November 20, 2025

OITA: Yufu Mabushi Shin Kinrinko Honten @ Yufuin

When in Yufuin, come savour the Mabushi rice in Yufu Mabushi Shin!

There are two branches here in Yufuin, one is near to the train station, the Yufumabushi Shin Ekimae Branch; and the other is the Yufumabushi Kinrinko Honten which is near to Lake Kinrin. I have dined in both branches (from two different visits) but this post will be about the honten branch.

For full itinerary, check out JAPAN TRIP 2023: 10d9n in Okayama, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Kashima and Yufuin

Also, check out JAPAN TRIP 2023: 8D7N in Fukuoka, Kashima, Yufuin & Mojiko

Yufumabushi Shin Kinrinko Honten 由布まぶし心金鱗湖本店

We took the earliest limited express YUFU 1 from Hakata to Yufuin, arrived at Yufuin around 10am in the morning. Alternately, you can take Yufuin no Mori – the retro sightseeing train to Yufuin.

We dropped the luggage in our ryokan stay and slow-walked straight to Yufumabushi Shin Kirinko Honten, knowing that there will be a long queue if we didn’t go this early.

And yes, there was already a queue at 11.20am, where you could see here, which was not too long. We didn’t have to wait too long. By 12 noon, we were already seated and waiting for our meal to be served. Perfect timing for our lunch, as you know, traveling with elderly, every meal time has to put into consideration.

Yufumabushi Shin is specializing in claypot rice made of bungo beef, eel, and chicken. There are three proteins for you to choose from: Bungo-Gyu mabushi with Bungo Beef from Oita Prefecture, Jidori Mabushi is the chicken, and lastly the Hitsumabushi – the eel.

Each mabushi rice comes in a set, served with appetizers, pickled vegetables, soup, and seasonings on the side.

Appetizer came plated beautifully. There were taro ball, tamagoyaki, tofu, konjac, okra, radish hijiki (?), ume, bamboo shoot, senbei crackers (?) and sesame tofu (not quite sure but I guess? Haha). I love such a spread!

Bungo Beef Mabushi (¥ 2,850)
Deliciously grilled bungo beef with a hint of aromatic charcoal-grilled scent, tender, juicy, and very aromatic with its melty fats; layered on a bed of chewy plump Japanese rice. Mix up the beef and rice, and then slowly enjoy it with the pickled vegetables and seasonings like yuzu kosho and spicy miso paste on the table. The flavours of the beef mabushi will change accordingly as you add in different condiments. And finally pour over the dashi broth to be enjoyed it like Ochazuke.