My trip to Yufuin started with a slight change of plans!

#summervacay I was originally booked on the 2:43 PM Yufuin-no-Mori, but since that would have meant a late arrival, I decided to switch to the 1:13 PM Yufu Express instead. While the Yufu Express has reserved seats (cars 1-3), I found the unreserved car (car 4) to be quite empty, making for a comfortable ride. The journey was just about an hour, and then I had arrived in Yufuin! Hotel & Dining Upon exiting the station, I headed straight to my accommodation: the long-established Hana no Mai hotel, where I had booked a stay with dinner and breakfast included. My room was quite spacious and came with a private onsen – a wonderful perk! You get to fill it yourself and adjust the water temperature, which was a nice touch. Both dinner and breakfast were traditional Japanese meals, served course by course. Dinner, in particular, was a leisurely affair, lasting about an hour and a half. Exploring Yufuin Town After settling in, I spent the afternoon wandering through Yufuin town. It was about a 10-minute walk from the hotel to the entrance, marked by the famous B-Speak bakery (known for its popular roll cakes, which I'd say are comparable to Sam's Club's version!). I actually bought one the next day when I took shelter from a downpour. Right next to B-Speak is Yunotsubo Kaido Street, the liveliest part of the town. As I walked, I could admire views of Mount Yufu, often shrouded in mist, making it look like an ethereal wonderland. The street itself is perfect for a leisurely stroll, with various charming shops on both sides. While it's certainly commercialized, it wasn't as overwhelmingly so as I'd anticipated, which added to the overall enjoyment of my city walk. For any Studio Ghibli fans, there are plenty of Miyazaki-themed shops offering classic merchandise, with movie posters adorning the walls – you'll definitely feel right at home! #yufuin #japantravel #onsen #yufuinnomori #yufuinstation #privatebath