Sep – Dec 2023

Bike Touring Japan (Part 2)

This bike trip will include riding around Kyushu, an island with A LOT of volcanic activities; take a ferry to Shikoku and finish our adventure in Hiroshima.
https://www.travellerspoint.com/map/#/trip/1401697/stop/12137450 Read more

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Trip start
September 28, 2023
Bike Touring Japan (Part 2)
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- Day 1
- Thursday, September 28, 2023
- ☀️ 29 °C
- Altitude: 23 m
- Japan Nakasu Kawabata-eki 33.595837, 130.4083133°35’45” N 130°24’30” E
We made it to Fukuoka!
September 28, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
We changed plane in Tokyo and finally arrived in Fukuoka. A little challenging to find a big taxi that can carry 2 bikes, 2 boxes and 2 passengers. Happy to find a comfortable and welcoming place to rest: 4 nights at WeBase Fukuoka Hostel :)Read more
TravelerThe adventure starts💫💚😘😘
9/28/23Reply
TravelerBien arrivés, votre trip peut commencer 👍😊😘
9/29/23ReplyTranslate
Wonderful! Congrats and thanks for sharing! Good wishes in your tour❤️ [Dinorah isis Molina]
12/2/23Reply
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Bike Touring Japan (Part 2)
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- Day 2
- Friday, September 29, 2023 at 7:00 PM
- 🌙 26 °C
- Altitude: 9 m
- Japan Tenjin Central Park 33.590395, 130.40831233°35’25” N 130°24’30” E
Walking and eating around Fukuoka
September 29, 2023 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 26 °C
Fukuoka is well known for the delicious tonkotsu ramen, served in a broth made from pork bones stewed for a day or more. The Fukuoka way to eat is at yatai, food carts with simple kitchens surrounded by counters and seats. Very fun and lively at night.Read more
TravelerMiam miam ça donne envie
9/29/23ReplyTranslate
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- Day 3
- Saturday, September 30, 2023 at 6:51 AM
- ☀️ 22 °C
- Altitude: 9 m
- Japan Nakasu Kawabata-eki 33.593292, 130.4086333°35’36” N 130°24’31” E
Delicious meals
September 30, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Fukuoka is all about food and we love it!
Today, we had ramen for breakfast, sushi for lunch and mizutaki (chicken hot pot) for dinner. Miam! Miam!
Do either of you speak Japanese? [Cindy]
10/2/23Reply
TravelerUnfortunately, our Japanese is very limited. Google translate is a life saver and Japanese people are extremely patient and helpful.
10/2/23Reply
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- Day 4
- Sunday, October 1, 2023 at 10:43 AM
- ☁️ 26 °C
- Altitude: 49 m
- Japan Kusu 33.520878, 130.5347633°31’15” N 130°32’5” E
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Dazaifu
October 1, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C
Dazaifu is an easy day trip from Fukuoka. Dazaifu Tenmangu is one of Japan’s leading Shinto shrines.
Great photo! [Kristen LaBonte]
10/2/23Reply
TravelerThanks Kristen.
10/3/23Reply
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- Day 5
- Monday, October 2, 2023 at 2:56 PM
- ☀️ 25 °C
- Altitude: 9 m
- Japan Nijō-fukae 33.512173, 130.12931833°30’44” N 130°7’46” E
Ride to Karatsu
October 2, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
1st day of our bike touring adventure: 80kms with a good tail wind. Thank you to Sean & Ikuko for sharing local tips and hosting us at their lovely Green Flamingo Guesthouse in Karatsu.
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- Day 6
- Tuesday, October 3, 2023 at 2:32 PM
- ☁️ 25 °C
- Altitude: 99 m
- Japan Shōrikibō 33.236015, 129.89274633°14’10” N 129°53’34” E
Pottery towns & Terrace rice fields
October 3, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C
Karatsu, Imari and Arita are the 3 major pottery towns in Kyushu. We enjoyed exploring Imari Okawachiyama “The Village of the Secret Kilns”.
Riding through this rice farming area was great!
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- Day 8
- Thursday, October 5, 2023 at 2:48 PM
- ☀️ 22 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- Japan Kawanotani 33.140714, 129.69357233°8’27” N 129°41’37” E
Sasebo & Sakai National Park
October 5, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Riding around the hilly Sakai National Park treated us with amazing views of the 99 islands.
