Yufu Ryochiku is a small hot spring inn on Yunotsubo street, the main shopping lane of Yufuin in Oita. It was founded in 1925 and uses an old folk house of the Taisho era, with a sunken hearth in the lobby. Before you book, three things matter: there is no large public bath, only four private baths open 24 hours; the kitchen cannot handle allergies or vegetarian meals; and children are accepted only on some plans.
Yufu Ryochiku (Ryoutiku) in Yufuin at a glance
| Item | Official information |
|---|---|
| Address | 1097-1 Kawakami, Yufuin-cho, Yufu, Oita |
| Founded | 1925, in an old folk house |
| Check-in / out | From 15:00 / 10:00 |
| Baths | 4 private baths, 24 hours, own source; no large public bath |
| Dinner | Oita wagyu sukiyaki course in a partitioned dining room |
| Prices | From 23,290 yen per adult with two meals (two sharing) |
| Booking payment | Online card payment only |
| Website | ryoutiku.jp (the inn’s own spelling, Ryoutiku) |
| Contact | Email only: yufuin@ryoutiku.com |
| Parking | 10 cars, free, book in advance |
From the official site and booking page, read October 14, 2026.
Which room should you book in this Yufuin inn?
The rooms page lists seven rooms, each named after a flower or tree. Only Hagi has its own bath; guests in the others use the private baths, which are open around the clock. Every room has a toilet, a safe, a fridge with free bottled water, an air purifier and a hair dryer, and all rooms are non-smoking.
| Room | Floor and layout | Guests | Bedding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hagi | 1st floor, two Japanese rooms, 26 m², open-air rock bath | 2 (adults only) | Futon |
| Mokuren | 2nd floor, Japanese + Western room, 34 m², view of Mount Yufu | 2–4 | 2 semi-double beds |
| Botan | 2nd floor, Japanese + Western room, 40 m², renewed March 2024 | 2–5 | 2 double beds |
| Hiiragi | 1st floor, two Japanese rooms, 30 m² | 2–4 | Futon |
| Sazanka | 2nd floor, two Japanese rooms, 30 m² | 2–4 | Futon |
| Hanamizuki | 2nd floor, 14-mat Japanese room, 30 m² | 2–4 | 2 double low beds |
| Kaede | 2nd floor, 9-mat Japanese room, 20 m² | 2–3 | Futon |
From the official rooms page, read October 14, 2026.
Mokuren and Botan have a toilet in both the Japanese and the Western room, separated by a lockable door, so two families can share. The inn says it takes two or more guests as a rule; a solo stay may be possible on some plans.
The private baths at Yufu Ryochiku
How do the four baths work?
The inn draws water from its own source on the grounds and runs it straight through, with no added water or heating, according to its plan pages. There are two open-air baths, Tsurumi and Yufu, and two indoor baths, Kuju and Takasaki. All four are private, free for guests and open 24 hours. The water is a mild alkaline simple spring (pH 8.0, 51.3°C at the source). The official pages do not say whether you book a time or simply use an empty one, so ask at check-in.
What should I bring to the bath?
There are no towels in the private baths; carry the face and bath towels from your room. Shampoo, conditioner and body soap are provided. There is no sauna. Babies may use the baths.
Can I bathe with a tattoo?
The official pages do not mention tattoos. Every bath is used privately, but ask the inn by email before you book. Our tattoo and onsen guide explains what to ask.
Meals at Yufu Ryochiku
What are dinner and breakfast like?
Dinner is a course built around Oita wagyu sukiyaki, served in a dining room with partitions. A sample menu runs from a kabosu citrus aperitif and sashimi to the sukiyaki and Yufuin Koshihikari rice cooked in a small pot for each guest. Dinner begins at 18:00 or a second, later slot; the official pages give different times for the second one. A cheaper plan serves a sukiyaki set meal instead of the full course. Breakfast is Japanese, starting at 8:00 or 8:30. Drinks at dinner are paid after the meal.
