The forested slopes of Kunisaki peninsula of Kyushu have samurai castles, Buddhist temples, and rugged volcanic nature to reveal. Many overlook this remote corner of Kyushu, but those who make the effort will discover some of the most undisturbed pawā spotto (spiritual places) in all of Japan.
The best way to see any country is on a bike, this tour did not disappoint. Food and accommodation was great and good cycling thanks to knowledgeable guides.
Guides Eric and Joe were helpful, informative, fun, & professional. The group was well organized, so rides through spectacular scenery were fun & challenging. We ate a wonderful selection of local Japanese foods, all well presented. An Onsen at the end of the ride in each location was quite a bonus and a genuine Japanese cultural experience!
DestinationsJapan
Tour MeetsFukuoka
Fly in toFukuoka Airport (FUK)
Group Size2-15 riders
SpiceRoads jerseyWater bottleSupport vehicleGuide(s)Meals (as indicated)AccommodationSnacks and drinks
International flightsDomestic flightsAirport pick upAirport drop offVisa feesAlcoholTips
More than 75% mountainous terrain, Japan's southern island of Kyushu offers a remote and rugged experience hard to find within such a highly developed country. This tour covers 262 kilometers of quiet roads with amazing views, through the northeastern corner of Kyushu. Though the terrain is predominantly undulating, there are climbs, big and small, sprinkled throughout each day's ride and you can expect an average daily elevation gain of 850 metres.
Suitability: This trip is suitable for the recreational cyclist with a good level of fitness and experience ascending and descending for moderately long climbs and descents. Riders with less experience are more than welcome, as the support vehicle will always be nearby in case you're in need of a rest, a lift, or a water bottle refill.
Biking Conditions: This trip is along tarmac roads in good condition, and there is no technical riding. The trip is fully supported; an air-conditioned vehicle follows us for the entire journey. However, it is a point-to-point ride, and cyclists will be encouraged to complete the riding distances.
We meet in Fukuoka, the most populous city in Kyushu island and Japan's sixth largest city. Our hotel is very easy to find as it is near the Hakata train station, which is a 6-minute train ride from the airport. We meet you at the hotel for a welcome dinner of traditional food and trip briefing in the evening.
NEST Hotel Hakata Ekimae
DinnerAfter breakfast, we transfer out of buzzing Fukuoka and to Dazaifu where you can visit the Kyushu National Museum and learn about the history of where you'll be cycling. It's then time to get on the bikes and ride by the Tenmangu Shrine and Komyozen-ji, a Zen temple built during the Kamakura period and famous for its stone garden. Then our leisurely riding is along the Chikugo River, our companion today as we cross over it numerous times. A flat and smooth ride will take us to the hot spring resort and Edo-era merchant town of Hita. We explore the merchant pavilions of Mameda Town, once the Crown of the Edo Shogunate before we gather for dinner.
Hinano Sato SanyokanBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 79km
+943mToday, we change terrain and have a bit of a climb, a 390-m ascent over 10 km, a nice gradual grade to the top of Oishitoge Pass (475 m). But what goes up, must come down, and we enjoy a terrific downhill to the town of Usa, home to a famous Shinto shrine. The sprawling, wooded, and water-crossed Usa-jingū dates back some 1,200 years and is the chief shrine among some 40,000 in Japan dedicated to the warrior-god Hachiman. The unique Kurehashi Bridge with a thatched roof is particularly picturesque, so be sure to have your camera handy.
Hotel AZ Oita AjimuBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 70km+940mWe begin our circumnavigation of 720-m tall Mount Futago on the Kunisaki Peninsula, which juts out into the Seto Inland Sea. The peninsula is dotted with temples, including many small and rustic ones. Our first stop will be the revered 11th-century Tendai Temple of Fuki-ji in Bungo-takada, the oldest wooden structure in Kyūshū and one of the oldest wooden temples in Japan. Inside the main hall are colourful pictures portraying various themes of the Buddha, indicating the fervent Buddhist worship among the believers at this temple. We then back track for a few kilometres and soon find ourselves near the sea, passing beaches, ports, and numerous other shrines on our way to the town of Kunisaki. Enjoy the sea views from the onsen at our hotel tonight.
