Lake Kinrin

This lake, which is situated at the foot of Mount Yufu-dake, is also referred to as dakenshitanike, or the lake at the foot of the mountain, in Oita. According to legend, Kuso Mori, a Confucian scholar, gave this lake the name Kinrin, which translates to "golden scales," in 1884 after observing how the lake's fish sparkled in the light of the setting sun.

The natural visual magnificence of Lake Kinrin serves as a metaphor for Yufuin. It is a small lake with a 400-meter circumference. However, the water in the lake is totally replaced two and a half times every day due to the massive amount of water that gushes out of the lake's bottom and rushes into the lake from the nearby mountains. As a result, the lake is kept exceedingly pure, and depending on your vantage point and the time of year, the reflection on the lake surface seems quite different.

One of Kyushu's greatest scenic areas is Lake Kirin, which is surrounded by morning mists. A Confucian scholar who once saw a gold-scaled fish in the water at dusk gave the lake its name. The water that wells up from hot and cold springs combines to create the enigmatic morning mist. Although the lake is lovely all year round, the misty views in the fall are absolutely magnificent. Onsens, dining establishments, and cafes abound on the lake's banks.

Location: Oita, Japan