Soft & Fluffy Swiss Roll in Yufuin - B-speak Murata

The Last thing we expected to find in Yufuin was a shop selling one of the best Swiss Rolls we have had so far.

What was the giveaway? Well, the shop was already entertaining a queue at 9.30am but only opens at 10am - good? You bet! We were walking from Yufuin Station towards Lake Kinrinko when we chanced upon the B-speak cake shop. There was already a queue of around 8-10 waiting patiently for the shop to open. Not wanting to queue, we walked towards the lake and came back afterwards.

Gina by the shop's entrance.

The shop - Yufuin Sanso Murata original homemade cake was much emptier by the time we got there around 2pm. The lady over the counter told us that they had only the large cake which is the 6 inches costing JPY1,420 each. She advised that we the cake could last one day as they use fresh cream for their cakes.

So we brought it back from Yufuin and had it as dessert that night. The box said "Brand New Puffy Taste" - so we were really looking forward to the cake.

Open and it reveals a Swiss Roll wrapped in a layer of (baking) paper.

We touched it and it was indeed soft to the touch.

And the smell of fresh cream... that was unmistakable.

Cutting the cake confirms the softness of the roll.

The cake was definitely fluffy enough and the fresh cream added to the taste of the cake. Not too sweet - just the right amount of sweetness IMHO. So was it worth it? Well... YES!

Yufuin is not just about the onsens and Lake Kinrinko - try B-speak the next time you visit Yufuin. I assure you will not be disappointed. And there is a lot more in Yufuin than just B-Speak. Make sure you check it out!

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.