DAY1
Non-Cycling Day

After arriving in Fukuoka we will meet up with the guide in the evening and the guide will brief you on the following 11 days of riding. We will have a welcome dinner at the hotel.

DAY2
approx. 45km

We start the day easy, riding a cycling road by the Ashia coastline. As we near the Munakata town area we find ourselves heading into the mountains and reaching our destination for the day, an Onsen, where we freshen up and head to Tenjin, the city center of Fukuoka City via car.

DAY3
approx. 70km

We start the day with a train ride today. Our destination is Dazaifu, one of the biggest shrines in all of Kyushu. From Dazaifu, we head west toward Akitsuki, and small but scenic castle town name after the “Autumn Moon”. Heading further west and after a couple of climbs, we cross into Oita Prefecture, and into our first Oita Town, Hita.

DAY4
approx. 60km

From Hita, we travel northeast into the mountains of Yabakei, a beautiful area with a wonderful cycling road that takes us into the heart of the mountains. From Yabakei, we head to the city of Nakatsu, where we can cooldown and rest from a days’ worth of mountain fun.

DAY5
approx. 70km

Riding eastwards, we have time to visit Usa Shrine, a unique and important shrine that celebrates the most prominent religions in Japan, Shintoism, and Buddhism. From the shrine we head south and cross some good climbs to reach our final destination, the Onsen (Hotspring) Capital of Japan, Beppu. It is here where the “Hell Springs” greet us after a day with a bunch of climbs.

DAY6
approx. 60km

We start the day climbing out of hell and straight into the mountains. Riding east, we head begin our journey to the Heart of Kyushu. While we won’t reach the Heart until the next day, our goal is a small town nestled in the mountains called Taketa. The road to Taketa is filled with panoramic vistas that showcase the beauty of Oita’s landscape.

DAY7
approx. 60km

Disembarking from the quaint town of Taketa, we go further west, hugging the rivers and going through beautiful mountain roads until we make a stop at the Ameushi Falls, a wonderful valley with an amazing waterfall that is a local hidden gem. From the falls, we cross into Kumamoto Prefecture and fully enter the Heart of Kyushu, Mt. Aso. A descend into Kumamoto’s green volcano city, Aso awaits us as we look forward to a night on Kyushu’s largest volcano.

DAY8
approx. 40km

This day we setting our eyes onto the Kurokawa area of Mt. Aso. First, we are greeted by a climb out of Aso City and make our way to Minami-Oguni the area housing the famous samurai “Onsen Town”(Hotspring town) of Kurokawa. Today is a shorter ride day, as to make sure that we have the chance to explore this incredible onsen town at leisure and rest up for the next day’s ride by dipping into the healing waters of the hot springs much like the ancient samurai did hundreds of year ago.

DAY9
approx. 75km

After breakfast at our lodgings we set out for a full day’s ride with a scenic climb through the backroads of Mt. Aso and descend into the Kikuchi area, known for the purity of its waters via the Kikuchi River. From Kikuchi, we ride to our next destination of Ozu Town where we can freshen up a bit before we head to Kumamoto City via train and end our day.

DAY10
approx. 40km

The day starts early as we ride our way to Kumamoto Port and catch the ferry to our next and last prefecture, Nagasaki. When we reach Nagasaki’s shores we will make our way to Mt. Unzen, the mountain shrouded by clouds. Since ancient times, Mt. Unzen was regarded at a mysterious mountain which the gods would gather. Mt. Unzen is actually a volcano which is famous for the hot springs within which produces white clouds. The day ends on top on Mt. Unzen where we can relax in the clouds of the legendary mountain.

DAY11
approx. 42km

We start the last day with a great descent down Mt. Unzen’s “Dragon Road”, going downhill on a windy road that is shaped like the back of a Dragon. We head into the town of Isahaya where we grab lunch and coffee before we head to Nagasaki City via car for our final ride. The final ride within the city will be one to remember, with one last push to a viewpoint where the whole of Nagasaki port will greet us, and us visiting a final shrine before we head to our hotel and look forward to a night of festivities.