Lake Kinrin is located in the Yufuin Onsen area of Yufu City, Ōita Prefecture, and is one of the most iconic scenic spots in Yufuin. It also serves as one of the sources of the Ōita River. The frequent morning mist rising from the lake’s surface, combined with the reflections of the surrounding mountains, creates a serene and almost dreamlike landscape that has become a symbol of Yufuin’s tranquil atmosphere.
Lake Kinrin covers an area of about 0.8 hectares, with a circumference of approximately 400 meters and an average depth of 2 meters. Both hot spring water and fresh water well up from beneath the lake, and five small rivers flow into it—some with water temperatures reaching around 30°C. Because of this unique mix of warm and cool waters, the lake’s surface often becomes shrouded in mist during autumn and winter mornings, forming an enchanting spectacle. These rising vapors are said to be the source of Yufuin Basin’s famous morning fog, known as the “Fog Basin” (Kiri-bon).
Originally called “Takashita no Ike” or “Takashita Pond,” meaning “the pond at the foot of Mount Yufu,” the lake received its current name in 1884 (Meiji 17) when the Confucian scholar Mōri Kūsō noticed the fish scales in the water glimmering like gold in the sunset. He thus named it “Kinrin-ko,” literally “Golden Scale Lake.” About one-quarter of the lakeshore is bordered by the renowned Kamenoi Bessō Ryokan, a popular spot for enjoying the lake view. Local lore holds that the Yufuin Basin was once a vast lake, and Lake Kinrin is what remains after centuries of earthquakes and landslides that reduced its size and depth to what it is today.
The lake’s ecosystem is notably diverse, home to freshwater fish such as crucian carp, koi, and catfish, as well as non-native species like tilapia and guppies. Of particular ecological significance is the discovery of the Onsen Mizugomatsubo (a type of tiny snail), an endangered species listed as “Critically Endangered (IA)” on Japan’s Ministry of the Environment Red List, found in the waterways around the lake.
Lake Kinrin is about 1.5 kilometers from JR Kyūdai Main Line’s Yufuin Station, easily reachable on foot. Along the shore stands the historic communal bathhouse Shitan-yu, where visitors can soak in the hot spring while gazing over the lake—an experience cherished as part of Yufuin’s traditional charm. Since 2007, scenes of Lake Kinrin’s misty winter mornings have also been featured in the closing credits of Ōita Broadcasting System (OBS) television programs.
Local folklore also tells of a tale connected to the lake—about a wicked man who disturbed the peace and was ultimately punished by a wise sage and his companions, reflecting the moral and mystical layers tied to this serene landscape.
