Samurai – Kyushu – The Enchanting South – Japan

Cycling Kyushu Highlights

> Shimanami Kaido: Ride Japan’s most iconic cycling route, crossing a chain of islands via breathtaking bridges over the Seto Inland Sea.

> Dogo Onsen: Unwind in one of Japan’s oldest and most celebrated hot springs, steeped in legend and literary history.

> Mount Aso: Pedal through the heart of Kyushu’s volcanic wonderland, circling one of the world’s largest active calderas.

> Kurokawa Onsen: Soak in riverside baths surrounded by forested hills in one of Japan’s most picturesque onsen villages.

> Kumamoto: Conclude your journey in the vibrant city of Kumamoto, home to an imposing samurai castle and rich warrior heritage.

> Oboke and Koboke Gorges: Follow the Yoshino River through dramatic canyons carved over millennia — a cyclist’s dream of winding roads and wild scenery.

> Takachiho Gorge: Discover the mythic landscapes of Takachiho, where sheer cliffs and cascading waterfalls meet Japan’s ancient Shinto legends.

> Yufuin: Ride into the artistic hot spring town of Yufuin, surrounded by rice fields and overlooked by the twin peaks of Mount Yufu.

> Beppu: Experience the otherworldly steam vents and bubbling springs of Beppu, a geothermal wonderland unique to Kyushu.

> Local Cuisine & Culture: Savour regional specialties from Shikoku’s udon noodles to Kyushu’s tonkotsu ramen, and enjoy the warm hospitality that defines southern Japan.

Kyushu Cycling Travel Details

Cycling Kyushu Dates/Prices

Custom Tours

All our tours — and individual stages — are available as custom itineraries for private groups.
Contact us to tailor a journey perfectly suited to your riding style and interests.

What’s Included

Accommodation in carefully selected hotels (bed & breakfast)

Airport transfers on designated arrival and departure dates

Snacks en route and pre/post-ride nutrition

Most lunches

Multi-course group dinners showcasing local cuisine
(We include occasional independent dinners to give you flexibility.)

A Ride & Seek Kit

Garmin 1030 with all routes preloaded

Ride & Seek water bottle

Passionate, experienced, and knowledgeable guides always on hand

Not Included

Alcoholic beverages

Bike hire

Occasional lunches

Pre- and post-tour accommodation

Supplements

Single Supplement: Prices are based on twin/double occupancy.

Deposit

To secure your place on this tour or a stage, a US$500 deposit (or local currency equivalent) is required.
We accept payment in USD, GBP, AUD, and EUR.
Your final invoice will include any applicable single supplements and bike hire costs.

Cycling Kyushu Cuisine

The cuisine of Kyushu and Shikoku is a celebration of Japan’s southern soul — a fusion of bold flavours, pristine ingredients, and heartfelt hospitality. Blessed with fertile soils, abundant seas, and a warm climate, these islands produce some of the country’s freshest and most diverse foods. On Kyushu, culinary traditions are as vibrant as the landscapes themselves: the creamy richness of tonkotsu ramen from Hakata, the smoky sweetness of chargrilled yakitori in Fukuoka, and the delicate artistry of Kaiseki dining in onsen towns like Yufuin and Kurokawa. Every meal tells a story of place, passion, and pride.

Across the water, Shikoku offers a more understated but equally captivating food culture. It’s the birthplace of Sanuki udon, the thick, silky noodles served with light dashi broth or soy-based dipping sauce — a dish that captures the island’s simple perfection. Coastal villages serve up the freshest tai (sea bream) and aji (horse mackerel), while inland towns are known for citrus fruits like yuzu and sudachi, whose fragrant zest brightens everything from grilled fish to desserts. This harmony of mountain, river, and sea flavours makes dining on Shikoku a truly sensory experience.

What ties the cuisines of Kyushu and Shikoku together is their deep respect for seasonality and craftsmanship. Meals are prepared with a light hand that lets each ingredient shine — whether it’s melt-in-your-mouth sashimi, tender wagyu from Kyushu’s rolling pastures, or freshly picked vegetables from Shikoku’s farms. Add in the comfort of a steaming onsen bath, a cold local beer, or a glass of shochu or sake, and dining on these islands becomes something far more than nourishment — it’s an immersion into the warmth, generosity, and rhythm of Japan’s southern islands.

On tour, you’ll savour the best of Hokkaido’s seasonal fare — from steaming bowls of miso ramen in Sapporo to fresh sushi and sashimi on the coast, and grilled lamb “jingisukan” enjoyed with a cold local beer. Meals often feature farm-to-table produce, and there’s always a chance to unwind with sake or whisky from one of Hokkaido’s renowned distilleries. Combined with warm local hospitality and our handpicked dining stops, every meal on this cycling adventure offers a taste of Japan’s purest and most delicious region.

Cycling Kyushu Accommodation

We present a range of accommodation options across this tour, but without doubt, our favourite abodes are the Japanese inns. As with all of our tours we have searched out places that are not only ‘best available’, but also reflect the essence of the area in which we travel. The inns are a wonderful way to immerse yourself in the culture of Japan with their straw mat floors and futon beds. Many of them also offer baths in natural hot springs to soothe those aching muscles at the end of a day on the bike. The traditional cuisine served up in these inns is also a real highlight. Our Samurai Hokkaido tour has a good mix of traditional inns and more western-oriented hotels.

Cycling Kyushu History

The history of Kyushu and Shikoku offers a fascinating window into Japan’s southern spirit — a place where ancient traditions, trade, and warrior culture intertwined to shape the nation’s story. As one of Japan’s earliest points of contact with the Asian continent, Kyushu was long a gateway for new ideas, religions, and technologies. It was here that Buddhism first entered Japan from China and Korea, and where early imperial forces expanded their reach. Over time, Kyushu became both a frontier and a stronghold — a region of rugged independence, volcanic power, and deeply rooted spirituality.

Shikoku, the smallest of Japan’s four main islands, evolved with a quieter strength. Its mountainous interior and remote valleys fostered a slower pace of life, where faith and pilgrimage became central to cultural identity. The 88-temple pilgrimage route, linked to the Buddhist monk Kūkai (Kōbō Daishi), remains one of Japan’s most profound spiritual journeys, weaving together history, devotion, and rural charm. In contrast, Kyushu’s culture was marked by trade and movement — its southern port of Nagasaki was the only window to the outside world during Japan’s centuries of isolation, welcoming Dutch and Chinese merchants even under the Tokugawa shogunate.

The samurai legacy runs deep across both islands. On Kyushu, powerful clans like the Shimazu of Satsuma and the Otomo of Bungo played pivotal roles in Japan’s feudal history — from warring states to the eventual unification under the Tokugawa shogunate. These warriors shaped not only Kyushu’s politics but also its cultural pride, evident in its castles, martial traditions, and enduring sense of independence. On Shikoku, the samurai presence was smaller but equally proud, serving the island’s local daimyō and defending its remote provinces. Today, both islands retain echoes of that past — in the quiet resilience of their people, the preservation of their temples and castles, and a deep reverence for honour, faith, and the natural beauty that has always defined Japan’s south.