Fukuoka to Yufuin Bus Tour: Day Trip Options & Comparison 2026

Every time I visit Fukuoka, I make sure to join a Yufuin tour.

While a leisurely overnight stay is wonderful,

I always opt for a day-trip bus tour to efficiently explore multiple areas within a shorter timeframe.

With so many courses and tours available,

it can be tough to choose! So, for those of you wondering what to pick,

today I’m going to dive into a detailed comparison of Yufuin bus tour companies,

along with my personal tour review!

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Bus Tour Company Comparison

There are so many different Yufuin bus tour companies out there.

Before booking, I did my research, comparing them based on popular reviews, reasonable prices,

and different course offerings.

📌 Yufuin One-Day Bus Tour Comparison

1. Rakutour

✔️Course Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine Yufuin Mt. Yufu Kamado Jigoku (Hell) Kusu Rest Stop

✔️Price ~$39

Mochi included at Dazaifu Kamado Jigoku towel included 🔗Book Now

2. Youtour Bus

✔️Course Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine Yufuin Mt. Yufu Yunohana Beppu Kamado Jigoku (Hell) SA Rest Stop

✔️Price ~$33

Minimum 2 participants Original tourist map included Later departure course available Kamado Jigoku egg, cider, and sulfur soap included 🔗Book Now

3. Tabibus

✔️Course Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine Kusu Rest Stop Yufuin Mt. Yufu Beppu Kamado Jigoku (Hell)

✔️Price ~$33

Minimum 1 participant Yufuin street map provided 🔗Book Now

Most reviewed ➡️ 1. Rakutour

Course including Yunohana ➡️ 2. Youtour Bus

Affordable and great value ➡️ 3. Tabibus

(I went with company #3)

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I originally booked with another company, but it was canceled due to insufficient participants, so I

rebooked with Tabibus, which departs even with 1 person.

Ultimately, I was really satisfied!

Our guide was super friendly and enthusiastically took photos for us, which was a huge plus.

>Book Tabibus Yufuin Tour<

Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine

Our first stop was Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine.

If you visit Dazaifu late in the afternoon, many shops tend to close,

so an morning itinerary is definitely much better.

On the way to the shrine, there's a bridge, and according to our guide,

each section represents the past, present, and future.

They say it's best not to look back after crossing the bridge, so

I, too, made sure to walk forward seriously, just in case!

The unmissable photo spot at Dazaifu: the Ox Statue!

They say if you touch the ox's head and then your own, you'll become smarter,

and touching its leg brings good health.

I touched both its head and its leg!

I tend to try everything that's supposed to be good, haha.

And I also got to try Dazaifu's famous glutinous rice mochi!

Our guide pointed out two shops for us: the original spot and a popular one these days.

Personally, I found the original shop more to my liking.

Each piece was around 180 JPY,

making it an easy treat to enjoy without breaking the bank.

Kusu Rest Stop

Before heading to Yufuin,

we made a brief stop at the Kusu Rest Stop.

I heard they had famous yogurt here, so I gave it a try,

and it was surprisingly delicious!

It had a slightly different feel from the yogurt I usually eat,

with an addictive taste that kept me craving for more.

Yufuin

In Yufuin, we were given about three hours of free time.

I started by exploring Lake Kinrin and then went for a meal, but if I were to go again,

I'd probably head straight to a restaurant upon arrival!

Yufuin is home to many popular restaurants, often with long waiting lines,

so it's definitely more efficient to eat first and then explore the sights.

Our guide had sent us a map of great eateries beforehand, and from it,

I chose a place called Kappa Shokudo.

It’s a Japanese home-style restaurant famous for its fried chicken and hirakatsu (pork fillet cutlet).

There was about a 30-minute wait, but the taste was incredibly satisfying!

Unlike the bustling city centers of Fukuoka or Osaka,

Yufuin's streets offered that unique charm of a small Japanese town, which I loved.

There were also plenty of street snacks and merchandise, making it super fun to browse around.

However, it's a good idea to slightly lower your expectations for Yufuin Floral Village.

I imagined a relaxed atmosphere from what I saw on social media,

but in reality, it was incredibly crowded and quite bustling.

Nevertheless, with Harry Potter and Ghibli merchandise shops,

those who adore character goods will probably have a fantastic time exploring!

Mount Yufu (Yufudake)

Our next stop was Mount Yufu (Yufudake).

It wasn't a long stop; we just briefly got out to take some pictures.

With its expansive scenery, it was perfect for a quick visit.

Kamado Jigoku Onsen (Hell Steam Onsen)

Our final itinerary stop was Kamado Jigoku, one of Beppu's representative tourist attractions!

The sight of the hot spring water, nearly 100 degrees Celsius, and the rising steam was truly unique.

The scenery really brought hell to mind, just like its name suggests, so I immediately understood why it's called that.

The staff put on performances intermittently, even mixing in some Korean commentary, which made it quite enjoyable!

We also got to taste hot spring eggs and Ramune soda, and even try a hot spring foot bath.

The water was surprisingly hot, so we couldn't stay in for very long!

Finally, after tasting the hot spring water,

our entire tour itinerary came to a wonderful end.

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I was worried that an itinerary covering Dazaifu, Yufuin, and Beppu

all in a single day might be too demanding physically,

but since we could travel comfortably by bus,

it was surprisingly manageable.

It was far more convenient and enjoyable

than individually researching transportation and moving around on our own.

Especially for trips with parents, or for couples and family trips,

I think you'll find it incredibly satisfying!

>Book the Yufuin Tour from the Photos<

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🔗Yufuin's Must-Try Restaurant: Kappa Shokudo