Kunisaki Pilgrimage: Kyushu’s Historic Shrines and Sacred Mountains – 7 Days

DISTANCE - BELOW AVERAGE

Although distance is below average it should be consideration in your training program as this walk goes over multiple days. You should incorporate some long walks in your training as it will increase your cardiovascular fitness.

ELEVATION - ABOVE AVERAGE

Elevation training is a major consideration in your overall training program. You must include walks with serious hill climbs. If you do not have access to hills, it it essential to replicate the elevation level you will be undertaking in any way possible via a treadmill or stair climber. Prioritizing resistance training assumes heightened significance in this context, emphasizing the incorporation of stair climbing whenever feasible. Walking up and down stairs at work, at a local oval with a grandstand, or up and down small hills, boring as that sounds, is incredibly useful. Elevation is the chief walk killer, not distance, as it uses an entirely different set of muscles.

UNEVEN TERRAIN

Preparation for hiking on uneven terrain demands a blend of physical and mental readiness.

Begin with balance-enhancing exercises, such as one-legged stands and stability ball workouts, laying a groundwork for stability and coordination. Strengthening the lower body is especially important, achieved through the incorporation of squats, lunges, and step-ups. Gradually increase the complexity of the terrain on which you walk, moving from gravel paths to rocky trails. Cultivate mindfulness during your practice, directing focused attention to both your immediate surroundings and precise foot placement.

The importance of suitable footwear cannot be overstated; prioritise options that offer robust support and reliable grip to navigate varying terrains with confidence. Build endurance through consistent hikes, progressively increasing distance and difficulty.

HOW TO GET START AND FROM END OF WALK

Travelling to the Start of the walk

Your journey begins at Oita city. Please note that arrivals to the starting point on Day 1 and departures from the final destination are self-arranged. To ensure a smooth experience, we have provided comprehensive travel resources to help you easily navigate these transfers.

By Air: The best option is to fly into Oita Airport.
While several flights depart Tokyo daily, an early morning departure is essential to join the group on time. Why not arrive a day early? It’s a great way to explore the local sights at your own pace before the official journey begins.

Train

Japan Transit Planner is an excellent resource for checking train schedules and platform locations.

JR Rail Pass

Whether or not to purchase a Japan Rail Pass depends on how long you are planning to stay in Japan and what other areas you want to visit. We would recommend roughly calculating your train fares for the trip and comparing this with the JR Pass cost to see if it is worth purchasing for your particular itinerary. The alternative to a JR Pass would be to buy tickets as you go.

Note that the JR Rail Pass cannot be used on many local bus services and cannot be used on non-JR services such as non-JR train networks and the Tokyo metro.

Should I invest in a JR Rail Pass? We highly recommend that you only invest in a JR Rail pass if you are planning to extend your travel in Japan. As mentioned, the cost of train travel is provided when using Japan Transit Planner website, Japan Direct rail app or Japan Travel by NaviTime app (which also allows you to search bus timetables). You can choose the departure station, arrival station, and time. The results give you the name of the train, platform number, total cost, duration of journey, total distance, and transfers. 

Travelling from the end of the walk

By rail: Take a direct express train from Beppu Station (a 15-minute walk from your final night’s accommodation) to Hakata Station, which takes approximately two hours. From Hakata Station, you can also take the Shinkansen to other destinations in Japan, such as Osaka and Tokyo.

By Air: See above

WALKING

This 53km walk is graded as easy to moderate. Walks average about 9 km with 3-8 hours of walking each day, with the longest being 15 km. The walking is over well-maintained paths, but expect each day to start with moderate elevation gains.  We recommend training and having a good level of fitness to complete this walk comfortably. 

This historic route has stacks of small temples (Oji)  and statues to admire along the way. For much of the time, you are walking under a forest canopy which makes for mild conditions other than the height of summer.

Please refer to Gear Advice in our FAQ section for what to bring.

WEATHER

Located in southern Japan, Kunisaki experiences warm summers from late June through September, with hot and humid conditions that are generally not ideal for walking.

While walking can be enjoyed year-round, spring and autumn are the most popular seasons, offering comfortable temperatures and pleasant weather conditions ideal for exploring the trails which is when we will conduct our tours.

For the average yearly temperature in Kunisaki, please see the weather information.
https://www.accuweather.com/en/jp/kunisaki-shi/219400/weather-forecast/219400

INSURANCE

We require that you have adequate travel insurance against potential losses, damage or injury, including cancellation costs and loss of luggage.

For all trips requiring international travel, you must have purchased travel insurance including medical evacuation coverage.

We also charge a cancellation fee if you cancel your walking holiday after we have confirmed it to cover costs incurred by our suppliers and in the office.  See the FAQ section for more information.

INFORMATION PACK

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.

CONTACT

If you have any questions, feel free to ask one of our destination consultants. You can get in touch with us via our contact form, or call us on +61 3 9597 9767.

LUGGAGE

During the tour, your luggage will be transported to each accommodation in the vehicle you are traveling in. There is a limit to the amount of luggage that can be carried in the vehicle, so if you have more than one piece of luggage per person, we can transport it to each accommodation for a small additional fee. This additional fee can be paid during the tour. Please let us know if you have extra luggage.

DIETARY REQUIREMENTS

Please note: accommodations on this group guided tour are unable to accommodate dairy-free, 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.