A Cycling Journey through Yabakei with Guide Mr. Matsunaga

2026.01.15

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Introduction to the Yabakei Area

 

Breathtaking scenery and landscapes of the heart. Enjoy the beauty of every season.

Selected as one of Japan’s Three Great Scenic Wonders, Japan’s New Three Scenic Views, and a Japan Heritage Site, the Yabakei area is a scenic destination where spectacular natural views can be found everywhere. Uniquely shaped rock formations create a distinctive landscape, and the area is also renowned nationwide for its stunning autumn foliage.
At the same time, scenes of rice fields and farmland reveal glimpses of everyday life, forming nostalgic landscapes that resonate deeply with visitors—what many would call a “landscape of the heart.”

 

Introduction to the Guide (Local Guide) and Route

 

Guide Introduction (Mr. Koji Matsunaga)

Representative of Yabakei Cycling Tours. After returning to his hometown of Yabakei through a U-turn move, he worked as a member of the Community Revitalization Cooperation Corps. Through regional PR activities, he rediscovered the local appeal and became a cycling guide with the desire to “offer Yabakei to be enjoyed with all five senses.”
His tours, which allow travelers to experience not only tourist spots but also everyday life and local culture, are highly praised. He also offers cycling + α experiences such as vegetable harvesting.

 

About This Route

This Route: Yabakei Satoyama Cycling Course / Duration: 4–5 hours
This course allows riders to visit essential spots for understanding the history and culture of Yabakei, while also enjoying beautiful seasonal scenery along the way. Many sections are well maintained as cycling roads, and there are numerous stretches with little traffic, making it a safe and comfortable ride even for beginners.
Although the autumn foliage season tends to attract the most visitors, the fresh greenery season is also highly recommended. With pleasant weather, it is an especially easy and enjoyable time for beginners to ride.

 

Stopover Spot

 

Yabakei Cycling Tours ~Your Yabakei cycling journey starts here!~

 

Phone: 090-3662-6761
Address: 32-1 Miyazono, Yabakei-machi, Nakatsu City, Oita Prefecture, Japan
Hours: 9:00–17:00
Closed: Tuesdays & Wednesdays
Instagram: @yabakei_cyclingtours

 

In addition to two standard tour courses—the Yabakei Satoyama Cycling Tour and the Shimogo-go Pottering Tour—we also offer fully customized, made-to-order tours based on your preferences. From beginners who want to focus on sightseeing to advanced riders seeking technical routes that showcase Yabakei’s unique natural environment, we design courses to suit a wide range of needs.

Cross bikes and road bikes are available for rental, and all riders receive a complimentary drink after their ride. I’m Matsunaga, a Yabakei native and local guide, and I’ll share the charm of this town with you through cycling.
Let’s enjoy “Yabakei through all five senses” together—and don’t forget to enjoy the interactions with local people you’ll meet along the way.

 

Kumo Hachimangu Shrine ~A guardian shrine of the community, home to legends of the Kappa~

 

Phone: 0979-56-2309
Address: 363 Miyazono, Yabakei-machi, Nakatsu City, Oita Prefecture, Japan
URL: http://kumohachiman.j-air.net/

 

Kumo Hachimangu Shrine is a place many stop by to pray for cycling safety. Light and shadow created by a giant cedar tree over 1,000 years old, and in autumn, ginkgo leaves spreading like a golden carpet—this shrine is wrapped in a solemn and majestic atmosphere.

 

Within the grounds, you’ll find not guardian lion dogs, but guardian kappas known as “Aun no Kappa.” These figures are inspired by legends of kappas said to live in the nearby Yamakuni River. Once feared as mischievous creatures that damaged fields, kappas are now believed to watch over the community from the shrine. There is even a theory that these kappas were transformed spirits of Heike warriors who fled to Kyushu after their defeat in the Genpei War.

 

Every summer, the grand festival “Kappa Matsuri” is held. Children dressed as kappas are surrounded by adults who fan them with large uchiwa fans to calm the kappa’s anger, while dancing to Chikugogaku, music performed with taiko drums and small percussion instruments. This folk cultural heritage has been passed down for over 300 years.

 

 

 

Mifukuya Dai Saketen ~Refresh yourself with colorful “Nijiiro Ramune”!~

 

Phone: 0979-54-2117
Address: 4-1 Miomo, Yabakei-machi, Nakatsu City, Oita Prefecture, Japan
Hours: 7:00–21:00
URL: https://mifukuya.com/

 

Although neighborhood liquor stores are becoming rare, Yabakei is home to Mifukuya Dai Saketen, a shop with over 100 years of history that continues to be cherished by the local community. It carries a wide range of products, including sake brewed in Oita Prefecture, shochu, wine, as well as miso and soy sauce.

