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[태그:] YufuinFamilytrip

  • Our Family’s First Trip to Fukuoka with a One-Year-Old Baby(Part 4)

    Our Family’s First Trip to Fukuoka with a One-Year-Old Baby(Part 4)

    Our First Family Trip to Fukuoka with a One-Year-Old (Part 4): From Yufuin to Dazaifu

    A Delicious Start to the Day at Yufuin Club
    One of the most memorable moments of our Fukuoka trip was breakfast at Yufuin Club. The buffet offered a beautiful blend of traditional Japanese and Western-style dishes, all carefully prepared. The grilled mackerel stood out as a must-try local dish—it was absolutely delicious. My husband, completely taken by the flavor of the Japanese rice, ended up eating two full bowls!

    Unexpected Snow and a Wintery Bus Ride
    Fukuoka is known for its mild winters and lack of snow, but during our trip, we experienced a rare snowfall. As we left Yufuin Station, the entire town was blanketed in white. We were a little worried about the snowy roads on our bus ride, but thankfully, we made it safely back to Hakata Station without any trouble.

    (Yufuin in snow – a magical sight. )

    A Bus Journey to Dazaifu
    We had really wanted to visit Dazaifu on the second leg of our trip. However, with 2.5 hours from Yufuin to Hakata and another 2 hours round trip to Dazaifu, we were concerned it might be too much for our baby. But encouraged by my husband’s enthusiasm, we decided to go for it.

    My Husband’s First Taste of Japanese Udon
    While waiting for the bus at Hakata Terminal, we stumbled upon an udon restaurant and decided to give it a try. It was my husband’s first time having authentic Japanese udon, and he was amazed by the soft, chewy noodles. I was also very satisfied with the warm, comforting meal.

    Makino Udon – Hakata Bus Terminal
    B1F, 2-1 Hakataekichuogai, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka 812-0012, Japan
    ★★★★☆ Udon Specialty Restaurant

    Meeting the God of Learning at Dazaifu
    The long bus ride began to wear on our baby, but as soon as we arrived in Dazaifu, the beauty of the scenery lifted everyone’s spirits. Dazaifu is known as the home of the “God of Learning” in Japan. Despite the cold winter air, we made sure to take a family photo in front of the shrine, hoping for a little extra academic luck!

    Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine
    4-7-1 Saifu, Dazaifu, Fukuoka 818-0117, Japan
    ★★★★☆ Shinto Shrine

    Traffic Woes on the Way Back
    The return to Hakata from Dazaifu took longer than expected due to heavy weekend traffic. Traveling with a tired baby on a crowded bus wasn’t easy, but we eventually arrived back at our hotel, unpacked, and decided to grab a simple dinner nearby.

    A Special Izakaya Dinner
    Dinner turned out to be a wonderful surprise. After passing several fully booked restaurants, we luckily found seats at a local izakaya. We enjoyed beer and a variety of Japanese side dishes—crispy chicken wings and motsunabe (offal hot pot) were especially delicious and left a lasting impression.

    Tometeba Hakata Chikushiguchi Branch
    Hakataekichuo, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka 812-0012, Japan
    ★★★★☆ Izakaya

    Growing Closer Through Travel
    This trip to Fukuoka reminded my husband and me of the true value of traveling together. It gave us time to reconnect and understand each other more deeply. We’ve even started a small savings plan for our next adventure—something to look forward to as a family.

    The Value of Family Travel
    Travel always brings new experiences and unforgettable memories. But traveling with family, especially with a little one, helps us appreciate each other’s presence and creates bonds that grow stronger with each shared journey.

  • Our Family’s First Trip to Fukuoka with a One-Year-Old Baby(Part 3)

    Our Family’s First Trip to Fukuoka with a One-Year-Old Baby(Part 3)

    Choosing a Baby-Friendly Stay: The Struggle Was Real
    One of the biggest challenges when traveling as a family—especially with a baby—is choosing the right place to stay. Location, amenities, and convenience become much more important. For this trip, booking accommodations wasn’t easy. My husband’s work schedule kept changing, which delayed our flight and hotel reservations, leaving us with limited options.

    In the end, we were fortunate to find a wonderful place to stay in Yufuin, which made this part of our journey especially memorable.

