I went to Yufuin with one very specific goal: to eat raw chicken sashimi, Torisashi, a delicacy from Oita Prefecture. I had pictured it clearly in my head — me sitting in a cozy restaurant in the famous onsen town, eating something I could only experience in Japan.
But to my dismay, and very much to Fafa’s delight, we couldn’t find a single restaurant serving it during our day trip.
As it turned out, though, Yufuin had far more to offer than raw chicken.
Between the breathtaking mountain views, the gentle lake, and the town’s calm, slow-living atmosphere, Yufuin revealed itself to be one of those places where wandering slowly is part of the experience.
Yufuin: More Than Just an Onsen Town
What struck me immediately about Yufuin was the pace of the place. Compared to many tourist towns in Japan, it felt quieter. The streets were filled with small shops, cozy cafés, and views of Mount Yufu rising in the background.
There was something about the atmosphere that reminded me of Chikatsuyu Village, even though the two places couldn’t be more different.
Here, it was a lake instead of a river, winter instead of summer, and wooden houses by the water instead of tiny machiya-lined streets. Yet somehow the same feeling remained — that peaceful countryside rhythm that makes you slow down without even trying.
While I failed in my mission to find raw chicken sashimi, we succeeded in something else: eating very well.
Yufuin is also known for its local beef, Oita’s premium Wagyu called Bungo-gyu. I had what was easily the best thinly sliced beef of my life, especially when paired with a delicious sake.
I also tried Toriten, Oita’s famous tempura-style chicken, crispy and juicy as part of our Kohaku set meal, alongside Yufuin tofu.
There were also a few fewer life-changing food trials. I tried what was claimed to be the best beef croquette in Japan (this part is far from the truth, in my opinion). Fafa also bought a candy apple, which was nice, though nothing quite competes with Aomori’s famous candy apples — so it’s a difficult comparison.
Yufuin Souvenirs Worth Bringing Home
Another Yufuin highlight was a shop entirely dedicated to cat goods. It sits directly opposite another store devoted entirely to pet supplies, creating what might be the most dangerous shopping corner for animal lovers.
I had to hold myself back from buying everything.
In the end, I left with: a cat lunch box, a cat-head shaped coaster with a daruma pattern, a small framed illustration of a takoyaki ball riding a striped cat
Zero regrets.
Even though I didn’t get to eat the raw chicken sashimi, I did end up with crispy chicken snacks, which are apparently quite famous in Yufuin.
There’s also an art museum in town and places where you can join DIY chopstick workshops, making Yufuin a surprisingly fun town for slow exploration. Another thing I noticed while wandering around was the surprising number of Snoopy shops. For some reason, Snoopy seems to have a huge following in Japan.
My point is that there’s far more to Yufuin than I initially expected.
If I were to redo Yufuin, I would stay overnight, soak in the onsen, visit the temples properly, and, most importantly, finally eat that raw chicken sashimi.
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