TravelerSuper, il fait beau
10/5/23ReplyTranslate
TravelerOui, on a vraiment de la chance. Il fait beau et pas trop chaud. L’automne approche.
10/5/23ReplyTranslate
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- Day 9
- Friday, October 6, 2023 at 5:35 PM
- ☁️ 22 °C
- Altitude: 9 m
- Japan Yukinoura-gawa 32.919212, 129.66035532°55’9” N 129°39’37” E
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Peaceful Yukinoura
October 6, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
Yukinoura is a small town of 1,200 residents about 45 kms north of Nagasaki. It is famous for the sunset with the views of Goto Islands.
We enjoyed staying at the Yukinoura Guesthouse Moritaya and meeting the friendly locals at the weekly Beer Hall with music entertainment.
https://yukinoura.net/moritaya/Read more
Traveler On October 28th at sunset , Technics will perform an analog record performance on the beach using a high-end audio system.
10/8/23Reply
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- Day 13
- Tuesday, October 10, 2023 at 6:41 AM
- ⛅ 19 °C
- Altitude: 28 m
- Japan Sakuramachi-eki 32.748962, 129.87687732°44’56” N 129°52’37” E
Nagasaki, a colorful city
October 10, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
We were lucky to get tickets for the annual festival: Kunchi Matsuri.
Nagasaki is a must see Kyushu’s city: a lot of history with China and the western world (Portuguese, Dutch, French).
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- Day 15
- Thursday, October 12, 2023 at 7:26 AM
- ☀️ 14 °C
- Altitude: 690 m
- Japan Unzen 32.740593, 130.26347432°44’26” N 130°15’49” E
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Unzen-Amakusa National Park
October 12, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
Mt Unzen and other volcanoes created the Shimabara Peninsula. Unzen village in the middle boasts dozens of onsen (hot springs). A path outside the village winds through the bubbling jigoku (“hells”, boiling mineral hot springs).
We hiked to Fungen Dake (1359m) for excellent views of the entire peninsula and Mt Unzen.Read more
Loving the photos. Thank you for sharing. Be safe and enjoy the trip! [Linda Keasberry]
10/12/23Reply
TravelerThanks Linda. Every day is a different adventure: we love it! Hugs
10/12/23Reply
Traveler Cool chains!
10/13/23Reply
TravelerIt’s good practice for via ferrata!
10/15/23Reply
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- Day 15
- Thursday, October 12, 2023 at 4:56 PM
- ☀️ 22 °C
- Altitude: 26 m
- Japan Shimabara Castle 32.789246, 130.36692832°47’21” N 130°22’1” E
Shimabara Castle & Samurai houses
October 12, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
From Unzen village, we rode mostly downhill to the relaxed town of Shimabara. We enjoyed visiting the castle and the nearby old Samurai houses. Waterways close to the castle are filled with the colorful Nishikigoi (koi carps).Read more
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- Day 16
- Friday, October 13, 2023 at 6:08 PM
- ☁️ 22 °C
- Altitude: 10 m
- Japan Shimoda Kō 32.42405, 130.00677532°25’27” N 130°0’24” E
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Shimoda Hot Springs
October 13, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
After a short ferry crossing, we rode to Shimoda Hot Springs and splurged for a night at Onsen Boyokaku. We had an amazing dinner (seasonal Kaiseki cuisine) followed by soaking in natural hot springs. Three lady friends from Kumamoto showed us what is the right order to eat all those refined little dishes :). A LOT of fun!!Read more
Such wonderful smiles . . . and you two looked SOOOO relaxed!! My dad used to skin dive for abalones when I was a wee kid. [Melanie]
10/15/23Reply
TravelerThanks Melanie. It has been a really nice trip. The abalones that we ate, were probably from a local farm. It was fun to try it.
10/16/23Reply
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- Day 17
- Saturday, October 14, 2023 at 11:35 AM
- ☁️ 23 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- Japan Sakitsu Tenshudō 32.312176, 130.02581832°18’44” N 130°1’33” E
Beautiful ride to Ushibuka
October 14, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
Portuguese and French priests introduced Christianity to Japan. We learned about the interesting history of the Hidden Christians in this region of Kyushu.
