Lake Kinrinko & The Autumn Colours in Yufuin

It was appropriate that we were visiting Yufuin and Lake Kinrinko during autumn. The colours are beautiful!

While we enjoyed the walk up from the Yufuin Station to Lake Kinrinko, what greeted us in and around the lake was amazing! The little town of Yufuin is almost quiet in the early morning.

But what we saw around the lake was a beautiful sight to behold.

Equally beautiful was the colours of the lake...

A path leading into a restaurant by the lake.

Beautiful autumn colours.

Gina by the restaurant beside the lake.

A stream leading into the lake

Gina by Lake Kinrinko

Beauty and serenity of Lake Kinrinko.

And the clear water too...

Another view from the other side of the lake.

It is definitely worth the walk up to the lake to soak in the atmosphere there. Tranquil surroundings amidst autumn colours.

And as you head back to the Yufuin Station, remember to explore the shops and offerings available. Try the B-Speak cake - I assure you will not be disappointed. Read more about Yufuin in my other post.

Yufuin - More than just Onsens

While Beppu is dubbed the hot springs (onsen) town, Yufuin is sometimes referred to as mini Beppu.

We went from Beppu to Yufuin by the JR train and it took some 30 minutes with a change at Oita Station. We got there just around 9.30am and a beautiful sight greeted us as we exited the station. The station itself is nice...

Cold morning coupled with the steam created a foggy morning.

The morning we arrived was beautiful - the morning clouds hanging around Mount Yufu. I understand the clouds are steam from the town rising up.

The day we arrived was a beautiful sunny morning - temperature around 12 degrees celsius and the sun shining through. Lovely!

The walk up to Lake Kinrinko is where the fun is. The road leading to the lake is lined with shops and museums.

For Snoopy lovers, there is even a Snoopy themed restaurant. Try the mochi from the Snoopy stall – made fresh everyday. Sit down by the stall which is located beside the canal.

Enjoy the walk up and if you choose to (and I suggest you do), sit by the Snoopy Cafe and savour the mochi.

The walk itself from Yufuin Station to Lake Kinrinko is about 30 minutes but because of the shops etc., it took us almost 50 minutes to get there. On the way there, we came across a cake shop – B-Speak. We were there at around 9.30am and a queue had already formed. Impressive we thought, as the shop only opens at 10am. So try we must. And we bought the cake on our walk back. Read about it in my other post.

Along the way, try the pudding – they tell us the pudding is made with milk, sugar and eggs much like chawanmushi (steamed egg) except that they are cooked with the hot steam from the onsen. They come with several flavours but we understand the best sellers are the plain flavour. There is the caramel and green tea but we also feel that the plain is best of all. These pudding are also available in Beppu.

Yufuin has many art museums and quaint little shops. We came across the Yufuin Floral Village...

Small shops selling paintings and knick knacks... Including a shop selling Rolexes (vintage).

There is even a shop selling gelato called Firenze.

On top of selling gelato, they also sell wine made in Yufuin.

A word of advice - stay with the regular wines. According to the bartender, the wines are made in Yufuin. They have several types - white, rose and red. We manage to sample some and ended up purchasing two glasses - a red Merlot and the Rosè. Not impressed...

Being the onsen town, plenty of unique food finds including this onsen egg...

There is also the pudding. Comes in three flavours - caramel, green tea and plain. We liked the plain so we bought three each costing JPY310. The same pudding cost JPY300 in Beppu.

When you return from Yufuin to Hakata, try to take the train Yufuin no Mori. The interior of this train is all wood paneling. It was obvious to us that many were waiting for this train - not just riding on it but anticipating its arrival.

And when the train did arrive, there was a hive of activities. Passengers take photos and videos of the train...

Gina posing right by the train.

The interior of the Yufuin No Mori train - all wood paneling. As we were seated at the back, we could view the train as it departed the station.

And as an added bonus, the train attendant will happily take a photo for you with a special sign showing the date of travel on the Yufuin No Mori.

