Yukuhashi to Minami Yufu

Routendetails

*This is a paved route on quiet roads through the hills and woods of Fukuoka and Oita.  It's one way and would be ideal as part of a multi-day trip around Kyushu. There is a fair amount of climbing but only the climb up to Kirikabu is steep for any length of time.  You're never that far from civilisation but the roads are quite isolated in places so make sure you've got spare tubes etc.*  
*The best time of year for this ride is early March to mid June, or mid-September to late November.  Yabakei is at its best in late autumn when the leaves are changing, so if you can do the ride in November, you won't regret it.  
It's definitely worth having the route on your phone or GPS with turn-by-turn instructions - I wouldn't feel confident riding it with only a printed map and instructions or just a breadcrumb trail.*
___
The route takes you out from JR Yukuhashi Station and out along Route 496 to Toyotsu.  The road is fairly narrow but it's not busy and most drivers are very courteous. From Toyotsu you follow backroads through to Buzen and then across to Yabakei.  There's a decent @poi[bakery](7731986) on the way through Buzen if you're feeing peckish and another in Yabakei, along with a couple of convenience stores.  When you get to @point[Route 212](d,41447.87), the cycle path runs along the pavement (sidewalk) on the righthand side of the road.  *Obviously you can stick to the road but if you do, expect some close passes.*

If you've got time, there's a lot to see in Yabakei - @photo[the stone bridge](3552526), the gorge and Rankaji Temple are the main ones (more detail about them in my other routes).

The cycle path sticks next to the road until you're just past @photo[the gorge](3552529) and then it turns off and @photo[runs alongside the river](3552214).  It's a @photo[cracking road](3552212) but watch out for farm vehicles and oblivious school kids.  **NOTE:** One section of the cycle path was still closed last time I was down there (following severe floods in the summer of 2017) but the diversion is well signposted and keeps you off the main road.

About 13 kilometers along the bike path, you turn off onto @photo[Route 702](3552219) for a @slice[fairly long climb](d,57297.14,72277.46) over to @point[Kusu](d,82192.61).  The first part of the climb isn't too steep as you pass through rice fields in a narrow valley.  You pass through @photo[Urayabakei](3552225) where you can stop off for some soft-shell turtle (if you're in need of a bit of, ahem, stamina) but I can't say I've ever tried it.  It's worth taking a few minutes for a slight detour into the hills for the views.  @point[Turn left](d,65268.51) off the main road and follow the road up for 1km for some @photo[great views](3552220).  It's just a quick out and back if you're  in the mood for a bit of extra climbing.

After Urayabakei you're soon into the trees, the road gets a bit narrower and the climb a bit steeper.  After about 3.5km you reach the end of Route 702 and @point[turn left](d,68824.79) onto Route 43.  It's worth stopping off for a breather at @poi[Tachihata](6255688) in order to take in the views and fill up water bottles if necessary.  From @photo[Tachihata](3552233) it's about 1km to the top of the climb and then a decent run down into Bungo-mori.

On the way into town you'll get your first glimpse of @photo[Mt Kirikabu](3552241), which is where you're headed after a quick detour into @poi[Bungo-Mori](6255690) proper to pass the @photo[railway roundhouse](3552242).  To get back onto Route 387 for Kirikabu you have to go up onto the overpass then cross over to the other side of the dual carriage way to get across the river.  Over the river there's a decent selection of convenience stores if you're in need of supplies.

From Route 387 you turn right onto Route 210 and about 800m along, just after the footbridge, turn left and follow the road through the rice fields to the foot of Mt Kirikabu.

The @slice[climb up to Kirikabu](d,86971.32,91775.56) is 4.8km @ 6% but that doesn't really tell the whole story.  The first kilometre is about 7%, then you turn left and the next kilometre is a nice 2.7%. The next kilometre or so averages 9% as you climb past the campsite, turn left for a short downhill section before the final kilometre at 10% to take you to the @photo[plateau](3552245).  The @photo[views](3552243) from the top make the climb worthwhile and there's @photo[a cafe](3552244) and icecream van there during the day.  Going back down follow the same road you came up on but turn left at the junction before the campsite.  The road down is a bit narrower and @photo[very steep in sections](3552248) and it's certainly worth keeping the speed off.

Back down you're on to Route 210 breifly and then Route 387 for a couple of kilometres before turning onto Route 681.  There's a short tunnel on Route 387 which legally you need lights for.  The road is not busy and there's a proper pavement (sidewalk) you can use if you choose.  There's a sharp right and short climb up to Kokonoe town hall then some @photo[quite country roads](3552249) back to Route 210.  You'll pass a Lawson convenience store which is your last chance to stock up on food and drinks bar the odd vending machine.  Route 210 can be relatively busy but you're only on there breifly before turning back onto country lanes through the hills.

This part of the ride is only about 9km but takes in some @photo[fairly isolated roads](3552252).  All the roads are narrow and in some places it's pretty steep (*when the surface changes to concrete you know the gradient is getting serious*) but all the roads are in good condition.

Eventually you wind up back on Route 210 and a short climb up the turn for Route 11.  There's a crawler lane most of the way up so you don't need to worry too much about the traffic.  At Mizuwake Junction follow the road round to the left and the turn for the road down to Yufuin is on the right, just before the tunnel.

This is the @photo[old Route 11](3552254), it's @photo[narrow](3552255), steep and twisty but it's infinitely preferable to mixing it with lorries and tour buses on Route 210.  Again, the road surface is mostly decent but expect a lot of leaf fall and if there's been any rain, small rocks and sand.

At the bottom of the hill, you turn left back onto Route 210 and then right onto Route 11, over the @photo[level crossing](3552261) and you're at @photo[Minami-Yufu station](3552263).

From Minami Yufu station it's a short ride in to Yufuin, or you can go back down Route 11 to Oita, or keep going on over the shoulder of Mt Yufu and down into Beppu.  Another option would be to turn onto the Yamanmi Highway instead of taking the road down to Minami Yufu and head for Kuju.

# More Resources

You can find the latest information on road closures for Fukuoka Prefecture [here](http://www.douro.pref.fukuoka.lg.jp/) and Oita Prefecture [here](http://dourokisei.pref.oita.jp/).

For weather warnings / weather radar click [here](http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/indexe.html).

# Important Reminders

While the route uses mainly quiet country roads take care, especially when descending.  Some heavy lorries use these roads and there's not really much room to play with if you meet one coming round a corner. Also watch out for wildlife.  Expect deer on the roads up in the hills and also the odd wild boar.

If there's been rain in the few days before, there's a good chance of loose sand and rocks on roads in the hills.  If the rain has been heavy, check that the roads are still open and watch out for landslides.

The area can be prone to torrential rain in July and August, and typhoons from July to October.  Flash floods and landslides aren't uncommon in heavy rain.

If you plan to take your bike on the train you'll need to put it in a bag that covers both wheels and the bars (in Japanese it's called a Rinko (輪行).  They're readily avaialable in bike shops in Japan and will fit in a jersey pocket or bottle cage.

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