The Route at a Glance
≈ 2.5–3.5 hrs end to end
1
Step 1
Reserve the daily bus
−1 day
Book by 7 pm the day before on Japan Bus Online; the single daily through-service carries the whole onsen-circuit crowd.
Full details
One Kyūshū Ōdan through-service links Beppu and Yufuin to Kurokawa each day, and autumn weekends fill it. Reservations close at 7 pm the previous evening. SUNQ all-Kyushu bus-pass holders still need a seat reservation. One service a day means one failure mode, so book the moment your dates are fixed rather than trusting a walk-up seat.
2
Step 2
Board at Beppu or Yufuin
~8:09
Depart Beppu Station around 8:09, or join at Yufuin Station Bus Center roughly 90 minutes later; luggage rides in the hold.
Full details
Keep a layer out of your bag: the Kujū crossing runs high and cool even in summer. Yufuin sits roughly halfway along the route, so the Yufuin boarding is about ninety minutes after Beppu. The single daily westbound service is the reliable anchor of the Beppu–Yufuin–Kurokawa circuit; the eastbound return leaves Kurokawa later the same afternoon, which shapes how the whole triangle is planned.
3
Step 3
Cross the Yamanami Highway
2.5h
About 2.5 hours from Beppu (1.5 from Yufuin) up past Mt Yufu and over the Kujū highlands, arriving Kurokawa around 10:35.
Full details
The road climbs from Yufuin past Mt Yufu, crosses the Kujū range's grasslands at around 1,000 m (3,300 ft), passes the Senomoto rest area's panoramas, then drops to Kurokawa by about 10:35. This is the classic scenic drive of Kyushu, and the bus does it while you watch. Fares run by distance: budget roughly ¥2,500–3,500 (about $17–23) from Beppu and somewhat less from Yufuin, and confirm current figures when booking.
4
Step 4
Arrive at the village edge
10:35
The stop is minutes from the lanes and an early check-in bag drop; the village walks end to end from there.
Full details
The eastbound return leaves Kurokawa about 16:55, reaching Yufuin by evening and Beppu after dark. That enables the standard circuit: arrive from the Oita spas, overnight in Kurokawa, then continue west to Aso and Kumamoto on the morning Ōdan buses, or return east on the afternoon one. The triangle works best as a one-way line rather than a backtrack, with the SUNQ pass covering every leg of it.
5
Step 5
6
Step 6
ARRIVAL
Jigokudani Yaen-koen (Snow Monkey Park)
6845 Hirao, Yamanouchi, Shimotakai District, Nagano 381-0401, Japan
Good to know
Book the moment your dates fix; one bus a day forgives nothing.
Sit right from Yufuin for Mt Yufu, then the Kujū grasslands.
Build the circuit one-way (Fukuoka–Yufuin–Kurokawa–Kumamoto) rather than backtracking.
SUNQ Pass holders: this whole triangle is covered; carry the pass, still reserve seats.
The ~16:55 return is the day's only eastbound exit; set an alarm for the bath before it.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers on timing, the Japan Rail Pass, alternate routes, and where to stay.
How do I get from Yufuin to Kurokawa Onsen?
How do I get from Beppu to Kurokawa Onsen?
How much does the bus cost?
Can I do Beppu or Yufuin to Kurokawa as a day trip?