Visit Yufuin for the day or stay overnight?
Compare three nights in Beppu with a Yufuin day trip against two nights in Beppu followed by one in Yufuin. The Yufuin overnight itinerary visits Usuki Stone Buddhas on day two. Book a sightseeing taxi from Usuki Station to the figures and back by the preceding day; taxi and return JR costs are extra.
Choose an itinerary for 4 days, 3 nights
Stay in Beppu and take a day trip to Yufuin
For walks around Yufuin's street and lake without changing hotels, spend three nights at the same hotel near Beppu Station and visit Yufuin as a day trip.
Stay in Beppu and take a day trip to Yufuin →4 days, 3 nights BA day in Usuki, then move to Yufuin
Spend two nights near Beppu Station, followed by one near Yufuin Station. Give Usuki a separate day during your Beppu stay. Reserve a sightseeing taxi by the preceding day for Usuki Station → Stone Buddhas → Usuki Station.
A day in Usuki, then move to Yufuin →Stay in Beppu and take a day trip to Yufuin
For walks around Yufuin's street and lake without changing hotels, spend three nights at the same hotel near Beppu Station and visit Yufuin as a day trip.
Day 1 · Airport → Kannawa's five hells → Beppu hotel
Visit Kannawa's five hells and return to your Beppu hotel. If arriving late, do not try to fit them all in.
- Oita Airport and Beppu hotel → Route 5 → Umi Jigoku-mae
Arrive from the airport at Kitahama, leave luggage at your hotel, then go to Beppu Station west-side stop 3. Take an APU-bound route 5 bus to Umi Jigoku-mae for Kannawa's five nearby hells. Choose your return service first from the official weekday or weekend timetable.
Airliner timetableRoute 5 toward APU: timetableRoute 5 return timetable
- Kannawa facility entrance → Visit five hells and prepare for the bus
Allow walks between entrances before sightseeing ends at 5 p.m. Visit fewer places if you arrive late.
- Return to Beppu Station → Dinner → same hotel
Return from Umi Jigoku-mae on route 5 toward Beppu Station's west side. Have dinner near the station, then rest at your hotel. The checked subtotal is ¥4,780: combined ticket ¥2,400, route 5 round trip ¥780 and airport bus ¥1,600.
Leave luggage at the hotel after Kitahama, then go to the Kannawa-bound stop on Beppu Station's west side. Allow walks between facilities and back to the return stop. Reduce sightseeing so you can make the bus departure after closing.
Day 2 · Chinoike and Tatsumaki → Beppu hotel
Use yesterday's combined ticket to visit Chinoike and Tatsumaki, then rest at your Beppu hotel.
- Beppu hotel and east-side stop 5 → Route 26 → Chinoike Jigoku-mae
Get a ¥1,100 Kamenoi Bus Mini one-day pass for today and take route 26 from Beppu Station-mae east-side stop 5 to Chinoike Jigoku-mae. Return on the outer-direction route 16 loop toward Beppu Station-mae. Route 26 heads toward Kannawa on the return, so do not assume it is the same direction. Check official weekday/weekend timetables along with entrance walks and eruption waiting.
Route 26 weekday timetableRoute 16 loop, outer directionOfficial Mini one-day pass fare and Beppu hells area
- Chinoike Jigoku-mae → Visit the two remaining hells
Check both services for your travel day and visit Chinoike and Tatsumaki. Yesterday's hells combined ticket can be used once per facility through today. Allow separate time for Tatsumaki's eruption and the walk from stop to entrance.
- Chinoike Jigoku-mae and Beppu Station → Route 16 return, lunch and Beppu hotel
Return to the station for lunch and rest at your hotel. Use today's Mini one-day pass for the return; hells admission is separate. Day one's route 5 round trip uses the standard fare, so do not apply today's pass to yesterday as well.
Route 16 loop, outer directionKamenoi Bus official My Beppu Free
Depart on route 26 from east-side stop 5 and check route 16's loop direction for the return. Today's ¥1,100 Mini one-day pass is included in the cost. Allow separate time for entrance walks and eruption waiting. Visit only facilities not yet used on yesterday's combined ticket, then return to your Beppu hotel. You do not go to the airport today.
