Yufuin, Beppu and Eastern Yamanami driving guide: Beppu Hells, Sagiridai and Lake Kinrin

The Yufuin, Beppu and Eastern Yamanami area sits in central Oita Prefecture, climbing over 1,000 m in elevation from coastal National Route 10 (the Betsudai Highway) along Beppu Bay and the steaming hot-spring districts of Kannawa and Myoban, across Prefectural Route 11 (the Yamanami Highway) on the flanks of Mount Tsurumi (1,375 m) and Mount Yufu, and down into the Yufuin basin and eastern Kokonoe Town.

This guide follows a full-day drive from Michi-no-Eki Tanourara on Route 10 via Beppu's hot-spring steam viewpoints and hells, over Prefectural Route 11 past Mount Tsurumi, Sagiridai and Lake Kinrin to Michi-no-Eki Yufuin, along with side loops to Tsukahara Kogen and the Kokonoe "Yume" Grand Suspension Bridge. Every main road, car park and winter restriction is listed below.

Map of the Yufuin and Beppu area

The line follows the full-day route below, "First visit: one day from Beppu Bay over the eastern Yamanami to Yufuin". Numbers mark the stops: green for scenery and nature, blue for roadside stations. Tap a marker to see its name.

Recommended drives

First visit: one day from Beppu Bay over the eastern Yamanami to Yufuin

Start on coastal National Route 10 (the Betsudai Highway) at Michi-no-Eki Tanourara, which opened in July 2024, and follow Beppu Bay north into Kannawa for Yukemuri Observatory. Climb National Route 500 up to Jumonjibaru Observatory for a wide panorama over Beppu Bay and the city, then loop back down to Myoban Onsen (Myoban Yunosato) and the Beppu Hells (the 5 Kannawa hells including Umi Jigoku).

In the afternoon, turn onto Prefectural Route 11 (the Yamanami Highway) and stop in order at the Beppu Ropeway on Mount Tsurumi (about 10 minutes between Kogen and Sanjo Stations), Kijima Kogen Plateau, the Mount Yufu Front Trailhead and Sagiridai Viewpoint overlooking the Yufuin basin, before strolling around Lake Kinrin and Yunotsubo Kaido and finishing at Michi-no-Eki Yufuin on Route 210. Drivers arriving from Yufuin, Fukuoka or Hita can follow the same route in reverse down to Beppu Bay.

The route is about 52 km, with around 1 hour 15 minutes of driving. Distance and time are calculated from map data and exclude traffic and sightseeing time. Every section on the route is toll-free. On crisp autumn and winter mornings when mist fills Sagiridai and Lake Kinrin, start on the Yufuin side around sunrise and drive east into Beppu instead.

Adding Tsukahara Kogen (Mount Garan) or the Kokonoe "Yume" Grand Suspension Bridge

To add a steaming volcanic crater and strongly acidic hot spring, head west from Jumonjibaru Observatory via Route 500 and Prefectural Route 616 to Tsukahara Onsen Kakonoizumi on Mount Garan (about 13 km, about 13 minutes of driving), then rejoin Sagiridai via Prefectural Routes 616 and 11 (about 10 km, about 15 minutes; about 23 km and 27 minutes in total). With an ETC-equipped car, Tsukahara Onsen is about 5 minutes from Yufudake Smart IC on the Oita Expressway.

To continue west from Michi-no-Eki Yufuin into Kokonoe, take Route 210 over Mizuwake Pass and turn onto Prefectural Route 40 (Iida Kogen-Nakamura Line) to reach the 390 m-long, 173 m-high Kokonoe "Yume" Grand Suspension Bridge in about 24 km and 20 minutes of driving. Dropping back to Route 210 brings you to Michi-no-Eki Jion-no-Taki Kusu in another 27 km and 22 minutes.

Central Yufuin parking and avoiding holiday queues

Lake Kinrin and Yunotsubo Kaido (the shopping street stretching about 800 m from Shirataki Bridge) have no free public car park, so visitors use nearby paid lots. Yufu City's official Yufuin Parking Map (September 2026 edition) lists 40 paid passenger-car parks across the basin, including Kinrinko Iriguchi-mae Car Park (41 spaces) and Times Yufuin Kinrinko (30 spaces), No. 2 (24 spaces) and No. 3 (10 spaces) near the lake, plus NPC Yufuin Yunotsubo Kaido Parking (60 spaces) and JR Yufuin Station Car Park (142 spaces) along the street and station.

Over the May and September holiday periods, Prefectural Route 216 from Yufuin IC into town regularly sees 1–2 hour queues. On peak days, check the live traffic signage and pick up a parking map at Michi-no-Eki Yufuin opposite Yufuin IC, park on the outskirts at Miyajiri Parking (140 spaces, about 20 minutes on foot to the centre), or enter from the east via Yufudake Smart IC (ETC only) and Prefectural Route 11.

Roads you can drive

Places to stop

Views and nature

Numbers match the map.

Roadside stations

Best seasons and crowds

Sunrise is at 6:42 and sunset at 17:13 on 13 November 2026, sunrise is at 6:58 and sunset at 17:06 on 30 November, and sunrise is at 7:09 and sunset at 17:08 on 15 December (Oita).

