More time at Kurokawa Onsen or Yufuin?

We plan to stay 1st night at Kurokawa Onsen and 2nd night at Yufuin.
Will arrive by bus from Fukuoka into Kurokawa Onsen at 12:12pm. Checking in to Ryokan Yamanoyu for the night (Right in the Village). Planning to just walk around the rustic town and enjoy the river scene. Not doing onsen hopping (just utilizing the ryokan�fs onsens in the evening and morning).

Itinerary for Yufuin - Check in to Yukemuri Sansou (Up the hill away from the town). Visit the lake and the shopping street as well as Yufuin Floral Village. Again, Onsen only in the evening and morning at the Ryokan.

Now where should we spend more time at?

Option 1
Catch the 11:30 bus from Kurokawa Onsen which will arrive Yufuin at 13:05. This means time spent at Kurokawa is 12:12 till 11:30 the next day (1 day) while Yufuin 13:05 till as late as 17:30 the next day (1.5 day).

Option 2
Catch the 15:00 bus from Kurokawa Onsen which will arrive Yufuin at 16:35. This means time spent at Kurokawa is 12:12 till 15:00 the next day (Slightly longer day) while Yufuin 16:35 till as late as 17:30 the next day (1 day only since we will need to take the ryokan�fs shuttle soon after arriving as it operates only till early evening).

Tq, Mel

24h at Kurokawa would be fine.

👌

It's true the place is there for the onsen. Not much else. Yufuin has some hiking etc if you like. I do suggest though that you try some other places in Kurokawa for their spas as well - it'd be kind of a waste just going to one. There are close to 30 places in all, and some are superb while others are just meh. If you go all the way there, get some variety.
https://youtu.be/Xs_JXC6bhkM

If you don�ft want to do onsen-hopping, why go to Kurokawa?

We really like the countryside and walks etc but there is very little to do at Kurokawa outside of the onsens. If you dont have access to your room for a nap, you might be left hanging. I also thought Yufuin was a pretty fun town. Not heaps to do, but quite a bit (owl zoo!), plenty of places to eat etc. I'd spend longer at Yufuin.

I�fm traveling with a friend to Fukuoka for a week towards the end of November.. I love onsen but my friend is a newbie and it would be hard pressed to get her to try the communal bathing. Actually even I won�ft be able to bath with her! I can just about get by bathing with Japanese strangers 😬.
Attracted to Kurokawa Onsen since I love rustic towns with streams and a bit of shops.. Don�ft intend to do hiking but walking along the stream especially if we are lucky to still get koyo would be great. She�fs into nature and photography and yet to see koyo since this would only be her second time to japan.

I think she may prefer Kurokawa for its natural rustic ambience to Yufuin�fs crowded commercialism (However, arriving Yufuin on Tuesday hopefully won�ft be too crowded).
Was thinking if we arrive at noon at Kurokawa then we have up till 5ish to walk around the quaint village before dinner soon after at the ryokan. Followed by a bit of evening stroll. Next day after c/out at 10am we can walk along the stream then leisurely lunch until 2pm+ before getting the ryokan to drop us at the bus station for the 3pm bus to Yufuin. If we leave on the 11:30am bus it�fs ok, just means a bit more rush at Kurokawa and no lunch.
As for Yufuin, I only intend to check out the shops and cafes along the shopping street and the lake.

I've visited both places and can confirm that both are nice. There are some distinct differences though. They are:

(1) Yufu has some attractions outside of just onsens. Note that it's also larger and has more eating and hotel options as a result. It's not as picturesque as a result though.

(2) Kurokawa looks best at night when they have these strange light bulbs over the river. There is not too much to do there apart from walking around the town (which is quite hilly) and visiting onsens which are more expensive than other locations.

Do note that the time you are visiting is during peak Koyo of Autumn Leaves season in Japan when prices can significantly skyrocket due to mainly local tourism. There is a change that due to elevation these two locations may have already lost their leaves but others on the forum will know more.

For me - Koyo or autumn leaf season is the most beautiful time of the year in Japan if you go to the correct locations.

I really wish to see the river illumination in Kurokawa Onsen. However, I�fd been informed it only starts in March ☹
Now gotta pray hard autumn will arrive late again this year. We flying in nov 25th at 7am then bus straight to Kurokawa Onsen. Next day to Yufuin. The rest of the stay up till Dec 2nd in Fukuoka. I�fve booked all the lodgings (actually 2 at each place to choose from 🤪) - Kurokawa Onsen is more expensive.

If we arrive earlier in Yufuin whereby we will have from 1pm on the first day till 5pm on the second day - It�fs not too much time for d shopping street and the lake..? I just feel the repetitive visit at Yufuin may not be as appealing as stretching the time along the quaint stream of Kurokawa Onsen..

Do note that I travelled in January and they seemed to have the lights on - so hopefully you will have the same luck as I did.

Do note if your not in a ryokan with a dinner included on a Tuesday then eating options were limited. I actually had to drive a fair distance to another city to find something, but I also felt like Onokomiyaki as well so.....

https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-3334

Thanks so much for your report. I�fll be staying the night in Kurokawa Ryokan on the Monday. Tuesday is the day I move to Yufuin. Eateries at Kurokawa are opened for lunch on tuesdays ya..?

Definitely. Do note that there is a lack of convenience stores in Kurokawa compared to most of Japan though.

Thanks!

I�fd definitely try and tempt your friend to try a little bit of onsen hopping.
Go to the ones further up the stream (they have better rotemburo in any case), and go in the period immediately around lunchtime for peak quietness.
If you don�ft want to bathe together, you can go to separate inns which are next to each other and then meet afterwards.

I was thinking of doing just that.. any recommendations for side-by-side onsens with nice rotenburo?

The Kurosawa page on this site gives good ideas.
What I�fd do is to pick up the onsen map from the tourist info, walk out of town along the stream eastwards, and there are 3 or 4 places along there. The furthest two have stunning baths, and the walk is nice.
You can find the map online, but right now I can�ft remember where