Day 3 · Yufuin day walk → Beppu hotel
Leave large luggage at your Beppu hotel for the Yufuin day trip. Allow time to return from Lake Kinrin to the bus center.
- Beppu hotel → Route 36 → Yunotsubo Street and Lake Kinrin walk
Take route 36 from Beppu Station west-side stop 1 to Yufuin. Walk from the station along Yunotsubo Street to Lake Kinrin. The lake is about 25 minutes away; allow additional time for shopping, photos, breaks and the return walk.
Route 36 weekday timetableSeparate timetablePrefectural tourism agencyCity tourism mapOfficial Lake Kinrin guide
- Lake Kinrin → Yufuin bus center → Beppu hotel
Walk back from Lake Kinrin to the bus center and take a Beppu-bound route 36. Check your date's return service and stop location in the official timetable. Adult fare is ¥1,100 each way, or ¥2,200 round trip. You return to your Beppu hotel today rather than staying in Yufuin.
Route 36 weekday timetableSeparate timetableCurrent combined fare table
Check directions and service days for both the Yufuin-bound and Beppu return buses. You do not check in at Yufuin today; you return to your Beppu hotel. Allow separate time to walk back from Lake Kinrin to the station/bus center.
Day 4 · Ropeway → airport
Finish the ropeway visit, return to Beppu and leave for the airport from Kitahama.
- Beppu hotel → Route 36 → ropeway stop
From Beppu Station west-side stop 1, take a route 36 service that stops at the ropeway and get off at Beppu Ropeway. Choose outbound and return buses from the official weekday/weekend timetable. Some services skip the ropeway, so check the stop indication. Omit the visit if arriving late or if service is suspended.
- Ropeway stop → Observation area → Beppu-bound bus
Walk from the stop to the lower station, buy a round-trip ticket and ride up. Leave time to wait for the descent and walk back to the bus stop. Pay separately for the ¥1,000 bus round trip and ¥1,800 ropeway. After descending, return from the ropeway stop on route 36 toward Beppu Station's west side.
Beppu City official tourism: ropeway fares and hoursOita tourism association: ropeway stop and stationsCurrent combined fare table
- Beppu hotel → Kitahama airport-bound boarding stop
Collect luggage and go to Kitahama's airport-bound boarding stop. Choose a walk or transport appropriate to your hotel address and allow separate time and costs. Distinguish the airport-bound boarding point from where you arrived from the airport.
Check the actual route and required travel time from your hotel to Kitahama's airport-bound boarding stop.
- Kitahama airport-bound boarding stop → Oita Airport
Choose an airport-bound bus in the official timetable for your date that leaves ample time before your airline's check-in deadline. Adult fare is ¥1,600 one way. Allow road delays and airport procedures beyond the scheduled bus arrival. Reduce or omit final-day sightseeing if it would prevent you from catching this bus.
Choose route 36 departures and returns from the station's west side that actually stop at the ropeway. The facility is about a one-minute walk from the stop; allow extra time for tickets, boarding and descent waits. Omit the ropeway if returning to Beppu, collecting hotel luggage and traveling to Kitahama would leave insufficient time for airport procedures.
Included items: Hells combined ticket ¥2,400; route 5 round trip ¥780; ropeway round trip ¥1,800; route 36 ropeway bus round trip ¥1,000; Kitahama airport bus round trip ¥3,200; Yufuin day-trip round trip ¥2,200; day-two Kamenoi Bus Mini one-day pass ¥1,100 (route 26 outbound, route 16 return)
Costs outside the subtotal: Lodging, meals, flights, bathing, private facilities, luggage storage, and additional travel between your hotel and Kitahama, stations or bus centers.
This subtotal combines the hells ticket and listed transportation/admission. Day two's ¥1,100 Mini one-day pass is included in ¥12,480. Do not reuse the same one-day pass on a different date; it does not replace hells admission. Lodging, meals, flights and bathing cost extra. If omitting the ropeway, also remove the ¥1,000 bus round trip and ¥1,800 ropeway return ticket.
