Kyushu Onsen to Onsen

Cycling and Japanese hot spring (onsen) culture are a match made in heaven. And there’s no better place to experience this synergy than Kyushu, an island in the southern Japanese Archipelago, celebrated for its rich heritage of traditional onsen. This 6-day traverse across northeast Kyushu leads us on backcountry roads through rice fields, along rivers, up mountain passes, and to historic temples and cultural landmarks as we connect a string of onsen towns by bike.

Beginning in Fukuoka, Kyushu's urban hub, we head east and begin cycling from one of Japan’s most prominent Shinto shrines to reach Hita via farmlands, the Chikugo River, and forested hills. The following two days will involve more ascents and descents as we tackle the Fushiki Pass, once a part of the “Kaido” highway, and trace the slopes of volcanic Mount Futago to reach the coast of the Kunisaki Peninsula. Our last riding day leads us to Beppu, one of Japan’s onsen meccas, where we finish the tour. The cycling is complemented by plenty of cultural highlights, such as one of Japan’s oldest wooden temples (Fuki-ji) and smallest Samurai castles (Kitsuki).

We cycle almost entirely on paved roads. Most are in very good condition, though the occasional broken or cratered road does present itself. We cycle predominantly on small country roads but there are a few inevitable sections along the main roads. While near towns or popular attractions some busier traffic should be expected, for the vast majority of the tour there is very light traffic and we have chosen routes based on the most scenic and quiet roads available. Where possible, we ride on designated bicycle lanes. Rain showers can occur at any time – we generally ride rain or shine though, based on the guide’s discretion or your level of comfort, modifications to the planned route can be made. It’s all part of the adventure!