Wanderlog -> First time in Japan

Hey beautiful friends & enemies~

Last month, I had the most incredible experience! I got to travel around East Asia, and it was absolutely thrilling.

I started my journey with a flight from Germany to Korea, where I spent some time exploring the country. After soaking in all that Korea had to offer, I hopped on a short trip to Japan. My friend Juni and I kicked things off in Fukuoka, where we spent two amazing nights before taking a scenic two-hour bus ride to the beautiful town of Yufuin.

Fukuoka (福岡市 Fukuoka-shi) is the lively capital of Fukuoka Prefecture, located on the northern shore of Kyushu Island. It’s the island’s largest city and the sixth biggest in Japan, surpassing cities like Kobe and Kyoto in population. Historically, the area around Fukuoka, once part of the Chikushi region, was even considered more influential than the Yamato region. Today, Fukuoka is a bustling, industrial metropolis, part of the Fukuoka-Kitakyushu zone, with a population of around 2.5 million people.

Yufuin (湯布院町 Yufuin-chō) is a charming town-turned-district in Ōita Prefecture, nestled in a picturesque valley beneath the majestic Mount Yufu. It’s a popular getaway for tourists, offering a mix of nature, luxury ryokan (traditional inns), and serene temples. Known for its beautiful lake, rivers, and the peaceful sound of temple bells in the evening, Yufuin is also famous for its outdoor hot springs (rotenburo) with mountain views. It’s the perfect blend of rural charm and relaxation, with a stunning mountain hike to top it all off!

Everyone had told me that Japan would feel similar to Korea, but honestly, it had such a different vibe. Even though the places I visited in Japan weren’t the biggest metropolitan cities, I was truly amazed by how peaceful and quiet it was, especially in the evenings.

We arrived at Fukuoka Airport around 9 pm and quickly rushed to get to our hotel before the 10 pm check-in deadline. We had purchased a 3-day bus pass (about 60 Euros) for unlimited rides, so the first thing we did was stop by the ticket counter to get our stamps. Then, we bought a one-way ticket to the hotel (we decided to start using the bus pass the next day since it was already so late). We also activated our portable Wi-Fi egg, which we had picked up in Korea at Incheon Airport (it cost about 30 Euros for 4 days, so it was 15 each for us). Thank goodness for that Wi-Fi—without Google Maps, we would’ve been completely lost.

The walk from the station to the hotel was about 15 minutes, but we finally made it. I had expected a standard hotel, but to our surprise, it turned out to be a capsule hotel! It was a quirky, fun experience, and honestly, I couldn’t have asked for a more unique way to start our Japanese adventure.

By the time we got to the hotel, we were exhausted, completely drained, and starving. So, we decided to keep things simple and just grab some dinner and a beer at the nearest bar we could find. Before heading out, we had asked the receptionist if she could recommend a cozy, local spot with good food, and we were so glad we took her advice. The meal was absolutely delicious, and the prices were surprisingly reasonable—especially since Japan can get pretty expensive. After our satisfying meal, we couldn’t resist making one last stop at a convenience store on the way back to the hotel, because, well, when in Japan…

The next morning, we decided to have the sandwiches we picked up the night before and set out to explore the city. Japanese egg sandwiches, which are super popular in Korea too, definitely live up to the hype. There’s a good reason why they’re such a favorite—they were absolutely incredible! The eggs were perfectly creamy, and the bread was soft and fresh. It was the perfect little breakfast to kick off our adventure.

After wandering around for a few hours, we both decided to stop for some ramen for lunch. Honestly, it felt like all we did in Japan was take photos and eat delicious food—and I’m not complaining! The ramen was amazing, with rich, flavorful broth and perfectly cooked noodles. It was the perfect meal to refuel after a morning of exploring.

Afterward, we treated ourselves to some coffee, and honestly, I just love discovering pretty cafés and charming spots. This one was tiny, tucked away in the heart of the city, and it also sold cute goodies like stickers, hoodies, and socks. It had such a cozy, welcoming vibe. But as we sat there, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we didn’t have enough time to explore the city as much as we’d wanted.

