Yufuin — Mountain Onsen Town with Mt. Yufu View

Yufuin is a highland hot spring resort (elevation 450m) set in a basin surrounded by mountains, most notably Mt. Yufu (1,584m) whose twin peaks dominate the southern skyline. Unlike Beppu's working-class bathing culture, Yufuin cultivated an upscale aesthetic — art galleries, European-style cafés, boutique ryokan, and a preserved rural landscape. The town's tourist development was deliberately limited to preserve the mountain views and prevent high-rise construction.

Lake Kinrin, a small lake at the town's edge, produces morning mist year-round due to underground hot springs warming the water, creating the town's most photographed scene.