    Yufuin vs. Beppu – Which Hot Spring Town?
    We compared two famous hot spring towns near Fukuoka—Yufuin and Beppu—before booking. Here’s what we found:

    Yufuin
    A small mountain village with traditional Japanese charm

    Great for a one-day relaxing stroll and stay

    Baby stroller-friendly

    Cons: Very popular, so accommodations book up fast

    Travel time: About 2.5 hours by bus from Hakata Station

    Beppu
    A coastal city with a more urban vibe

    Attractions like monkey parks and aquariums besides hot springs

    Cons: Some attractions are closed in winter; not stroller-friendly

    Travel time: Around 3 hours by bus from Hakata Station

    Ultimately, we were drawn to Yufuin’s charm and kept searching until we finally found a traditional tatami-style room for around 200,000 KRW (~150 USD) using several Japanese booking sites. It felt like a bit of a gamble—but we were hopeful.

    Heading to Yufuin: An Early Start
    Even a month in advance, bus seats from Hakata to Yufuin were nearly sold out—so we had to wake up early and move quickly. The bus ride was smooth and scenic, surrounded by misty mountains and countryside views. Unfortunately, the weather was colder and cloudier than we had expected—it felt nothing like warm, cozy hot springs weather.

    (Our baby sat on our lap the whole ride—almost snowing outside! )

    A Warm Welcome at a Traditional Inn
    Our inn was conveniently located just a short walk from the bus stop. While the building’s exterior looked a little dated, the inside was clean and spacious. Our tatami room came with both an outdoor bath (rotenburo) and a public bath, which was a huge plus.

    We managed check-in using some basic Japanese phrases, as neither English nor Korean were spoken. Preparing a few key expressions in advance really helped. The place usually operates as a members-only inn, but perhaps due to COVID, they were accepting outside guests temporarily.

    Yufuin Club on Google Maps
    2952-1 Yufuincho Kawakami, Yufu, Oita 879-5102, Japan
    ★★★★☆ Traditional Hotel

    A Solo Moment in the Hot Spring
    The outdoor bath was absolute bliss—crisp winter air and steaming hot spring water blending perfectly. With a view of the mountains and peaceful silence all around, it felt like my fatigue was melting away.

    Since no one else was there, I had the bath all to myself, soaking up the serenity.

    Culinary Delights in Yufuin: From Lunch to Dinner
    Lunch – A Hidden Gem
    For lunch, we visited a traditional house-turned-restaurant tucked at the edge of Yufuin. Known for its grilled eel rice bowls and steak donburi, the restaurant had glowing reviews, so we made a reservation in advance.

    The food was beautifully prepared, the view from the window was stunning, and the experience was worth every yen—even with the high price tag (over 100,000 KRW / ~75 USD). A quiet, scenic meal like this made the trip even more special.

    Yunotake-an on Google Maps
    2633-1 Yufuincho Kawakami, Yufu, Oita 879-5102, Japan
    ★★★★☆ Japanese Restaurant

    Dinner – Beef & Kimchi, an Unexpected Combo
    For dinner, we stopped by a local BBQ restaurant and ordered a beef set meal for around 70,000 KRW (~50 USD). The meat quality was top-notch, and to our surprise, the kimchi they served was incredibly good.

    It was a fun experience to enjoy a bit of Korean flavor while in rural Japan.

    Yakiniku Manyoken on Google Maps
    3048-10 Kawakami, Yufuincho, Yufu, Oita 879-5102, Japan
    ★★★★★ Yakiniku Restaurant

    Ending the Day in Peaceful Yufuin
    Yufuin at night was incredibly quiet. As tourists left and even the streetlights seemed to dim, walking back to our inn felt like stepping into a still moment frozen in time.

    We wrapped up the day with a can of beer and some snacks from a local shop, reflecting on our memorable day in Yufuin.

    Travel Tips for Visiting Yufuin
    Book early: Especially around weekends or holidays, accommodations get booked quickly.

    Use Google Maps: Navigating on foot is easy and accurate with Google.

    Bring your own bathing items: Personal toiletries and towels are handy for using the outdoor baths.

    Reserve popular restaurants in advance: Many hidden gems require reservations.

    Our day in Yufuin became a precious memory for our family. The relaxing hot springs, delicious food, and peaceful village vibe reminded us that even with a baby, traveling can still be deeply enjoyable and enriching.