controversial decision resulted in the recall of the mayor and a snap election in which he regained office.

Located in a green valley beneath the spectacular [[Mount Yufu]] ([[:ja:由布岳|由布岳]], ''Yufudake''), a short walk from the town centre is a mix of [[paddy field]]s, housing and upmarket [[Ryokan (Japanese inn)|ryokan]], with a few temples. Mount Yufu, or Yufu-dake, can be hiked in about 90 minutes.<ref name="Introducing Yufuin">{{cite web
| url=  http://www.lonelyplanet.com/japan/kyushu/yufuin
| title=  Introducing Yufuin
| publisher=[[Lonely Planet]]
| access-date =September 5, 2010
}}</ref> Although still connected to its rural roots, Yufuin is a [[Honeypot (geography)|tourist town]] and a popular destination for [[tour bus|coach]] tours, especially among Korean, Chinese, Thai, and Taiwanese tourists. There is the picturesque Lake Kinrin and rivers flow down and across the valley. Some hotels have outdoor baths called [[rotenburo]] with a view of [[Mount Yufu]].

==Hot springs==
[[File:Yufuin Onsen -Musōen 02.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Onsen]] ''rotenburo'' (outdoor bath) with a view of Mount Yufu. Onsens are popular among locals and tourists alike]]
Yufuin is famous for natural {{nihongo|[[hot springs]] |温泉|[[Onsen]]}}, resulting in a local economy based on domestic tourism, [[gift shop]]s and hot-spring bathing. Some ''onsen'' are available to day tourists, but many are strictly for overnight guests. There are also "[[Sentō|sento]]", which are the traditional public baths used by locals. One of these, the Shitanyu, can be used by tourists, while the others are for use by local residents only.<ref name="japan-guide e4750">{{cite web
| url=  http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4750.html
| title=  Yufuin Travel Guide
| publisher=Japan-guide.com 
| access-date =September 5, 2010
}}</ref>

==Sightseeing==
[[Image:Lake Kinrin.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Kinrin-ko ({{linktext|金|鱗|湖}}) lit. "Golden Scale Lake" is a tourist attraction in Yufuin]]
The two-[[mountain peak|peaked]] [[Mount Yufu]] and Lake Kinrin (金鱗湖, ''kinrin-ko'') are commonly viewed and photographed by tourists. Lake Kinrin is known for its [[autumn leaf color|fall leaves]] and the [[steam]] that rises from the lake's surface on cold mornings.<ref name="kinrin">{{cite web |title=Lake Kinrin |url=https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/712/ |website=Japan National Tourism Organization |access-date=13 June 2024}}</ref>

[[image:Yufuin Floral Village.jpg|thumb|Yufuin Floral Village's small houses]] 
Yufuin Floral Village (湯布院フローラルヴィレッジ) is another well-known tourist attraction in Yufuin. It features many small houses (acting as [[gift shop]]s) modeled after the [[Cotswolds]] region of England.<ref name="Floral">{{cite web |title=Yufuin Floral Village |url=https://floral-village.com/ |access-date=13 June 2024}}</ref>

With a suspension in [[COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19]]-related [[Travel during the COVID-19 pandemic|travel restrictions]] and the reintroduction of flights connecting [[Incheon International Airport]] and [[Oita Airport]] in 2024 for the first time in five years, Yufuin has seen a large increase in tourism from [[South Korea]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=19 January 2024 |title=大韓航空　大分ーソウル線あす5年ぶりに復活　インバウンドでにぎわう観光地・湯布院からは喜びの声　大分 |url=https://news.ntv.co.jp/n/tos/category/society/to2aa8447b99f84ff68f06ca7e9ad4b982 |access-date=15 October 2024 |website=TOS News}}</ref> In December, 2023, 55,000 Korean tourists stayed overnight in Yufuin, more than four times higher than pre-COVID numbers.<ref name=":0" />

==Annual events==
* July: Yufuin Music Festival ([[:ja:ゆふいん音楽祭|ゆふいん音楽祭]])
* August: Yufuin Film Festival ([[:ja:湯布院映画祭|湯布院映画祭]])
* October: Ushikurai Shouting Tournament ([[:ja:牛喰い絶叫大会|牛喰い絶叫大会]])

==Transportation==
[[File:Yufuin Station 02.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Yufuin Station]]
[[File:Yufuin Station Name Board.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Yufuin Station sign in [[hiragana]] (ゆふいん)]]

=== Railway ===
[[File:JR Kyushu logo.svg|18x18px]] [[Kyushu Railway Company|JR Kyushu]] – [[Kyūdai Main Line]]

* [[Yufuin Station|Yufuin]] - [[Minami-Yufu Station|Minami-Yufu]] - [[Yunohira Station|Yunohira]]

=== Highway ===

* [[File:JP Expressway E34.svg|alt=E48|48x48px]] [[Ōita Expressway]] – {{Interlanguage link|Yufuin interchange|ja|湯布院インターチェンジ|WD=}}
* [[File:Japanese National Route Sign 0210.svg|alt=E48|27x27px]] [[Japan National Route 210|National Route 210]]

=== Road Transport ===
* Highway bus from [[Fukuoka]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-18 |title=Yufuin |url=https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4750.html?aFROM=2161_4750 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=japan-guide.com |language=en}}</ref>

==TV drama==
* Yufuin is the setting for the [[NHK]] [[Japanese television drama]] "[[:ja:風のハルカ|Kaze no Haruka]]"

==See also==
*[[Municipal mergers and dissolutions in Japan]]
*[[List of mergers in Oita Prefecture|Mergers and dissolutions in Oita-ken]]
*[[Resort town]]

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{coord|33.263247|N|131.356332|E|type:adm1st_region:JP|display=title}}

==External links==
* [http://www.city.yufu.oita.jp/ Yufu official website] {{in lang|ja}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yufuin, Oita}}
[[Category:Dissolved municipalities of Ōita Prefecture]]
[[Category:Spa towns in Japan]]
[[Category:Tourism in Japan]]
[[Category:Yufu, Ōita]]

{{Oita-geo-stub}}