Bye bye Amanek Yulare Beppu and hello Togetsu Beppu.
View this post on Instagram
For the next two nights, we decided to pamper ourselves and check into a fine hotel. Typically, check-in time is 3 p.m., and you are to check out by 11 a.m. or 12 p.m. the next day.
To fully maximise and ‘enjoy’ the hotel, we will keep our outdoor activities light and check into the hotel promptly at 3 p.m. haha.
Kirin Lake, Yufuin Flora Village, Yunotsubo Kaido (shopping street)
For today, the plan is to drive to Yufuin, sightseeing and back. Yufuin is renowned for its serene landscapes, soothing hot springs, and artistic flair. Some visting might plan for a night stay at Yufin, but since we are driving, the travel distance is very manageable and we prefer to stay in Beppu town.
Kirin Lake is a must-visit landmark in Yufuin. It’s best to visit super early when there’s no crowd and the water is calm. Watching the mist lift off the water surface should be quite a sight.
There’s a cafe right in front of the lake, Cafe La Ruche. It was teeming with people, both locals and tourists. There are limited prime seats with a good view of the lake. Good luck trying to wrestle for one!
I spent another two hours exploring the small town. There are a lot of stalls, and some of them sell really nice snacks.
It’s totally not the tourist trap I had imagined it to be. You do not need to stay a night here, but giving half a day to visit is a must when you are in Beppu.
View this post on Instagram
We left Yufuin at 2pm and returned to Togetsu Beppu.
The room looks dated, but it was very spacious and well kept. There are ample parking spaces as well. There are not many rooms in this hotel. I believe back in its heydays, it was probably a highly sought-after luxurious ryokan.
Well, the key reason we chose this hotel was its buffet dinner. It’s a Wagyu feast with free-flowing alcoholic drinks.
I must say the service is superb. They even gave a courtesy call to remind us not to miss the dinner timing.
(I took alot more short videos, they are available on my IG account.)
Read more:
My 14 Days Travel Itinerary In Kyushu Japan 2023 – Day 5
My 14 Days Travel Itinerary In Kyushu Japan 2023 – Day 7
***
PS: if you want a copy of my entire itinerary, leave a comment below with your email, and we will send it to your inbox!