This weekend, there was a matsuri (festival) in Ushibuka.Read more
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- Day 18
- Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 2:42 PM
- ☀️ 23 °C
- Altitude: 9 m
- Japan Kuronohama 32.07505, 130.20172132°4’30” N 130°12’6” E
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Hilly ride along the coast
October 15, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
More festival activities, before heading south along the west coast to Akune. The bike friendly Iwashi Building Hostel is comfortable and in a convenient location.
Traveler So cute and cozy
10/15/23Reply
TravelerYes, we loved it. I just posted a photo of Dave crawling out of our room.
10/15/23Reply
Looks like a Hobbit house! [Melanie]
10/18/23Reply
TravelerMy sister Véronique had the same observation and asked Dave if he was a hobbit or Gandalf. His answer: I am tall like Gandalf but I eat often and a lot like a hobbit :)
10/19/23Reply
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- Day 19
- Monday, October 16, 2023 at 11:02 AM
- ⛅ 23 °C
- Altitude: 40 m
- Japan Sunatake 31.899738, 130.23007231°53’59” N 130°13’48” E
2 1
Ichikikushikino
October 16, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
We stayed in a big glamping resort (onsen, SUP, dog yoga…) in Ichikikushikino because riding straight to Kagoshima would have been a looong day for us (more than 100kms with LOTS of up and down).
Main roads in Japan are never flat even along the coast and most of them have a lot of traffic with trucks.
Our preference: plan routes on small rural roads with light traffic. It’s usually doable if Dave spends time on Google map and uses mapping tools such as Ride with GPS. It always means more elevation gain and more fun :)Read more
Cute kitty! [Kristen L.]
10/17/23Reply
Difficult, but it looks ideal! [Kristen L.]
10/17/23Reply
TravelerIndeed, it is!
10/18/23Reply
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- Day 21
- Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at 2:23 PM
- ☀️ 25 °C
- Altitude: 5 m
- Japan Sakurajima-koikechō 31.619164, 130.58282531°37’9” N 130°34’58” E
1 1
Kagoshima
October 18, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Kagoshima is the southernmost big city on Kyushu. Sakurajima, a very active volcano across the bay is the backdrop of Kagoshima. Eruptions happen almost every day: it’s quite a sight! Views from Sengan-en garden are good: tomorrow we are planning to ride around the volcano.Read more
Kagoshima is such a wonderful spot! Great photos! [Kristen L.]
10/18/23Reply
TravelerThanks Kristen. Indeed, we just spent 3 nights in Kagoshima and liked it a lot. We were lucky with the weather and the ash condition. Today, rain is in the forecast…
10/19/23Reply
Traveler Wow!!!
10/20/23Reply
Traveler It looks yummy!
10/20/23Reply
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- Day 22
- Thursday, October 19, 2023 at 4:53 PM
- ☀️ 24 °C
- Altitude: 16 m
- Japan Kan Se 31.577045, 130.60331731°34’37” N 130°36’12” E
Riding around Sakurajima
October 19, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Wow!!! Sakurajima is one of the most active volcano in the world. We were lucky to have the perfect condition to ride around it (sunny, no wind, almost no ash or traffic and a beautiful eruption at the end of the day). An experience that one can not forget…Read more
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- Day 23
- Friday, October 20, 2023 at 2:05 PM
- 🌧 21 °C
- Altitude: 15 m
- Japan Kōgakubu-mae-eki 31.56805, 130.54058831°34’5” N 130°32’26” E
Train to Ibusuki
October 20, 2023 in Japan ⋅ 🌧 21 °C
It’s windy and raining: let’s take the train to our next destination.
Ibusuki is a small hot springs town known for its “steam sand bath”., Sunamushi Onsen. Being buried in the hot sand for 10 minutes or more is a very unique and relaxing experience.
Taking photos is not allowed :(Read more
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- Day 24
- Saturday, October 21, 2023 at 11:23 AM
- ☀️ 15 °C
- Altitude: 630 m
- Japan Kaimon Dake 31.177628, 130.53216631°10’39” N 130°31’56” E
Hiking Kaimon dake (924 meters)
October 21, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
The beautiful cone of Kaimon dake is nicknamed “Satsuma Fuji”.
Great and steep hike with wonderful views at the top.
