Yufu City, Oita Prefecture
The original Japanese landscape remains
Japan's most coveted hot spring resort
Yufu City has a rustic rural atmosphere surrounded by 1,000m-class mountains, and is famous as the home of Yufuin Onsen, which boasts the second-largest hot spring output and number of hot springs in Japan.
The five hot springs with different water qualities are known as the "Yufuin Hot Spring Village" and were designated as a "National Hot Spring Recreation Area" in 2019.
The city is also working on developing a health resort that utilizes hot spring resources, known as the "Kurort Concept," and has a wide range of facilities, including "Quage Yufuin," where you can experience German-style hot spring therapy.
Access from Osaka
You can enjoy the rich nature of Yufu City even more by river trekking.
The Yufu River Gorge, located in the Hasama area of the city, is a mountain stream that stretches for about 12 km at the bottom of sheer cliffs about 15 to 60 m high.
By using a lightweight boat called a packraft, walking over the rocky area and over the huge boulders, you can come across the ``mysterious chockstones.''
You will be accompanied by an experienced guide, so you can safely experience the ultimate adventure in a remote area.
Yufu City is rich in nature, but another major attraction is the agricultural products that make use of the land's bounty, such as a climate with large temperature differences, fertile soil, and water from the mountains.
The area is famous for its pears, white onions, strawberries, tomatoes, spinach, and blueberries, but pear cultivation in particular has a history of over 100 years, dating back to the Meiji period.
Pears contain potassium, which helps prevent high blood pressure and swelling, as well as arbutin and vitamin C, which have whitening effects, making them useful for maintaining beauty and health.