Roads and restrictions checked on 13 November 2026

• As of 13 November 2026, no long-term full road closures are announced on Prefectural Route 11 (Eastern Yamanami Highway), National Route 10 (Betsudai Highway), Route 210, Route 500, Prefectural Route 616 or Prefectural Route 216.
• On the Oita Expressway, dense fog causes speed restrictions or closures throughout the year, and Yufudake Smart IC accepts ETC-equipped vehicles up to 12 m long only.
• During heavy snow, preventive road closures apply on Route 210 between Seven-Eleven Kokonoe IC (km post 78.4) and Kawakita Intersection in Yufuin (km post 93.2, covering Mizuwake Pass) and on Route 10 near Tateishi Pass.
• The Beppu Ropeway switches to winter hours on 15 November (9:00–17:00, last ascent 16:30) and suspends service in high winds or severe weather. The Kokonoe "Yume" Grand Suspension Bridge restricts entry when sustained winds reach 15 m/s or more, or during dense fog or heavy-snow warnings.
• Japan Meteorological Agency volcanic alert status is Level 1 for Mount Tsurumi and Mount Garan, Level 1 for the Kuju Mountains, and an Eruption Forecast (be mindful that it is an active volcano) for Mount Yufu. Tsukahara Onsen Kakonoizumi moves to winter hours from December (10:00–17:30, reception until 17:00) and closes from 31 December to 2 January.

Getting there and fuel

There are no petrol stations along the mountain stretches of Prefectural Route 11 over Mount Tsurumi, Kijima Kogen and Sagiridai or across Jumonjibaru and Tsukahara Kogen, and none of the 3 roadside stations sells fuel. Fill up along Route 10 in Beppu, along Route 210 in the Yufuin basin, or at Beppu-wan Service Area on the Oita Expressway (ENEOS / West Japan Usami open 24 hours daily on both bounds) before climbing into the highlands. EVs can charge at Michi-no-Eki Tanourara (3 rapid chargers) and Michi-no-Eki Yufuin.

If you don't have a car

If you fly in, compare branches and shuttle pickup in the Oita Airport car rental comparison; if you arrive by train, check the Beppu Station car rental comparison or the prefecture-wide Oita car rental comparison. Drivers starting from Fukuoka can also compare options at Fukuoka Airport and Hakata Station. Before booking, review the driving-permit requirements in Japan and how airport car rental pickup works.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best one-day driving route for Yufuin and Beppu?

Start at Michi-no-Eki Tanourara on Route 10, visit Yukemuri Observatory, Jumonjibaru Observatory, Myoban Onsen and the Beppu Hells (Umi Jigoku) in the morning, and take Prefectural Route 11 (the Yamanami Highway) in the afternoon past Mount Tsurumi (Beppu Ropeway), Kijima Kogen, the Mount Yufu Front Trailhead, Sagiridai, Lake Kinrin and Yunotsubo Kaido to Michi-no-Eki Yufuin. The route is about 52 km, with around 1 hour 15 minutes of driving.

Is parking free at Lake Kinrin and the Beppu Hells?

All 7 Beppu Hells have free car parks totalling 615 spaces (including 230 spaces at Umi Jigoku and 130 spaces at Chinoike Jigoku). Lake Kinrin and Yunotsubo Kaido have no free public car park—use one of the 40 paid car parks in the Yufuin basin, such as Kinrinko Iriguchi-mae (41 spaces), Times Kinrinko (30 spaces), No. 2 (24 spaces), No. 3 (10 spaces), NPC Yunotsubo Kaido (60 spaces) or JR Yufuin Station (142 spaces).

How do I avoid holiday traffic queues near Yufuin IC?

Over the May and September holidays, Prefectural Route 216 from Yufuin IC into central Yufuin often queues for 1–2 hours. With an ETC card, exit at Yufudake Smart IC or approach Yufuin from the east via Beppu IC and Prefectural Route 11 (the Yamanami Highway), or park on the edge of town at Miyajiri Parking (140 spaces, about 20 minutes on foot).

Can I drive the Yamanami Highway and Oita Expressway on ordinary tyres in winter?

From December to March, snow and icy surfaces bring winter-tyre regulations and closures to Prefectural Route 11 (Mount Tsurumi, Kijima Kogen and Sagiridai to Mizuwake Pass), Route 500 (Jumonjibaru), Prefectural Route 616 (Tsukahara Kogen) and the Oita Expressway, while heavy snow triggers preventive closures on Route 210 over Mizuwake Pass (km posts 78.4 to 93.2). Fit winter tyres or carry chains; see our winter road closures and equipment guide for details.

Can I visit the Tsukahara Onsen crater and Kokonoe "Yume" Grand Suspension Bridge without booking?

Yes, neither requires advance booking. At Tsukahara Onsen Kakonoizumi, crater entry costs ¥200 for junior-high age and over and ¥100 for elementary-school children, with winter hours from December of 10:00–17:30 (reception until 17:00; closed 31 December–2 January). The Kokonoe "Yume" Grand Suspension Bridge is about 24 km and 20 minutes of driving from Michi-no-Eki Yufuin, open 8:30–17:00 in November–December (tickets until 16:30), with admission of ¥500 for junior-high age and over and ¥200 for elementary children through 31 December 2026 (rising to ¥1,000 and ¥500 from 1 January 2027).

Nearby areas and guides

• Aso and Yamanami Highway Day Drive: Map, Times, Parking and Crater Restrictions
• Aso Driving Guide: Recommended Routes, Map, Roads, Places to Stop and Crater Restrictions
• Takachiho and Gokase driving guide: Takachiho Gorge, Amanoiwato Shrine and Kunimigaoka
• Oita Prefecture driving and travel guide