Cycling Japan’s Kyushu Island

Day 1: Arrival in Fukuoka
Day 2: Fukuoka - Dazaifu - Hita, 46 mi. (74 km)
Day 3: Hita - Usa, 44 mi. (71 km)
Day 4: Usa - Kunisaki, 29 mi. (47 km)
Day 5: Kunisaki - Beppu, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 6: Departure from Beppu

Please note that rain showers can occur at any time, and route adjustments may be made based on conditions and group comfort.

Day 1: Arrival in Fukuoka
Welcome to Kyushu, Japan’s southernmost main island and a cultural crossroads for over a thousand years. Your adventure begins in Fukuoka, a port city known for its food scene, maritime heritage, and proximity to the rest of Asia. Your hotel is steps from Hakata Station, easily accessible by train from the airport. In the evening, meet your guides and fellow travelers for a welcome dinner and tour briefing. (D)

Sample Accommodation: NEST Hotel Hakata Ekimae

Day 2: Fukuoka – Dazaifu – Hita, 46 mi. (74 km) | Elevation: +1,726 ft (526 m); -1,608 ft (490 m)
After breakfast, a short transfer brings you to Dazaifu, a historic temple town nestled in the hills. Here you’ll explore the revered Dazaifu Tenmangū, a shrine dedicated to the deity of learning, surrounded by plum trees and stone lanterns. Your first day of cycling follows country roads alongside the Chikugo River, winding through rice fields and rural villages. After a gradual climb through forested hills, you descend into the riverside town of Hita, known for its Edo-era merchant district and hot springs. In the afternoon, stroll the traditional Mameda district before a group dinner. (B, L, D)

Sample Accommodation: Hinano Sato Sanyokan

Day 3: Hita – Usa, 44 mi. (71 km) | Elevation: +3,061 ft (933 m); -3,300 ft (1,006 m)
Today begins with a flat warm-up before a steady climb up the Fushiki Pass, a historic trade route once vital to samurai-era merchants. You’ll descend through dense forests and follow the Yamakuni River before climbing again over the Sakura Pass. After a descent, you cycle into Usa, home to the grand Usa-jingū Shrine, the spiritual head of over 40,000 Hachiman shrines across Japan. A stop at the elegant Kure Bridge, once used by imperial envoys, adds to the sense of stepping back in time. (B, L, D)

Sample Accommodation: Hotel AZ Oita Ajimu

Day 4: Usa – Kunisaki, 29 mi. (47 km) | Elevation: +2,579 ft (786 m); -2,585 ft (788 m)
Today’s route carries you across the dramatic Kunisaki Peninsula, shaped by the volcanic slopes of Mount Futago and dotted with centuries-old temples. After a flat start, the road begins a double climb through remote highlands, where you’ll pass temples like Fuki-ji, home to one of Japan’s oldest wooden structures. The landscape here is spiritual and wild, steeped in the legacy of mountain monks and pilgrimage routes. After reaching the peninsula’s east coast, you descend with views of the Seto Inland Sea and roll into the quiet coastal town of Kunisaki. (B, L, D)

Sample Accommodation: Villa Kunisaki

Day 5: Kunisaki – Beppu, 31 mi. (50 km) | Elevation: +1,631 ft (497 m); -1,627 ft (496 m)
Your final ride winds south through rolling farmland and forested hills. Midway, stop in Kitsuki, a beautifully preserved samurai town where narrow stone streets connect hillside warrior residences and one of Japan’s smallest castles. From there, you make your way to Beppu, one of the country’s most iconic onsen destinations. Here, natural hot springs bubble from the earth in every form, including sand, steam, mud, and mineral water. Take your pick for a celebratory soak before a final farewell dinner. (B, L, D)

Sample Accommodation: Nishitetsu Resort Inn Beppu

Day 6: Departure from Beppu
Enjoy a leisurely morning and a final onsen soak before check-out. Beppu is well connected by train and airport for your onward travel, or you might consider extending your stay to enjoy more of its unique geothermal wonders. (B)

Accommodations on this tour are comfortable and thoughtfully selected mid-range hotels in regional cities and towns. These are typically Japanese business-style or tourist-class properties offering private, en-suite rooms with Western-style beds, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and other essential amenities. A few locations offer traditional touches, such as on-site onsen (hot spring baths), or are within walking distance of local bathhouses.