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Bike Touring Japan (Part 2)
  • Christine Bourgeois
  • Dave Bourgeois
  • Christine Bourgeois
  • Dave Bourgeois

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)
    Tokyo, the biggest city in the world
    WeBase Hakata HostelBig size room for Japan

    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

  • Bike Touring Japan (Part 2)

    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!

  • Bike Touring Japan (Part 2)
    Known as "couple rocks"
    Lunch spotKaratsu bayMy loaded bike

    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.

  • Bike Touring Japan (Part 2)
    1
    The water is nice and warmOld bridge over Yukinoura RiverTsugane Waterfall

    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

  • Bike Touring Japan (Part 2)
    Jigoku2Steaming Mt Unzen

    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

  • Bike Touring Japan (Part 2)
    Wearing our yukatas at the restaurant
    Delicious soupWe cooked the chicken on the leafAbaloneSavory egg custardDessertLadies from Kumamoto2

    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

  • Bike Touring Japan (Part 2)
    Having a "conversation" with a cute boy4Iwashi Building Hostel2

    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.

  • Bike Touring Japan (Part 2)
    Sunset from roof top pool (Fukiagehama Field Hotel)
    2Typical rural road in Japan1

    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

  • Bike Touring Japan (Part 2)
    Impressive Sakurajima
    1Excellent conveyor belt sushiVery convenient tramAt the mall1Ramen with lemon butterFried chicken

    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

  • Bike Touring Japan (Part 2)
    Eruption at the end of the day
    View from the ferry around 1:30pmFriendly Japanese ridersBuried torii gate (2 meters in 1 day: 1914)Ferry between Kagoshima and SakurajimaCaptivating volcanoIn the tram at the end of the dayGourmet street in Kagoshima Tenmonkan

    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

  • Bike Touring Japan (Part 2)
    Bikes in rinko bags
    Restaurant at Kagoshima train stationStudents on a field trip (in the train)Steam sand bath: photo taken by a professional photographerSaraku sand bathWatching the sunsetStudents eating ramen

    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

  • Bike Touring Japan (Part 2)
    Ryugu shrineCape Nagasakibana

    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 dake    Read more

  • Bike Touring Japan (Part 2)
    Kirishima jingu
    1Our minshuku bedroomWhenever we can, we cook breakfastChicken curry

    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

  • Bike Touring Japan (Part 2)
    Onami Lake with Sakurajima in the background
    Climbing roots on the trailFall colors are startingMt Shishiko-dake (last eruption in 2011)Crater of Karakuni-dakeHot spring steam vegetableOnly restaurant open in townRotemburo (roof hot spring bath) at the hostel

    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

  • Bike Touring Japan (Part 2)
    Bike rack provided by Hinata Cycling
    MushroomsWelcome partyJ. Iwakiri (nickname: Gansan)Riding to the presentationPresentation by IgnacioJ. Iwakiri's house

    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

  • Bike Touring Japan (Part 2)
    Lunch at the seven-eleven during a thunderstorm
    A lot of alcohol at the seven-elevenDaikon (Japanese radish)Fresh eggs in a vending machineCorn field (volcanoes in the background)Students walking homeYamato (black cat) transport is everywhereGoogle translate works pretty well

    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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