Another thing that really stood out to me was how friendly and helpful the Japanese people are, even if their English skills aren’t perfect. We needed to make a seat reservation for the bus from Fukuoka to Yufuin, but since neither of us spoke Japanese very well, we decided to ask the girls sitting next to us in the café. It was definitely a bit embarrassing—we ended up relying on Google Translate and a lot of body language (since they couldn’t speak English). But thanks to their kindness, we managed to make our reservation over the phone! I’m so grateful for those little “Japanese heroes.”

After our cozy coffee break, we spent the rest of the day leisurely strolling around, sampling some delicious street food, shopping, and just soaking in the freedom of it all.

Then we went to one of the biggest shopping centers in the city and time just passed unnoticeably fast.

After a long day full of adventures we finally had the best dinner ever.

The next morning we had only little time till our bus, so we decided to go to the Fukuoka tower and visit the beach. It was a good decision since it was breathtakingly beautiful. They were renting Kimonos (Japanese traditional clothing) in the tower so we jumped at the opportunity to try them on and once again took tons of pictures!

After finishing the sight seeing we wanted to finally grab lunch but…. BUT all the placed we went to were closed. So we ended up at a franchised Japanese curry restaurant which actually was way better than we expected.

After lunch we hurried so we wouldn’t miss the bus and I had can coffee which was pretty disgusting tho (sorry, but cmon the weather was hot and I was hoping to get something cold from the vending machine but it actually was over sweetened hot coffee)

A few hours later, we arrived in Yufuin, and oh my God, was it absolutely stunning there. It had this magical, almost dreamlike quality to it. The town looked exactly the way I had always imagined Japan when I was a kid. The scenery was so picturesque, it felt like I had stepped into a scene from an old anime film. While the place wasn’t grand or majestic in the typical sense, it was the atmosphere that truly made it special. Surrounded by a towering mountain in the background, the peaceful town was nestled in a way that felt completely unique. There was something about the gentle, serene vibe of Yufuin—something that I’ve never encountered anywhere else before. It was like a hidden gem, and I couldn’t help but fall in love with it.

When we arrived at our place, the first thing we did was head straight for the hot spring. It was my first time experiencing a hot spring, and let me tell you, it was everything I had hoped for—super refreshing and incredibly relaxing. We made a quick stop at a kiosk to grab some drinks, which we brought with us to the hot spring, and it felt like heaven—sipping on a cold drink while floating in the warm, soothing water. It was the perfect combination of relaxation and comfort.

After our bath, we got ready to head out for dinner, but… once again, everything was closed. So, for the third time in a row, we found ourselves enjoying convenience store food. But honestly, since the convenience store food in Japan is surprisingly tasty, we didn’t mind one bit. It was like a quirky little tradition at that point, and we still had a great time.

We started our next morning with hot spring again but omg was the water hot in the morning. It was just not bearable. At least for me..

After getting ready, we headed out to enjoy our last day in Japan. We started with a lovely brunch by the lakeshore, soaking in the peaceful atmosphere. The calm, picturesque view made the meal even more delightful. Afterward, we went shopping around the area, picking up a few souvenirs to remember the trip.

But the real highlight was the udon we had for lunch. It was honestly the most delicious bowl of udon noodle soup I’ve ever had in my life! The noodles were perfectly chewy and smooth, and the broth was rich yet delicate, bursting with umami flavor. On top of that, we had some crispy tempura on the side—light and perfectly fried, with a crunch that complemented the soft noodles so well. The presentation of the dish was just as stunning as the taste, with vibrant colors and that perfect balance of textures. Every bite was absolute perfection, and I honestly don’t think I’ll ever find udon quite as good anywhere else.

From Yufuin we took the airport bus which took us right in front the Fukuoka Airport and after some last minute shopping at the duty free we went back to Korea.