Airport faresCombined ticketCurrent combined fare tableBeppu City official tourism: ropeway fares and hoursOfficial Mini one-day pass fare and Beppu hells area
A day in Usuki, then move to Yufuin
Spend two nights near Beppu Station, followed by one near Yufuin Station. Give Usuki a separate day during your Beppu stay. Reserve a sightseeing taxi by the preceding day for Usuki Station → Stone Buddhas → Usuki Station.
Day 1 · Airport → ropeway → Beppu hotel
Include the mountain visit only if your hotel can hold luggage and you have time for an afternoon ropeway round trip.
- Oita Airport → Kitahama
Take an airport Airliner that stops at Kitahama. Adult fare is ¥1,600 one way; this route does not serve Beppu Station. Add bus waiting and road delays to the operator's approximately 47-minute Kitahama ride estimate below.
- Kitahama → Beppu Station west-side stop 1
Travel from Kitahama to Beppu Station and go to west-side stop 1. If you stopped at your hotel, check the route and time from its actual address to the station.
- Beppu Station → Route 36 and ropeway
From Beppu Station west-side stop 1, take a route 36 service that stops at the ropeway and get off at Beppu Ropeway. Choose outbound and return buses from the official weekday/weekend timetable. Some services skip the ropeway, so check the stop indication. Omit the visit if arriving late or if service is suspended.
- Ropeway stop → Visit, return and Beppu hotel
Allow the stop-to-station walk, ticket purchase and boarding waits before riding up. If arriving late or operations stop, omit the ropeway and rest at the hotel. Descend after the visit and return from the ropeway stop on route 36 toward Beppu Station's west side.
Oita tourism association: ropeway stop and stationsBeppu City official tourism: ropeway fares and hoursAirport faresCurrent combined fare table
Choose route 36 departures and returns from the station's west side that actually stop at the ropeway. The facility is about a one-minute walk from the stop; allow extra time for tickets, boarding and descent waits. If strong winds or maintenance suspend operations, or you arrive late, omit the visit and rest at your Beppu hotel.
Day 2 · Usuki Stone Buddhas round trip → Beppu hotel
Take a sightseeing taxi from Usuki Station to the Stone Buddhas and back to the same station. Reserve the vehicle and round-trip route by the preceding day, then choose trains. If you cannot secure a booking, make this a day for meals and rest in Beppu.
- Beppu hotel → Confirm booking and JR train to Usuki Station
Reserve Usuki Station → Stone Buddhas visit → Usuki Station with the sightseeing taxi company by the preceding day. Agree on the station pickup location, departure time, sightseeing time and return train together. Once the booking is confirmed, choose Beppu–Usuki return trains through JR's official search.
Usuki tourism association: 2026 sightseeing taxis and preceding-day bookingNichirin No. 3, 5003MJR Usuki → Beppu train lookup
- Usuki Station → Booked sightseeing taxi → Stone Buddhas
Board the booked vehicle at the agreed station pickup point. The facility's official map estimates about 15 minutes by taxi from the station. Allow road conditions and pickup/drop-off waits separately, and confirm the return meeting point with the driver. Do not assume the same vehicle will be available without a reservation.
Stone Buddhas official station-to-facility access mapUsuki taxi operator's 2026 plans
- Stone Buddhas → Visit and return in the booked vehicle
The Stone Buddhas are open 9 a.m.–5 p.m., with last admission at 4:30 p.m. Admission is ¥550 for high school students and older. Buy admission yourself and follow the facility's viewing route. Return to the same agreed meeting point in time for your booked vehicle's departure.
- Booked pickup point at the Stone Buddhas → Usuki Station and Beppu-bound train
Return to Usuki Station in the booked vehicle, allowing time to board your Beppu-bound train. Agree on the station return time when booking with the driver. If sightseeing runs longer, check additional time and fees. Have dinner in Beppu and rest at the same hotel.