Villa KunisakiBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 57km+980mOn our way to Beppu, we'll ride inland to avoid the highway, crossing the many streams coming down from Mt. Futago. As we cycle through the town of Kitsuki, we'll see the well-preserved samurai districts and also visit Kitsuki Castle, said to be the smallest castle in Japan. Originally built in 1394, Kitsuki Castle was lost during the Meiji Period but was reconstructed in 1970 and now houses a museum. We end our riding in Beppu, one of Japan's most famous hot spring resorts, producing more hot spring water than any other resorts in the country. It also has a range of baths to enjoy -- ordinary hot water baths, mud baths, sand baths, and steam baths. In addition, the Hells of Beppu are several spectacular hot springs to view, but not to bathe in. Have a hot soak before we have our last dinner together.
Nishitetsu Resort Inn BeppuBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 56km+558mOur tour ends after breakfast and you are free to extend your trip in Beppu or to depart for onward travel. Transfer to the nearest airport in Oita, or the train station, can be arranged.
BreakfastDisclaimer: The adventure cycling tours we operate often go beyond the beaten track, and the countries where we ride are not always predictable. Due to these reasons, it is occasionally necessary to reroute or update itineraries. Our guarantee is that we will not change a trip unless for safety or to improve it. Our listed hotels are always accurate at the time of writing, but should we have to change any hotel, it will always be for a similar or better one.
The bikes are well-known hybrid bikes with lightweight alloy frames, light gears, v-brakes and Shimano components. You're free to bring own pedals, (rail type) seat, and handlebar extensions. If you bring your own bike, please make sure it is in good mechanical order.
Basic spares and tools are carried by the guide and on the support vehicle, though we cannot guarantee having spares for every conceivable problem. Carrying a basic tool kit, a spare tube and a pump while riding is recommended.
Wearing a helmet is required on all our biking adventures and is non negotiable. If you do not wear a helmet you will not be allowed to cycle. Your tour leader is trained in first aid and emergency rescue, but to a large degree you must be responsible for your own safety while riding. It is therefore compulsory that you take out travel insurance that will cover you for a mountain biking tour.
You will be led by a local English-speaking guide and if the group is 9 people or more we will add another guide to the tour. All our guides are well informed in the history, culture and religions of the area where you are biking and are skilled at passing that knowledge on to you. Your guide is also medically trained and an experienced cyclist, able to handle most minor repairs en route.
There are no inoculations required for entering Japan though there are general recommendations which you can review here. Please speak to your doctor/physician for the most recent information.
Japan has a diverse climate. There are four seasons: from April to June is spring. The rainy season is from middle of June to the middle of July. July through end of September can be hot and humid temperatures in the big cities can go as high as 35 degrees Celsius.
Meals are included as per the itinerary where B = breakfast, L = lunch, Most meals will be Japanese seafood; a typical breakfast would include rice, a piece of grilled fish, miso soup. We always carry some granola and Muesli with us for those in need. Dinners will include lots of different seafood - some cooked, some raw. Any special dietary requirements can also be catered for as well. Please let us know at the time of booking.
Keeping you completely hydrated is a job we take very seriously. Cold water, some energy-restoring local fruit and soft drinks are included in the tour price while riding. Soft drinks and other beverages during meals are not included. Beer is freely available everywhere in Japan, but is NOT included in the price.
SpiceRoads does not require you to pay a surcharge for travelling alone. We will arrange for you to share accommodation with another traveller of the same gender and if we can not match you up we will provide a single room at no extra charge. If you prefer not to share a single supplement is payable to guarantee your own room. The cost of the single supplement is listed above.
