Man'yō Park
A wooded park along the Chitose River in the heart of the onsen district, with stream-side decks, a thatched tea house, a café and a day spa.
- Stream-side decks
- Tea house
- Free to enter
Things to do
Things to do in Yugawara.
Waterfalls and a stream-side park in the onsen district, a hike to a samurai's hiding cave, plum blossom and bouldering at Makuyama, surf lessons at Yoshihama, and a market every Sunday morning.
Where to start
Most visitors stay around the onsen district, and there's plenty there: Man'yō Park, Fudō Falls, the art museum and the Sunday market are all on the same bus line.
With a full day and good shoes, walk the Shiroyama trail from the station. In February, go to Makuyama for the plum blossom; in summer, head to the coast.
For something more active, take a surf lesson at Yoshihama, climb the boulders at Makuyama or the wall at SEA ROCK, or spend a rainy evening at Packy Bowl. To camp, Kamiya has a hot spring on site, and JaCamp lists more campsites nearby.
Don't miss
Fudō Falls
A 15-metre waterfall in the woods at the top of the valley, a short walk from the bus, with shrines on either side and a tea house with a foot bath.
- 15 m waterfall
- Tea house and foot bath
- By the bus stop
Makuyama Park
A park along a mountain stream below Mt Makuyama, famous for 4,000 plum trees in February and March, with a playground and a rock-climbing crag.
- 4,000 plum trees
- Bouldering and climbing
- Playground
All things to do
19 places
The Base Glamping Yugawara
Luxury glamping on the hill above Man'yō Park: ten walled cabins of about 120 m² with their own hot-spring baths, a fire pit on the terrace and a barbecue dinner.
- Private hot-spring bath
- Fire pit on the terrace
- Dog suite
Yugawara Onsen Kamiya Campsite
A grassy hillside campsite with views over the valley and its own hot spring, run by a family that owns three springs. Pets welcome, big dogs included.
- Hot spring on site
- Valley views
- Dogs welcome
Man'yō Park
A wooded park along the Chitose River in the heart of the onsen district, with stream-side decks, a thatched tea house, a café and a day spa.
- Stream-side decks
- Tea house
- Free to enter
Fudō Falls
A 15-metre waterfall in the woods at the top of the valley, a short walk from the bus, with shrines on either side and a tea house with a foot bath.
- 15 m waterfall
- Tea house and foot bath
- By the bus stop
Makuyama Park
A park along a mountain stream below Mt Makuyama, famous for 4,000 plum trees in February and March, with a playground and a rock-climbing crag.
- 4,000 plum trees
- Bouldering and climbing
- Playground
Gosho Shrine
Yugawara's main shrine, a few minutes from the station, under a sacred camphor tree about 850 years old and 36 metres tall.
- 850-year-old camphor
- Two goshuin stamps
- Near the station
Shitodo Cave
A dark, mossy cave lined with more than twenty stone Buddhas, where Minamoto no Yoritomo is said to have hidden after losing a battle in 1180.
- Stone Buddhas
- Yoritomo legend
- On the Shiroyama hike
Shiroyama hiking trail
A loop from the station over Mt Shiroyama, past an 800-year-old juniper, legendary rocks, castle ruins and Shitodo Cave, back down to Gosho Shrine.
- 13.2 km loop
- Views of Sagami Bay
- Starts at the station
Yoshihama Beach
Yugawara's beach, with shallow, clean water that's good for families, lifeguards and beach huts in summer, and surfers the rest of the year.
- Shallow water
- Surf lessons
- Dog-friendly
Yugawara Museum of Art
The town's small art museum in the onsen district, with a café terrace, a garden and a foot bath by the stream.
- Café terrace
- Foot bath
- Good in rain
Ikemine Momiji-no-sato
A hillside of about 540 Japanese maples above Oku-Yugawara that turns red later than most, from mid-November into early December.
- 540 maples
- Late autumn colour
- Hike
Hoshigayama Park Satsuki-no-sato
A hilltop park that turns pink with 50,000 satsuki azaleas in late May and early June, looking out over Sagami Bay and the Manazuru peninsula.
- 50,000 azaleas
- Sea views
- Free parking
Sunday morning market
An early-morning market at the Man'yō Park entrance every Sunday: local vegetables, mandarins, dried fish from the bay, bread and jam.
- Every Sunday, 6–9am
- Local produce
- Dried fish
Chibori Sweets Factory
The factory behind the famous red-hat girl cookie tins, three minutes from the station: watch the line, decorate cookies, and try the all-you-can-eat cookie buffet.
- Factory viewing
- Cookie buffet
- Kids' cookie class
Packy Bowl
The only bowling alley between Atami, Hakone and Manazuru: sixteen lanes over two floors, open since 1972, and ¥600 a game.
- 16 lanes
- Rainy-day plan
- Since 1972
SEA ROCK climbing gym
A small bouldering gym in Miyakami, good for beginners and regulars alike: ¥1,000 for an hour, ¥2,000 for the day, and the staff show first-timers how it works.
- Beginners welcome
- ¥1,000 an hour
- Open till 22:00
Surfing School HANA
Surf lessons at Yoshihama Beach with a pro surfer and her father: a one-day course for first-timers, small groups of up to five, and a pickup from Yugawara Station.
- First-timers welcome
- Station pickup
- Groups of up to 5
WAV'Y Surf Shop
A surf shop right on Yoshihama Beach, with 90-minute lessons priced by how much gear you need to rent.
- Steps from the beach
- Rental and lessons
- Shuttle available
MARBLE
A surf shop ten metres from Yoshihama Beach, run by shaper and competitive surfer Toshio Munemasa, with board sales, gear, and beginner-to-advanced lessons.
- 10m from the beach
- Owner is a shaper
- Rental included in lessons
Nothing matches those filters.
Through the year
Winter to spring
Plum blossom at Makuyama from early February to mid-March.
Early summer
Azaleas on Hoshigayama, and fireflies in Man'yō Park in early June.
Summer
Swim at Yoshihama, or cool off in the woods at Fudō Falls.
Autumn
Mikan picking from October, and late maples from mid-November.
Quick answers
- What can I reach by bus from the station?
Buses from stand 2 run up the valley past Man'yō Park and the museum to Fudō Falls and Oku-Yugawara. The Sunday market is on the same line.
- When is the plum blossom?
At Makuyama, from early February to mid-March.
- What is there to do on a wet day?
Genkan Terrace, the art museum, the Chibori factory, SEA ROCK and Packy Bowl are indoors, and a bath is always a good plan.
- Is there a hike from the station?
The Shiroyama trail starts at the station. The hill trails are steep and have no shops, so take water and lunch.
- Where can I surf or climb?
Surf lessons are at Yoshihama. Climb the boulders at Makuyama or the wall at SEA ROCK, or bowl at Packy Bowl.
Good to know
One bus line
Buses from stand 2 at the station run up the valley past Man'yō Park and the museum to Fudō Falls and Oku-Yugawara.
Hiking shoes
The hill trails are steep and have no shops. Take water and lunch with you.
Wet days
Genkan Terrace, the art museum, the Chibori factory, SEA ROCK and Packy Bowl are all indoors, and a bath is always a good plan.