Usuki tourism association: 2026 sightseeing taxis and preceding-day bookingJR Usuki → Beppu train lookup
The tourism association and taxi operator's city free-choice course runs July 1, 2026–March 31, 2027, with booking required by the preceding day and a daily vehicle limit. The ¥7,000 two-hour rate is per vehicle and is excluded from this itinerary's per-person subtotal. JR round-trip costs are also extra. When booking, confirm that station pickup, the Stone Buddhas visit and station return fit your selected duration. Outside the period or without a booking, switch to a Beppu rest day.
Day 3 · Move to Yufuin and stay overnight
Move from Beppu to Yufuin, walk the hot spring town and stay one night.
- Beppu hotel → Checkout and Beppu Station west-side stop 1
Check out of your Beppu hotel, collect luggage and allow time to reach Beppu Station west-side stop 1.
- Beppu Station west-side stop 1 → Yufuin bus center
Take a Yufuin-bound route 36 from Beppu Station west-side stop 1 to the Yufuin Station-mae bus center. Adult fare is ¥1,100 one way. Check service for your date in the official timetable below. Temporary direct services may use a different boarding stop; distinguish them from regular route 36 and check oversized luggage loading conditions. If full, check the next service against your hotel's check-in and dinner deadlines and adjust travel.
Route 36 weekday timetableSeparate timetableCurrent combined fare tableBeppu → Yufuin temporary direct service datesTimetable index
- Yufuin bus center → Check booked hotel address or shuttle, then travel
From the Yufuin bus center, use the route to your hotel's actual address or a shuttle confirmed in advance. The bus timetable does not guarantee hotel walking time, shuttle provision or luggage storage.
- Yufuin hotel → Meals, walk and hotel return subject to luggage storage
If your hotel can hold luggage, walk from the station to Yunotsubo Street for lunch and shops. If storage is unavailable or arrival is late, check in first and keep the walk short. Return for hotel dinner. Lake Kinrin is tomorrow's walk, so do not add a Beppu round trip or lake visit today.
Check the hotel route, shuttle and luggage storage with your booked hotel. Plan travel around check-in and meal times. Choose the actual service you will use from regular route 36 or a temporary direct bus; you do not return to Beppu today.
Day 4 · Lake Kinrin → airport
After a Lake Kinrin walk and lunch, leave for the airport from the Yufuin Station-mae bus center.
- Yufuin hotel → Lake Kinrin walk → station
If you can leave luggage after checkout and have time before departure, walk from Yunotsubo Street to Lake Kinrin. The official map estimates about 25 minutes from station to lake. Allow photos, breaks and hotel travel beyond the approximately 50-minute return walk.
Prefectural tourism agencyCity tourism mapOfficial Lake Kinrin guide
- Yufuin hotel → Yufuin Station-mae bus center
Collect luggage and go to the Yufuin Station-mae bus center. Choose walking or transport based on your hotel address and allow separate time and costs.
Check the actual route and required travel time from your hotel to the Yufuin Station-mae bus center.
- Yufuin Station-mae bus center → Oita Airport
Choose an airport-bound service from the official timetable for your date that leaves ample time before your airline's check-in deadline. Adult fare is ¥2,000 one way. Allow road delays and airport procedures beyond scheduled bus arrival. Reduce or omit final-day sightseeing if it would prevent you from catching the bus. The Yufuin airport bus does not guarantee a flight connection.
Airport faresOfficial airport-bound timetable for October 1–24
Return from Lake Kinrin to the hotel, collect luggage and go to the Yufuin Station-mae bus center. The bus is not coordinated to connect with your flight, so shorten the walk or take an earlier service if airport procedure time is tight. If you need an earlier airport arrival, change where you stay the preceding night.
Included items: Airport → Kitahama ¥1,600; ropeway round trip ¥1,800; route 36 ropeway bus round trip ¥1,000; Stone Buddhas ¥550; Beppu → Yufuin ¥1,100; Yufuin → airport ¥2,000
Costs outside the subtotal: Usuki JR return travel and the booked sightseeing taxi are required access costs but excluded from this subtotal. The ¥7,000 two-hour sightseeing taxi rate is per vehicle and limited to the stated period; check additional time, parking and other conditions when booking. Lodging, meals, flights, bathing and additional travel for your hotel address are also extra.