We recommend that you tuck away a few extra dollars, perhaps US$30 a day for incidentals. Tipping is not customary in Japan, although our guides have received and accepted tips on a voluntary basis.
The currency in Japan is the yen (¥) and is pronounced as ‘en’, with no ‘y’ sound. Though ATMs are everywhere in Japan, it is not always easy to use them as most only work with Japan-issued bank cards and credit cards. The exception is Japan’s post office ATMs which accept cards that belong to the following international networks: Visa, Plus, MasterCard, Maestro, Cirrus American Express and Diners Club cards. In addition to postal ATMs, you will find a few international ATMs in big cities and at the major airports. International cards also work in Citibank Japan ATMs.
If this is the tour for you here's what you need to do to confirm your place:
Just complete our online booking form or send your booking details offline (email or post), and we will confirm your participation. No deposit is needed to confirm your place on a SpiceRoads tour.
You are advised to read our Booking Conditions in full before you make your payment and should you require further clarifications of any of the conditions below, please email us or call our office.
There is a minimum number of participants (usually 2) required to enable the trip to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to Depart'. Once a trip is guaranteed to depart you are free to book your flights and make other travel arrangements. If the trip status is ‘Limited’ will mean we have only a small number of spaces available for booking. If you are unsure about the trip status, please email us or call our office.
From the tour page, click the 'Book Now' link. All departures for this tour will appear, just select the date you'd like to travel. For the next steps, you'll need to know the names of the people travelling. If you wish you can also provide extra details such as passport numbers, height (for bike hire), or you can add that later by logging into Manage My Trip (we'll set up an account for you automatically if you don't already have one). Our system will contact you from time to time to fill in the missing information, as it will be required before departure. However, if the trip that you are booking offers a child discount, you will have to fill out the date of birth of each rider (so we can calculate the appropriate discount).
If you are having any problems please send us an email, or give us a call (+66 026 3295) and one of our travel specialists will assist you with your booking.
Just call us or send an email indicating which trip you want to join and we will happily send you a list of questions and process your booking for you.
We do not require a deposit or full payment to book a place for you on a tour.
The balance of the tour’s cost (final invoice) will need to be paid 60 days before the departure date with fees for any bicycle rental(s), single supplement(s) and extra hotel nights.
In the case where a booking is made when there are less than 60 days until the tour departure date, the tour’s cost should be paid in full within 72 hours of receiving an invoice from SpiceRoads. Payment can be made by credit card using our online payment gateway or by bank transfer. When making payment online you will need to confirm that you have read these booking conditions during the "checkout" process, which equates to agreeing to the terms of services and stipulations as indicated in this document.
In all cases, tour fees need to be paid “in full” before participation in a tour. No person(s) will be allowed to join a tour without fully settling their invoice and receiving a confirmation number from SpiceRoads.
The exception can be made for last-minute miscellaneous fees that can be paid locally (visas, additional local hotel bookings, etc.) can be settled on the day of arrival.
If the tour is cancelled or postponed by SpiceRoads because we didn't make the trip numbers and the tour can’t run, we will make a full cash refund (by bank transfer or on your credit card).
If the tour is cancelled for any other reason, including due to Covid related travel restrictions, we will give you a full credit (with no deductions for admin or any other small-print item) to use on any SpiceRoads tour with no time limit. (Exceptions being flights, special permits and other non-refundable items and these will be advised when booking the trip).
Before paying for your tour, you can cancel your booking with no charge and up until 40 days before departure, you can change your booking to another travel date or move your booking onto another SpiceRoads tour with no charges.
If you need to cancel after you have made full payment, please see our cancellation policy.
The information in this document is given in good faith, and covers the average range of conditions likely to be found on this trip. Please note that the itinerary is subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances, however, we will always do our best to adhere to this original itinerary
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The bikes were great. The food was exceptionally well chosen. The Onsen were soothing as always.