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- Day 25
- Sunday, October 22, 2023 at 10:54 AM
- ☀️ 19 °C
- Altitude: 101 m
- Japan Kiyomi Dake 31.242771, 130.58581531°14’34” N 130°35’9” E
Day ride to tourist attractions: Ibusuki
October 22, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
A 60 kms loop gave the opportunity to see the main attractions around Ibusuki.
1) Lake Ikeda, the largest lake in Kyushu, created by volcanic activity long ago.
2) Eating somen noodles flowing in circulating crystal water of Tosenkyo Valley.
3) Cape Nagasakibana, the southernmost point of the Satsuma Peninsula and Ryugu Shrine.
4) Sunset over Kaimon dakeRead more
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- Day 26
- Monday, October 23, 2023 at 5:34 PM
- 🌙 17 °C
- Altitude: 483 m
- Japan Araso 31.858347, 130.8717531°51’30” N 130°52’18” E
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Kirishima jingu
October 23, 2023 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 17 °C
We used trains to get to Kirishima jingu, a picturesque, tangerine Shinto shrine. We are staying at a comfortable youth hostel for a couple of days in order to hike in Kirishima-Kinkowan National Park.Read more
So invigorating to spend a couple of nights in one place . . . And to allow laundry to fully dry! [melanie]
10/23/23Reply
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- Day 27
- Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at 12:57 PM
- ⛅ 15 °C
- Altitude: 1,681 m
- Japan Karakuni Dake 31.934229, 130.86158831°56’3” N 130°51’42” E
Hike to Mt Karakuni-dake: 1700m
October 24, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
We took a bus to Ebino Kogen in the morning, had lunch at the top of Mt Karakuni-dake at noon and caught the last bus back at 4:00pm to Kirishima Jingu.
Perfect day with great views of the Kirishimayama which represents 20 or more volcanoes.
All the trails around Mt Ioyama which is the newest volcanic body in the Kirishimayama, were closed due to volcanic activities.Read more
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- Day 28
- Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 6:42 PM
- 🌙 16 °C
- Altitude: 279 m
- Japan Ebino-iino Eki 32.030643, 130.87298632°1’50” N 130°52’23” E
Welcome to Ebino City
October 25, 2023 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 16 °C
After a long climb to Ebino Plateau and a short walk on the Ikemeguri Nature trail, we rolled down to Ebino City where we are staying with our Warmshowers host Junichi Iwakiri.
J. Iwakiri organized a welcome party and invited us to a presentation given by Ignacio Duran, a cyclist who has traveled all over the US, Europe & Asia.
J. Iwakiri as the managing director of the Cycling Association of the Miyazaki Prefecture encourages bicycling education to youth, organizes events and promotes cycling tourism.
Arigato gozaimasu Gansan for all your hard work! The new Kyushu Cycle Map is a great resource.Read more
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- Day 30
- Friday, October 27, 2023 at 12:31 PM
- ☀️ 23 °C
- Altitude: 176 m
- Japan Kawachi 31.966129, 131.19450431°57’58” N 131°11’40” E
Riding in rural Japan
October 27, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Here is a list of observations from our rides in the countryside in Japan.
The small roads/narrow paths are beautiful, quiet and ideal for riders who enjoy nature and farming life. It seems like every inch of land is used for growing food: a lot of rice, all kinds of vegetables (cabbage, lettuce, carrots, daikon, potatoes, beans, onions…), and some corn for cattle. Fruit/vegetable stands are always a required stop for us :) Satsuma mandarins and persimmons are sooo delicious!
Food options can be limited but conbinis (convenience stores: Seven-Eleven, Lawson, Family Mart…) are everywhere and sell decent pre-packaged food. Great place to hang out and eat during a downpour…
There are also a lot of vending machines mainly for drinks and cigarettes. It was fun to find one that sells fresh eggs from the local farm.Read more
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- Day 31
- Saturday, October 28, 2023 at 1:35 PM
- ☀️ 22 °C
- Altitude: 9 m
- Japan aoshima 31.79537, 131.47120731°47’43” N 131°28’16” E
Aoshima, a laid-back surfing town
October 28, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Aoshima is both a tiny palm-covered island and a small town, not far from Miyazaki. The Shinto shrine, Aoshima-jinja is a popular destination for Japanese: it has a reputation of being good for match making.Read more
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