Can the inn handle allergies or a special diet?
No. The food page and every plan state that the inn cannot accommodate allergies, vegan or vegetarian meals. If you book two nights, you get the same menu both nights. Extra dishes such as Seki horse mackerel sashimi or Bungo beef steak can be added if you ask at least 3 days before.
Is there anything to drink in the evening?
A free drink corner by the lobby hearth is open from 19:00 to 22:00, with sake, plum wine, wine and soft drinks. You may bring food and drinks to your room, but not into the dining room.
Getting to Yufu Ryochiku in Yufuin
Yufu Ryochiku is about 10 minutes on foot from JR Yufuin Station and 7 minutes by car from the Yufuin interchange. The inn sits on Yunotsubo street, and its area guide lists Lake Kinrinko within walking distance. There is no pick-up service. Parking is free for 10 cars but must be booked ahead; stop at the inn first, leave your bags, and staff will direct you to the second lot, about 4 minutes away on foot. For the town itself, see our Yufuin guide.
Prices and rules at Yufu Ryochiku
How much does a stay cost?
Per adult with two sharing, the official booking page started at 23,290 yen with the sukiyaki course (Kaede) and 28,930 yen in Hagi, the room with its own bath. The sukiyaki set-meal plan started at 17,660 yen, breakfast-only at 12,940 yen and room-only at 10,600 yen. Prices include consumption tax and change by date. On top, Yufu City charges a bathing tax of 250 yen per guest aged 12 or over per night. Oita Prefecture also plans a new accommodation tax from January 2027 or later; for a stay of 20,000 to 99,999 yen per person per night it is 500 yen. See our onsen bathing tax guide.
What do children cost?
It depends on the plan. When we checked, the sukiyaki course, breakfast and room-only plans listed no children. The sukiyaki set-meal plan charged elementary schoolers the adult rate and 3,300 yen for a young child sharing a bed with no meal; a family plan made that bed-sharing free for preschoolers, one per adult. Children’s dinner is a kids’ plate.
What is the cancellation policy?
The official pages list several different scales, and each plan shows its own on the booking page, which takes priority. The scales differ a lot between plans, and some holiday and premium plans charge the full rate well ahead of arrival, so read the rule on your plan before paying. See our hotel cancellation guide.
How do I pay?
Booking on the official page is by online card payment only, with no deposit. At the inn, every official list includes JCB, Visa and Mastercard; for other cards or QR payment, ask first.
What foreign guests should know before staying at Yufu Ryochiku
- The inn has no direct phone line for inquiries. Write to yufuin@ryoutiku.com; its FAQ says English-speaking staff are on hand.
- The English site is a machine-style translation; for rules, trust the plan on the booking page.
- If you have any allergy or eat no meat or fish, choose a room-only plan or eat out; the kitchen cannot adapt.
- Checkout is 10:00 and cannot be extended, and check-in does not start before 15:00. Bags can be left before and after.
- There is no shop, vending machine or coin laundry; a 7-Eleven is about 3 minutes away on foot.
Frequently asked questions
Does Yufu Ryochiku have a large public bath?
Can Yufu Ryochiku cater for allergies or a vegetarian diet?
Can children stay at Yufu Ryochiku?
How do I contact Yufu Ryochiku?
How far is Yufu Ryochiku from Yufuin Station?
Bottom line (2026): Yufu Ryochiku is a 1925 folk-house inn on Yufuin’s main street with four private baths open all night and a wagyu sukiyaki dinner. It suits couples and families who eat everything; check the plan’s child and cancellation rules, and contact the inn by email.
Sources
Every fact on this page is from Yufu Ryochiku’s official pages: home (Japanese), home (English), rooms, food, private baths, facilities, access and FAQ, and the official English booking page; taxes are from Yufu City (bathing tax) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Oita accommodation tax). All were read on October 14, 2026. Prices and rules change; check the official site before you book.
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