I posted yesterday about stopping at either Beppu or Iya Valley between Osaka and Yakushima and it seems the consensus is Beppu.
With that in mind, which place would you say I actually make my home base for 3 nights / 2 days: Fukuoka, Beppu, or Yufuin?
Yufuin SEEMS like it could be done in an afternoon, but the scenery looks incredible – and I wouldn’t mind staying at an onsen!
Beppu looks great, but some people describe it as a sort of rundown seaside town. I’d love to see the “hells” and maybe do a sand bath.
Fukuoka looks like just another large city to me – but I’ve read that it’s a big foodie town! And I’m sure I could find other cool things to see and do – it just doesn’t stand out to me as much as the other two places.
Beppu / Yufuin seem very close and easy to access from each other. (And I’d try to make Yufuin no mori work!) But they both also seem accessible as a day trip from Fukuoka.
Right now our plan is to just take public transportation. We are a group of 6 in our mid 30s. Some more active than others. Definitely an interest in onsens but some folks do have tattoos so not sure how feasible it would be for them to go to one. Some foodies in our group, and some who enjoy easy to moderate hikes in a beautiful setting!
by heythereitsalexis