Yufuin gets all the attention — but the mountains around it hide something just as unforgettable. Deep in the folds of Oita’s landscape lie a mystical moss-draped gorge, a hidden waterfall reached through a hand-carved tunnel, and sweeping highland views most travelers never find. On this private full-day tour from Beppu, we spend the heart of the day off the beaten path — in the wild, hidden nature of Oita — and pause along the way in Yufuin, where the mirror-still Kinrin Lake and gentle country landscape offer one of Kyushu’s most quietly beautiful scenes. Travel comfortably in a private vehicle with your expert local guide, at a relaxed pace that lets each place breathe.
Seasonal option (June only): In June, we can add Kagurame Pond to your itinerary — a hidden pond famous for its stunning display of some 300,000 Japanese irises in bloom, reflected in the still water beneath the peak of Mt. Yufu. A quiet, seasonal highlight known to few international visitors.
This tour can be customized according to your requests; please do not hesitate to contact us!
Primary Area: JR Beppu Station or Beppu Cruise Port.
*Pick-up at your hotel or any preferred location available.
Also Available: We can also arrange pickup from Yufuin. Please inquire when booking.
Return to the same point that the tour starts.
Flexible (between 9:00 AM- 11:00 AM)
English, Japanese
Please note: This is a sample itinerary based on a 9:00 AM start time. As this is your private tour, the start time is fully flexible and we will adjust the schedule accordingly.
Your personal guide will meet you at the Beppu Cruise Port, JR Beppu Station, or your hotel. After a friendly introduction, we’ll begin our adventure in a comfortable, private vehicle. As we drive up into the mountains, your guide sets the scene: while most travelers head straight for Yufuin, we’re taking you into the hidden, wilder heart of Oita — into gorges, waterfalls, and highland views that even many locals rarely see.
Our first stop is Yufugawa Gorge, a dramatic canyon of towering moss-covered cliffs and clear flowing water, so beautiful it’s known locally as the “Tyrol of the East”. In the quiet of morning, we walk along the shaded paths beside the river, listening to the water and breathing the cool, damp forest air. A mystical, unforgettable place to begin the day — and a hidden gem few international visitors ever reach.
Next, we drive on to Ryusho Falls, one of Oita’s most atmospheric hidden waterfalls. To reach it, we pass through a hand-carved tunnel dug through solid rock — a short, quietly thrilling passage that suddenly opens onto the falls themselves. We linger a while beside the pool, refreshed by the cool mist and the deep quiet of the forest all around.
From the mountains, we descend into Yufuin. We make our way first to Kinrin Lake, whose mirror-still waters reflect Mt. Yufu and the sky above like a painting come to life. From there, we wander a little along the surrounding country lanes — a gentle landscape of rice fields, quiet homes, and low green hills that feels like stepping into a slower, older Japan. Along the way, we pause for a relaxed local lunch.
Just a few minutes above Yufuin, we stop at Sagiridai — a scenic viewpoint that opens onto a sweeping view of the Yufuin basin far below, with the twin peaks of Mt. Yufu rising dramatically behind. A perfect photo stop, and a quiet moment to take in the landscape you’ve just walked through.
The climax of the day. We drive up to Jumonjibaru, a vast highland plateau chosen as one of Japan’s top 100 viewpoints. Across the wide open grasslands, the full sweep of Beppu Bay and the city below opens up before you — a grand, breathtaking finale, especially beautiful in the soft light of afternoon.
Your tour concludes as we drop you off at Beppu Port, JR Beppu Station, or your hotel, with the wild, hidden beauty of Oita still lingering.
In June, we can include a peaceful stop at Kagurame Pond, a hidden pond near Yufuin famous for its stunning bloom of some 300,000 Japanese irises. The still, mirror-like waters of the pond, framed by the peak of Mt. Yufu behind, become one of Kyushu’s most beautiful and quietly poetic seasonal scenes. A stop we recommend only in season, when the irises are at their peak.
