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Lake · Yufu, Oita
Lake Kinrin
Small lake at the end of Yunotsubo Street, fed by cold springs and hot springs, known for the mist that often rises from the water on cold autumn and winter mornings.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
A look at the place
Lake Kinrin in pictures
These pictures are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs. They may differ from the place.
Click the picture to enlarge it.
Discover
About Lake Kinrin
Lake Kinrin is Yufuin’s postcard image: a small, shallow lake surrounded by trees on the east side of the village, about a 20-minute walk from the station. It receives water from cold springs and from thermal sources below, so the water can be warmer than the air on cold mornings. That contrast often creates mist over the surface, especially from October to February.
The name, “golden scales,” comes from a late 19th-century story: a scholar is said to have seen the lake’s fish sparkle like gold in the setting sun. Before that, the place was known as Takenomoto. Today there are carp and other fish, and in autumn the trees around the lake turn red and yellow, reflected in the water.
On the shore stands a small torii, the gateway to a shrine, set in the water, and a rustic thatched-roof bathhouse, the Shitan-yu, used by residents and open to visitors according to local rules. The path around the lake takes only a few minutes and is flat, with cafés and a small art museum on the banks.
The lake marks the end of Yunotsubo Street, the shopping street that runs from the station. Because of that it gets crowded at midday; early in the morning, before day visitors arrive, the village and the lake are usually quiet, with Mount Yufu in the background.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
20 to 40 minutes to walk around the lake; more time if you stop at cafés and the museum on the shore.
Best time
Early, just after sunrise, on cold mornings from October to February, when mist is most common; it does not form every day and dissolves with the sun. In autumn, mid-October to November is when foliage is usually most colorful.
How to get there
From Yufuin Station, walk along Yunotsubo Street to the end for about 1.5 km; it takes 20 to 25 minutes. There are bicycles for rent near the station.
Tip
Sleep in Yufuin to be at the lake very early, when the village is still empty. Take the photo of the torii in the water from the east shore.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Lake Kinrin
When is fog most commonly seen on Lake Kinrin?
On cold mornings, generally from October to February, shortly after sunrise. The fog depends on the temperature difference between the water and the air and does not always appear.
How long does it take on foot from the station to Lake Kinrin?
About 20 to 25 minutes along Yunotsubo Street on flat ground. By bicycle, under 10 minutes.
Can you bathe in Lake Kinrin?
Not in the lake itself. On the shore there is Shitan-yu, a rustic thatched-roof bathhouse used by residents and open to visitors according to local rules.
Is Lake Kinrin crowded?
It is busy from mid-morning to late afternoon with day visitors. Early morning and late evening are quieter.
Beyond the guide
