Kunisaki Peninsula: The Minemichi Trail – 7 Days

Your walk starts at Usa Station in Kyushu. The most direct route is by Shinkansen to Kokura or Hakata Station, then a swap to the local line through to Usa.

From the finish in Beppu, a direct express train takes you back to Kokura or Hakata in around two hours, where you can pick up the Shinkansen on to Osaka, Tokyo or wherever comes next.

Spring and autumn are the sweet spot on the Kunisaki Peninsula, with comfortable temperatures made for walking, and it's when we run our tours. Summer, from late June through September, turns hot and humid and isn't kind to a day on the trail, while winter is off the table due to snow.

Where you can, steer clear of Golden Week (29 April to 5 May), the Obon period (10 to 20 August) and Silver Week (16 to 27 September). Accommodation prices climb sharply over these local holiday stretches, sometimes more than double, and rooms get harder to come by.

In Japan, there are some periods when locals travel en masse as they are on holiday. These times are best avoided as the accommodation costs escalate considerably (more than double). It would make a lot of sense if you could avoid these times. Otherwise, see below for high-season periods. This could lead to the cost of the trip increasing by 30% or more.

Weekend surcharges may apply to advertised prices. Also within:
Golden week: generally between 29 April & 5 May
Obon period: mid-august (between the 10 & 20 August)
Silver Week: 16th to 27th September

You'll walk along dirt paths and quiet rural roads, passing small oji shrines and statues that mark this centuries-old pilgrimage route. Long stretches beneath the forest canopy provide cool, shaded walking conditions for much of the journey, particularly outside the height of summer. Most stages begin with an ascent. The longest stage is 15 km, and one section includes a short, steep climb near the end.

You must hold adequate travel insurance for your trip, including cover for personal liability and accidental injury and illness. For all trips involving international travel, your policy must also include emergency medical treatment, evacuation and repatriation cover. We strongly recommend your policy also covers trip cancellation and curtailment, and loss of or damage to luggage.

A cancellation fee usually applies if you cancel after your booking is confirmed. Travel insurance with cancellation cover will generally cover this fee, so it's worth arranging your policy at the time of booking.

Full insurance requirements are set out in our booking terms and conditions.

For over 30 years, we have taken pride in providing seamlessly organised walking holidays, but we know that you’ll have many more questions even with that in mind. You will receive a detailed information pack and itinerary approximately six weeks from departure outlining all the fine details and much more.

Please note: accommodations on this self guided tour are unable to accommodate allergies, vegan, gluten-free, or fish stock-free dietary requirements. Guests with specific dietary needs are encouraged to contact the office in advance to discuss possible options.

For your safety and well-being, we are unable to accept bookings for solo travellers on our self-guided Kunisaki trips. The remote nature of some tracks and limited mobile reception mean that walking alone presents a higher risk in case of emergencies.