Short answer: mostly, no. We checked every place we’ve written up on this site against its actual public transit access, and the results are pretty one-sided. Here’s exactly what you can and can’t reach without a car — and why.

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The Short Answer

What You Can Actually Do Without a Car

• Mount Tsurumi — the ropeway’s base station is a straightforward Kamenoi Bus ride (route 36) from Beppu Station’s west exit, about 20 minutes.
• Yomoyama and Kinrinko Lake — a flat 20–30 minute walk from Yufuin Station, the whole way through the main shopping street.

Doable, But a Taxi Makes It Much Easier

• Kikusuke — up in the hills above the main Yufuin strip; walkable in theory, but most visitors take a taxi.
• Fukoji Magaibutsu — about ten minutes by car or taxi from Asaji Station.
• Chinda Falls — about ten minutes by car or taxi from Bungo-Kiyokawa Station.

Where a Car Is Genuinely the Only Practical Option

The rest of what we’ve covered has no meaningful public transit path at all — not infrequent buses, not a long walk, nothing:

• Amano Yasukawara
• Crane Yufuin (horseback riding)
• Fukino Falls
• Usa Jingu
• Yufugawa Ravine
• Tsukahara Onsen
• Tsurumisaki
• Ryumon Falls
• Matama Coast
• Kokonoe Yume Otsurihashi
• Higashi Shiiya Falls
• Horseback riding and the hidden winery in the Kuju Highlands
• The Yamanami Highway itself — it’s a driving route by definition

So Should You Rent a Car?

If you’re planning to visit more than two or three of the places on this site, yes — a rental car is really the only way to link them together without losing most of a day to each one. Our Yamanami Highway guide covers what you need, including the International Driving Permit requirement that trips up a lot of visitors.

Read our rental car & IDP guide →

Skipping the rental also changes your budget meaningfully — we break down what a car-free week actually saves in our cost guide, and if you’re flying into Oita specifically, our airport transport breakdown covers the bus and taxi options in detail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there guided tours that cover these spots instead of driving? Not that combine this specific list, no. The Yamanami Highway route is straightforward enough to self-drive with an International Driving Permit — see our guide.

What if I don’t have an International Driving Permit? Then a car isn’t an option, and it’s worth building your trip around the two car-free spots above plus the mainstream Beppu/Yufuin train-and-bus circuit, or hiring a private driver for a day if a specific spot matters enough to you.

Does the season matter for going car-free? Definitely — Oita’s rainy season and summer heat make taxis worth the extra cost on days you’d otherwise walk or bus. Our season-by-season guide has the specifics.