Yufuin Onsen, located in the center of Oita Prefecture, about an hour's drive from Oita Airport, is a naturally rich hot spring resort at the foot of Mount Yufu, affectionately known as Bungo Fuji. Located at an altitude of about 500 meters, it is popular as a summer resort and has been designated a national hot spring resort by the Ministry of the Environment. With approximately 850 hot springs and a flow rate of 38,500 liters per minute, the area boasts an abundant supply of hot spring water, the second highest in Japan, meaning there is no need for hot spring inns to be crowded together, and many people are attracted to the relaxed and calm atmosphere of the town.

The spring quality is simple hot spring (including alkaline). Simple hot springs are mild and have no peculiar taste, so people of all ages, from children to the elderly, and even those with sensitive skin can bathe safely. In particular, alkaline simple hot springs with a pH of 8.5 or higher are rich in metasilicic acid, which has a moisturizing effect, and are known for their smooth texture and beauty-enhancing properties.

Many hot spring inns have open-air baths, and one of the unique ways to enjoy Yufuin Onsen is to gaze upon nature from the bath. You can experience nature and the changing seasons up close, such as the majestic Mount Yufu seen on a clear day, or the thick morning mist that floats in the early mornings of autumn and winter!

Yufuin Station on the JR Kyushu Kyudai Main Line, the gateway to Yufuin, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. It opened as Kita-Yufu Station in 1925. It was completely burned down in an air raid during the Pacific War in 1945, but after reconstruction and renovation, the current station building was completed in 1990.

The station building was designed by Oita-born architect Arata Isozaki. It is a wooden structure made of cedar wood, and the 12-meter-high atrium lobby and the open space without ticket gates are sure to give you a sense of spaciousness and relaxation. As you exit the station, Mount Yufu towers in front of you, welcoming you as you disembark.

The popular foot bath located on platform 1 for trains bound for Oita can be accessed by purchasing a foot bath ticket (200 yen, includes a special towel) at the ticket counter. Another attraction of Yufuin Station is that you can soak while watching the trains coming into the platform.

Two major summer events held in the Yufuin Basin are also celebrating their 50th anniversaries. The Yufuin Music Festival (July 26th and 27th) welcomes renowned performers from Japan and abroad to enjoy chamber music concerts, and on the 25th will hold a concert for parents and children as a pre-event. The Yufuin Film Festival, held from August 21st to 24th, is Japan's oldest film festival, and its highlight is the outdoor screenings under the night sky.

Now that we have reached this milestone year, why not visit Yufuin to experience its nature and culture?