Yukuhashi - No Pass - Yabakei

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行橋市, 福岡県, JP

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Ian Dagnall

Keichiku Rides

95 km

1.216 m

A scenic route taking quiet back roads and a cycling road along a disused railway. On the way you'll pass through an area of natural beauty featuring mountains and gorges and end up at a seaside castle.

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The route starts at JR Yukuhashi Station and finishes at JR Nakatsu Station.  The route features one long, isolated climb, so make sure you have spare tubes and enough water.  The route follows paved roads all the way but expect leaf fall and possibly rocks on the roads in the hills.  The route should be rideable year-round with the exception of the odd day in winter when there's snow in the hills and during typhoons (possible from June to October).  If you can ride 100km, this route should be no problem.

From Yukuhashi you join Route 496 and follow this road all the way to Yamakuni.  On the way through Toyotsu there's a slight detour @photo[past a tea farm](3250804), then you get back onto Route 496 and follow the road along the Harai River valley.  There is a short, sharp climb to the newly built Irahara Dam (1km @10%) and then @photo[a new section of road ](3250840)over the new reservoir.

From the reservoir it's a 15km climb to the No Pass.  The lower part of the climb is through @photo[farming hamlets](3250858) and @photo[rice fields](3250800).  The Jabuchi Camp Site marks the end of the farms and the last chance to pick up drinks until you're over the pass.  From the camp site the road gets narrower and steeper as it @photo[winds through the forest](3250816).  Expect to see deer on the climb.

At the @photo[No Pass](3250833), you turn left into Oita Prefecture and follow Route 496 down into Yamakuni.  The road down is similar to the road up - steep, narrow and winding through the forest at the top (and watch out for deer, again), then @photo[out into farmland](3250844).

On the way down it's well worth stopping to take in the views at the @photo[Sarutobisentsubo](3250826) and @photo[Mabayashi](3250828) gorges.  The area also sells itself as Kakashi World - Scarecrow World - and you will see scarecrows @photo[decorating parks](3250825), bus stops and village streets.

At the junction with Route 212, follow the road into the village to pick up the start of the @photo[Maple Yaba Cycling Road](3250830).  This road follows a disused railway running alongside the Yamakuni River.  Some sections of the road are currently under repair after flood damage but the diversions are well signposted.

Just before Honyabakei the route leaves the cycling road to take in @photo[Fururakan](3250853) and Rakanji - temples carved into the hills. There's a walking trail up to Fururakan and a chair lift up to Rakanji, but you'll need to lock your bike up.  From Rakanji you follow a short section of river path round to @photo[Aonodomon](3250814) - a section of tunnel hand-chiseled through the gorge by a repentant monk.

From Aonodomon you go past @photo[Dutch Bridge](3250812) (there's a good bakery just the other side of the bridge) and then rejoin the cycle path alongside Route 212.  @point[Just before the junction with Route 16](d,78508.53), the cycle path goes under the road and then runs along the right side of the road for a kilometre or so, before @point[crossing back under](d,79939.95) and leaving the @photo[road to run alongside the river](3250811).

Just after you pass over R212 the @photo[cycle path](3250809) merges with Route 675 and you follow this road most of the way into Nakatsu.  On the egde of Nakatsu you join Route 110 for the run down to @photo[Nakatsu Castle](3250850).  From the castle it's a short ride through the back roads to Nakatsu Station and the end of the route.

# Important Reminders

The roads in Japan generally aren't named and often aren't numbered so it's best to have the route in a gps with turn by turn navigation.

Lights are a good idea even in the daytime (cars probably won't be expecting you up in the hills).

Watch out for deer on the descent from the No Pass

Foodwise, there's a a bakery in Yukuhashi Station and a few convenience stores in Yukuhashi and Toyotsu.  The 7/11 in Toyotsu in the last you'll see until Yabakei, and there are no vending machines after the Jabuchi Camp Site until you're over the No Pass. There's a village shop and a restaurant at Sarutobisentsubo Gorge, but I've only ever been through early in the morning so can't vouch for either. There are a few restaurants around Rakanji Temple, a bakery by Dutch Bridge and plenty of convenience stores after you get to Yabakei.  There are loads of places to eat in Nakatsu.

The river valleys on R496 and the Yamakuni River Valley can be hit by severe floods and landslides in the summer.  Check these site for road closures in [Oita](http://dourokisei.pref.oita.jp/) and [Fukuoka](http://www.douro.pref.fukuoka.lg.jp/) - select 福岡県 from the drop-down menu in the top left of the page.  (The sites are Japanese only but the map is fairly self-explanatory - Red cross = road closed, yellow circle with blue arrows = lane closure and traffic lights, chains = snow chains advised)

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