Day-one inclusions total ¥4,400: airport → Kitahama ¥1,600, ropeway bus round trip ¥1,000 and ropeway return ticket ¥1,800. Only checked regular route-ticket items are added. Do not use this as a total trip budget including lodging and meals. If omitting the ropeway, remove its ¥1,000 bus round trip and ¥1,800 admission. Route 36 on the day you move to Yufuin is counted only as a ¥1,100 one-way ride, without an added round-trip fare.
Airport faresBeppu City official tourism: ropeway fares and hoursCurrent combined fare tableFacility admission and accessUsuki tourism association: 2026 sightseeing taxis and preceding-day booking
Choose the final-day airport bus
Frequently asked questions
Which itinerary visits Yufuin for the day, and which stays overnight?
A keeps your Beppu accommodation and visits Yufuin on day three, budgeting two route 36 fares of ¥1,100 for ¥2,200 round trip. B visits Usuki on day two, moves to Yufuin for one night on day three and returns to the airport from Yufuin on the last day. Day-trip return travel and an overnight move are different itineraries.
Current combined fare tableKamenoi Bus official My Beppu FreePrefectural tourism agencyCity tourism mapAirliner timetableRoute timetableAirport fares
Does having Usuki train times settle the Stone Buddhas day trip?
This itinerary requires booking station departure → Stone Buddhas visit → station return with the sightseeing taxi company by the preceding day. Agree on a vehicle and station-return time before choosing your date's return trains. B's ¥8,050 includes ¥550 Stone Buddhas admission but excludes return JR and the sightseeing taxi. The current two-hour city plan costs ¥7,000 per vehicle, a limited-period fare listed through March 31, 2027.
Facility admission and accessNichirin No. 3, 5003MJR Usuki → Beppu train lookupStone Buddhas official bus/taxi access and admissionUsuki tourism association: 2026 sightseeing taxis and preceding-day booking
Can I use the Northern Kyushu Rail Pass to return from Yufuin to Fukuoka?
It covers eligible JR travel from Yufuin Station to Hakata Station. Yufuin no Mori has all-reserved seating; check service on your date and reserve an available seat. Both outbound and return dates must fall within three or five consecutive validity days. Buses to Yufuin Station, lodging and bathing cost extra. Compare other JR travel too; ordinary tickets may also suit your trip. Eligibility is for holders of a non-Japanese passport who live outside Japan and enter for tourism with Temporary Visitor status. Check for the Temporary Visitor stamp or sticker in your passport and carry your passport when using the pass. If using automated immigration gates, ask airport staff for the entry stamp or sticker.
JR Northern Kyushu Pass: eligible trains, exclusions and consecutive daysJR Yufuin no Mori: service and all-reserved seating
Official sources and check dates
- Airport fares ·
- Route timetable ·
- Combined ticket ·
- Access to both groups of hells ·
- Prefectural tourism agency ·
- City tourism map ·
- Facility admission and access ·
- Route 5 toward APU: timetable ·
- Route 5 return timetable ·
- Route 26 weekday timetable ·
- Route 16 loop, outer direction ·
- Official airport-bound timetable for October 1–24 ·
- Kamenoi Bus official My Beppu Free ·
- Route 36 weekday timetable ·
- Separate timetable ·
- Airliner timetable ·
- Nichirin No. 3, 5003M ·
- JR Usuki → Beppu train lookup ·
- Current combined fare table ·
- Timetable index ·
- Official Lake Kinrin guide ·
- Beppu → Yufuin temporary direct service dates ·
- Beppu City official tourism: ropeway fares and hours ·
- Oita tourism association: ropeway stop and stations ·
- JR Northern Kyushu Pass: eligible trains, exclusions and consecutive days ·
- Official Mini one-day pass fare and Beppu hells area ·
- Stone Buddhas official bus/taxi access and admission ·
- Stone Buddhas official station-to-facility access map ·
- Usuki tourism association: 2026 sightseeing taxis and preceding-day booking ·
- Usuki taxi operator's 2026 plans ·
- JR Yufuin no Mori: service and all-reserved seating ·