Beppu and Yufuin Scenic Private Tour

Gin arrived at our port about 30 minutes before the scheduled time and let us know, so we never had any concerns about how or where to meet him. The rest of the day went exactly like that: Gin had a wonderful schedule and kept us to it, all the while allowing idiosyncratic stops that he wove deftly into our day, allowing us to linger at shops, choose the scenic or shopping route, etc. In Yuifin Gin guided is to the shops with authentic Japanese merchandise, and helped translate for us so I could get chopsticks engraved with our grandchildren's names. He had previously requested our dietary choices, and then took us to a 400 year old former samurai restaurant for a tempura lunch and helped us order the best thing on the menu. After lunch Gin had booked a private onsen bath for us at a terrific iconic place that was over 100 years old. From there, after an hour's soak, we went to a place where we saw all 3 types of bubbling hot springs: the gray muddy one, the beautiful blue water, and the bubbling red hell. We got back to the ship exactly when scheduled. During the drive, conversation with Gin was lively and informative. We had a terrific day and give him the highest marks as a sociable and knowledgeable guide!

Gin was an outstanding guide. He was knowledgeable, organized, and very easy to talk to. His in depth explanations were clear and full of interesting details, but never felt overwhelming. He balanced history, local culture, and practical tips perfectly. What we especially appreciated was his warmth and attentiveness—he noticed what we were interested in and adjusted the pace and accordingly. The tour felt very personal rather than scripted. I’d highly recommend booking a tour with Gin. He made the experience memorable and gave us a much deeper understanding of the area than we could have gotten on our own. He gave us an amazing experience around Beppo. Best tour guide ever!

Wonderful tour and lots of interaction with thevguide. Saw all we could in our timeframe. Lunch stop was perfect for those who want a causal experience. Guide was very flexible

An excellent experience and Gin was a blast the entire tour, showing and giving us in-depth explanations about not just Beppu & Yufuin but Japan as a whole. We would absolutely recommend this and especially recommend Gin.

We had an excellent tour of Bepppu. Our guide, Gin, did a wonderful job showing us all the sights that Beppu had to offer. The rope way to the top of the mountain gave us a good view of the city.

I had a wonderful experience with my tour guide, Jin. Most tours are rigid and follow a strict itinerary, but Jin is very flexible and can tailor your tour on the spot. We mentioned that we were interested in buying some local matcha, and he instantly suggested stopping by a local matcha and tea craft shop. He really takes your interests into consideration and does his best to accommodate his guests. Jin is very talkative and easy-going, and fluent in English which made the experience even more enjoyable. We had some time left after Yufuin but weren’t interested in visiting the Beppu Hells, so he took us to the Myoban area instead to buy souvenirs and try the local onsen steamed pudding and eggs. If you like a more personal, private experience, I would highly recommend this tour over the one organized by the cruise.

Gin picked us up on time and off we went to an observation tower to view the city with all the steam coming up. Then we went to the Hells. Our favorite was the Bloody Hell. He also took us to a restaurant where we used the steam to cook our meal. My husband needs knee surgery and Gin was so kind to go back to his office and get him a walker. As my husband knee was giving him a lot of bother, Gin took us to get some pain patches which really helped. He took us to his favorite sushi restaurant which we thoroughly enjoyed. As I needed a pair of shoes, he took us to a mall and was extremely patient with me while I was searching for the perfect pair. He was extremely knowledgeable and definitely would use him again.

We had an outstanding shore excursion experience in Beppu, and it truly exceeded all expectations. Beppu is one of those ports where if you just stick with the standard cruise ship excursions, you’ll likely end up with a very limited experience. Choosing an independent tour with Gin made all the difference. He took us beyond the usual stops—over the mountain to the scenic Yufuin shopping district, set up a private onsen experience just for our family, and then guided us to an incredible sushi restaurant where he sat down with us, helped us order a wide variety of dishes, and ensured we enjoyed the freshest sushi meal imaginable. Gin is not only an exceptional guide but also a PhD student in travel and tourism, and it shows. His English is flawless, his car was spotless, and his knowledge, professionalism, and warm hospitality made the day special. He had an awesome attitude, was wonderful to talk to throughout the day, and took us to multiple highlights around Beppu. The kids absolutely loved him, and as parents we appreciated his patience, care, and expertise. On the ship later, I spoke with people who had gone to the Dutch Village or just to see the sulfur springs, and many of them did not enjoy those excursions. Honestly, we had already seen plenty of sulfur springs elsewhere, and to spend your day just sitting on a bus to see another one seemed like a missed opportunity. By contrast, having Gin guide us through this personalized experience—Yufuin shopping, private onsen, phenomenal sushi, and multiple sights—was without question a far better way to spend both our time and our money. Out of all the independent excursions we arranged during our 10-day cruise, Gin’s service in Beppu stood out as the best. He is a brilliant, kind, and capable human being who truly cares about delivering an unforgettable experience. We could not recommend Gin more highly—his professionalism and customer service are absolutely top-notch.

We took this tour on our cruise ship stop, and highly recommend this over the cruise ship group tours. Our guide Gin was very personable, and was able to customize the itinerary to our interests. He even got us reservations at a local private Onsen (definitely recommend!).

We had a great time! Gun was a fantastic and knowledgeable tour guide. He made the experience great especially for our kids 18/20!