 

The must-try item during a cycling break is “Nijiiro Ramune.” Produced by the miso and soy sauce brewery Maruhara in Hita City, it is made with delicious underground water from the water-rich city of Hita and colored using natural pigments derived from flowers and vegetables. Its colorful appearance is irresistibly cute and perfect for photos. The gentle carbonation refreshes your tired body and lifts your spirits.

 

 

Non-alcoholic cocktails and coffee are also available, making it a perfect spot to relax like a casual standing bar. The “Kakimochi” made from rice grown by the owner himself—who is also a rice farmer—is perfect for satisfying a small hunger.

 

 

Old Hirata Post Office ~Taisho-era post office standing alongside the town’s history~

 

Address: 1387-5 Hirata, Yabakei-machi, Nakatsu City, Oita Prefecture, Japan
URL: https://oldhiratapost.com/

 

As you cycle along roads bordered by peaceful farmland, a retro yet modern two-story wooden building comes into view. This is the former Hirata Post Office, built in 1925 (Taisho 14). Preserved under the name Old Hirata Post Office, it now serves as a hub connecting people with the community—hosting workshops and occasionally opening as an atelier, coffee stand, or shop. On tours, it is often visited as a popular photo spot.

 

What draws the most attention is the beauty of the building itself. Harmonizing with the surrounding rural scenery, it feels modern yet nostalgic. Younger visitors sense its retro charm, while older generations feel a familiar sense of nostalgia—making it a place that captivates everyone. Except during special events, the interior is not open to the public, but its exterior alone offers plenty of artistic photo opportunities, so don’t forget your camera.

 

 

Hirata Residence ~A grand mansion built by Yabakei notable Yoshitane Hirata~

 

Address: 1062 Kawaharada, Hirata, Yabakei-machi, Nakatsu City, Oita Prefecture, Japan
URL: https://hiratatei.jp/

 

Standing prominently amid tranquil surroundings is this impressive wooden mansion, built by Yoshitane Hirata, a local notable who contributed greatly to regional development through infrastructure projects such as bridges, roads, and waterways, and who also served as president of the Yabakei Railway. This three-story wooden modern Japanese-style residence—no longer feasible to build today—was designated a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan in 2016.

 

The third floor of the main building was added in 1923 (Taisho 12) and features glass walls on three sides, designed to offer panoramic views of the scenic Yabakei landscape. At the time, it served as a guesthouse welcoming many distinguished visitors.

 

As the residence is still privately inhabited by descendants, it is generally not open to the public. However, once a year, the third floor, inner reception rooms, and tea house are opened for special public viewing. The garden and buildings, designated as registered monuments, can be viewed at any time from the street.

 

 

Gandōzan Kyufukuji Temple ~This is Yabakei: a powerful landscape shaped by nature~

 

Address: 39 Hirata, Yabakei-machi, Nakatsu City, Oita Prefecture, Japan
URL: https://yabakei-yuran.jp/spots/1901/

 

Founded in 716 during the Nara period, Kyufukuji Temple is one of Yabakei’s most iconic scenic wonders. The dramatic landscape formed by naturally sculpted rock formations leaves a powerful impression. From a slight distance, you can also see Hodarakuiwa, a rock formation said to resemble Kannon Bodhisattva with hands pressed together in prayer.

 

Climbing a path built alongside the rock face leads to Koenkutsu, a wooden structure built inside a rock cave. Here, the principal image—a wooden seated statue of Kannon—is enshrined and can be viewed through lattice windows. Adjacent is a hollow known as Entsudō, which houses the graves and wooden memorial tablets of the temple’s founder, Warabino no Suguri Miyamori, and his wife Kotojime.

 

Turning back, an unobstructed panorama unfolds: patchwork fields and scattered houses below, endless mountains beyond, and a vast open sky. It is a view so beautiful you’ll want to linger forever.

 

After the Guided Tour

It was a fulfilling day spent thoroughly exploring Yabakei’s must-see spots while enjoying its stunning scenery. Beautiful landscapes unfolded continuously along the cycling route, prompting frequent stops and detours. Encountering powerful and dramatic rock formations everywhere was a moving experience that can only be found in Yabakei.

 

A Message from the Guide, Mr. Matsunaga

Yabakei is home to one-of-a-kind original landscapes—peaceful townscapes, rural farmland, and magnificent natural scenery. In addition to sightseeing-focused tours, we can also propose routes that capture the hearts of cyclists, such as hill climbs that take advantage of terrain shaped by the area’s unique rock formations.

 

Contact Information

Instagram: ＠yabakei_cyclingtours
TEL: 090-3662-6751

 

Updates Also Available on Instagram!

Scenes from Yabakei tours are also shared through short videos on Instagram.
Be sure to check out Instagram to experience the atmosphere of the tours firsthand!