The train ride was about two hours and twenty minutes from Yufuin back to Hakata. A nice rest after a day of walking in Yufuin. Look out for my other post on Lake Kinrinko in Yufuin and the autumn colours there. Here is the link to my post on Beppu and the Hell Tours.

Photos taken with iPhone 6S Plus.

Definitely the Best Unagi in Fukuoka

We recently visited Fukuoka and our Airbnb host told us that there is a very famous Unagi restaurant in Hakata - Yoshizuka Unagi. Established in 1873, this is perhaps the oldest and most established unagi restaurant in Hakata.

The building housing Yoshizuka Unagi which is located on the second floor.

Having already tasted unagi in Yanagawa the previous day, we knew we had to try Yoshizuka Unagi. The restaurant was established in 1873 and their house specialty is grilled eel. According to the restaurant, a few factors determine the quality of their grilled eel – one is of course using the top quality eels and secondly their method of grilling. To top it off, the dipping sauce enhances the taste of the unagi and is a secret recipe laid down generation after generation.

The eels come from Shizuoka, Miyazaki and Kagoshima and are farmed in clean water and provided with quality feed and that makes their eels available year round.

The entrance to the building.

The restaurant sits on the second floor and unlike many other Japanese restaurants feature a spacious layout.

When you go to the restaurant, ask for the English menu unless you speak Japanese. My suggestion is to choose the Super-deluxe Kabayaki box which has 6 pieces of the unagi plus rice and a bowl of soup. I think this is the best value of all sets and for unagi lovers, you will love this.

As expected, Gina and I ordered the Super-deluxe Kabayaki box each and I also tried the Umaki which is eel wrapped in an egg omelette. They will serve you the tea and dipping sauce first. The dipping sauce is a special sauce created by the founding family and has been handed down generation after generation.

The Umaki came first - all their dishes come served in a traditional lacquerware.

Open the lid and a nice eggy smell greets you. The smell of unagi is not overpowering. Presentation is everything in a Japanese meal and the sight that greeted us was no exception. The colours are as vibrant as the smell.

The egg is soft and fluffy and the unagi adds a delicate touch to the dish. Started well...

Then came the main dish... the one we are all waiting for. A double tray stacked two high and a bowl of soup.

Could not wait any longer, we opened the lid and right on the top tray was the unagi! The bottom tray is the rice. The soup featured a clear broth and in it some enoki mushroom and eel liver.

Having waited for so long, we took the tray and sampled the unagi first.

Paired with the rice and dipping sauce, the unagi is heavenly!

The unagi is grilled to perfection - melts in your mouth and yet firm to the bite. The dipping sauce really compliments the unagi and rice combo. There is just enough fats in the eel to give it that oily mouthfeel. And the thickness of the flesh oozes quality. Signs of well bred eels.

The meal was so good we went back a second night. JPY3,340 per set is not expensive for a meal of this quality. Firstly, you struggle to find a good unagi restaurant in Singapore. Secondly, the unagi is grilled fresh everyday. Top grade unagi at a very reasonable price. I dare say the meal rivals that of Nodaiwa in Tokyo which I had featured here earlier in the year.

How to get there – The restaurant is close to the Canal City. Unless you are going to Canal City, I suggest you take the subway (Kuko Line) to Nakasu-kawabata Station. Exit the station using Exit Number 5. Walk up the stairs and turn left onto the Kawabata Shopping Arcade. Walk down around 200-250 metres and turn right onto a road after the Italian Tomato restaurant (on the right). You will see the canal. Cross the canal and immediately turn left. Walk 100 metrest past the Paraca parking garage and Yoshizuka Unagi is the next building.

Restaurant is closed Wednesday.

Address – 2-8-27, Nakasu, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka 810-0801

Telephone – 092-271 0700

Opens 11am to 9pm (Last order 8.30pm)

All photos taken with iPhone 6S Plus.