Kinrinko Lake

Publié le: 4 août 2026

Mis à jour le: 4 août 2026

Lake Kinrinmorning mistphotographyhot spring lakeYufuin

Kinrinko Lake — representative image, not a photograph of this location

Image d'illustration — il ne s'agit pas d'une photo de ce lieu.

Lake Kinrin (金鱗湖, 'Lake of Golden Fish Scales') is a small spring-fed lake at the eastern edge of Yufuin town that produces ethereal morning mist year-round due to underground hot springs warming the water from below. When cold air meets the warm lake surface, mist rises in thick layers — creating a dreamlike scene particularly beautiful when backlit by dawn sun.

The lake is only 400 meters in circumference but contains both hot spring vents and cold spring sources, creating temperature gradients that sustain unique aquatic ecosystems.

Informations essentielles

Horaires d'ouverture

Lake access 24/7. Tsukanoma Cafe 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

Fermé: Open year-round

Tarif d'entrée

Free. Parking ¥500 (limited spaces).

Meilleure saison

October–March (pre-sunrise dawn 6:00–8:00) for thickest morning mist; position on east shore for backlit mist photography

Durée de visite

30–45 minutes for lakeside circuit; extend to 90 minutes for morning mist photography and café coffee

Comment s'y rendre

Informations d'accès

1561-1 Yufuin-cho Kawakami, Yufu City. 10-minute walk east from Yufuin Station. Free access 24/7. Lakeside path: 15-minute circuit. Nearby parking ¥500 (limited).

Guide d'initié

Premium

**Mist photography timing:** The mist is most dramatic October–March when air temperature drops below 10°C. Arrive 30 minutes before sunrise (check sunrise time seasonally). Position on the east shore to shoot westward — mist backlit by dawn creates golden atmosphere. The mist dissipates by 9:00am as air warms. **Tsukanoma Cafe:** This glass-walled café on the north shore (open 9:00–17:00) provides heated indoor views of the lake with Mt. Yufu as backdrop. Morning coffee (¥500) and thick pancakes (¥900) allow lingering over the view after mist photography. **Off-season advantage:** Summer (July–August) has minimal mist due to warm nighttime temperatures, making the lake less photogenic. Visit in shoulder seasons (April–May, September–November) when mist still occurs but Yufuin's tourist crowds are smaller than winter peak.

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