Yufuin no Mori Resort Express Review | Hakata to Beppu, Japan

Hakata Station in Fukuoka City.
I’ll take the Limited Express “Yufuin no Mori” departing at 10:00 to Beppu.

I picked up my reserved ticket at the Midori-no-Kenbaiki (green ticket machine).
Since it was a weekday morning, it wasn’t very crowded.

On the first floor of Ippin Higashidori inside Hakata Station, there’s a shop called “Ganso Hakata Mentaiju.”
I chose the “Mentaiju” (1,944 JPY).
With my bento in hand, I headed to Platform 6.

About 5 minutes before departure, Yufuin no Mori No.3 entered the platform at Hakata Station.
This train’s theme is “Yufuin begins the moment you board.”
Its metallic green exterior evokes the forests of Yufuin.

The floor is wooden, and the overhead luggage racks are gold-colored.
A refined European-style atmosphere fills the carriage.

The train left Hakata Station right on time.
Shortly afterward, the onboard announcements began.

About 10 minutes after departure, an attendant entered the car.
Instead of announcements over the PA system, explanations are given verbally.
The engine noise made it hard to catch everything, but their polite manner and use of printed materials conveyed the atmosphere well.

While running, a few minutes before reaching scenic spots, the attendant holds up a placard to guide passengers.

Around 11:56, about four minutes before arriving at Bungo-Mori Station.
On the right side of the train, you can see Mt. Kirikabu, a mountain shaped like a tree stump.

At 12:00, the train arrived at Yufuin Station.
About 90% of the passengers got off here, and the car suddenly became quiet.
But soon after, many new passengers boarded, bringing the lively energy back.

After departing Yufuin, I moved to the free space in Car 3 for lunch.
Right after departure, the area was crowded with people taking commemorative photos, but once it calmed down, I enjoyed my meal slowly.

After lunch, I went to the buffet in Car 2 to buy a “Yufuin Cider” (300 JPY).
It comes with both the bottle and a clear cup.
I enjoyed it in the salon space of Car 2 while looking out over Beppu Bay.

At 13:31, the train arrived at its final stop, Beppu Station.
The station name sign even included a hot spring symbol.
My three-hour rail journey had finally come to an end.

The Yufuin no Mori, one of JR Kyushu’s popular D&S trains, attracts many international travelers.
Inside the train, I hardly heard any Japanese being spoken.
Since it’s so popular and hard to reserve, I wonder when I’ll get to ride it again…
Thank you for reading to the end!