COURSE INTRODUCTION

Bungo-Ono City Tourism Association

Right next to Mie-machi Station, the tourist association is your cycling gateway: e-bikes ready to rent, friendly staff ready to help. Inside, you'll find maps and information galore about Bungo-Ono. Inside, you'll find maps and information galore about Bungo-Ono. It enhances the feeling of joy to spread out a big map and plot your own route. That sense of possibility, of choosing your own adventure, adds an extra spark of excitement to the ride ahead. It's the perfect launching pad for a great day on two wheels.

Hakusan Gorge

This delightful stretch runs alongside the Hakusan River, one of Japan's top 100 pristine waters. At cycling pace, you can really appreciate the dramatic columnar jointing from ancient volcanic flows along the riverbank, and catch the play of light dancing on the water's surface. Pull over for a breather and fill your lungs with clear air that feels impossibly clean. The arched stone bridges dotting the valley connect you not just across the river, but across time, to generations who've cherished and protected this crystal-clear waterway.

Saryo Yamasemi

Follow the sinewy road and you'll find this local favorite tucked along the gorge. The signature Yamasemi Set brings you rare treats: seasonal river fish, game meat, handmade konjac, ingredients you don't encounter every day. The menu changes with the seasons, you'll have to come back to try it all. Inside you're greeted by a homey atmosphere that invites you to slow down and savor both the food and the moment.

Hoge Rock

Legend says a demon punched this hole straight through the rock, and standing before Hoge Rock, you can almost believe it. The sheer presence of this formation, coupled with the gentle rush of the river echoing through the space almost imposes contemplation. Linger long enough and you'll feel wrapped in geological time, like touching something old. In summer however, locals bring their kids to splash and discover something new.

Inazumi Underwater Caves

This flooded limestone cave, submerged by ancient activity from the Aso Volcano, is a rarity even in Japan. Inside awaits another world: cool air, the quiet drip and trickle of water, time crawling still. The stalactites glowing softly through crystal-clear water create a beauty that challenges description, you simply have to see it. After hours in the saddle, this ethereal space offers something unexpected: a chance to reset, to breathe differently, to carry forward with you a profound memory.

Satonotabi Resort Lodge Kiyokawa

Bungo-Ono may lack natural hot springs, but it's made a name as a "sauna town" instead. Here you can experience the Japanese take on Finnish-style sauna, letting the steam of löyly slowly raise your body temperature before bathing into the pristine river right outside for an invigorating cool-down. The shock of crystal-clear cold water, the sound of the current, the deep breath you can't help but take, it's pure bliss. This is where sauna culture and nature fusion, and where "totonou" (that perfect post-sauna zen) takes on new meaning.