Day 2 – Hita (Hita Station) to Beppu (Beppu Station)
74km – From Western Oita through the Kirishima Mountains, the scenic town of Yufuin and into the Seven Hells of Beppu. This mountain stage will push the limits of the human body, but end in relaxation at one of the most famous and largest Onsen towns in all of Japan.
With sore legs from our first day of riding, we’ll get things going with our first mountainous stage of the trip. Hita is known for being the hometown of the Attack on Titan creator, as well as being a hot spot for brewing thanks to its high quality water. Given the chance, we’ll find some easter eggs related to the famous anime, as well as make a side trip to Sapporo Brewery for a non-alcoholic beer.
Then we will venture into the mountains! A tough day of riding will be fueled by one of Oita’s most famous dishes, Kara-age. Popularized after the end of the Second World War, the famous fried chicken is now a staple dish across all of Japan.
As we ride through the Kirishima Mountains, we’ll pass through the town of Yufuin, a famous Onsen getaway that is beautifully framed by Mount Yufu. With Kinrin Lake and Yufuin Floral Village, there is plenty to see before we make our final push out of the mountains into the Seven Hells of Beppu. The coastal town is known for its variety of waters (or “Hells” due to their bubbling heat), and we’ll definitely take the opportunity to soak our legs in one of its many Ryokan after a hard days work.
Highlights
- Attack on Titan easter eggs
- Sapporo Brewery
- Kirishima Mountains
- Yufuin – Lake Kinrin, Floral Village
- Kara-age
- Beppu Onsen
Food & Accommodation
Kara-age is a must try in Oita. We’ll get our first taste as we travel through the prefecture for two days. With Beppu being a coastal city, it would be a good opportunity to explore some seafood options, with Eel being a local specialty. However, there is also a famous local pizza shop that might be worth a look. We’ll stay right in the middle of the Ryokan district in a traditional hotel, giving us access to explore as many of the wonderful waters of the Seven Hells as possible.