Kyushu Bike Adventure 18 – Kumamoto to Fukuoka

Kyushu Bike Adventure 18 – Kumamoto to Fukuoka

Kumamoto. It’s got a real vibe. Beautiful. Old meets new, friendly mascot, and isakayas for days. The one I chose last night. Awesome. Fish cakes with cheese, deep fried daicon, oxttow, and spicy dried ramen. Top bins. And to think this city almost got skipped. very happy that I took the time to visit. Before I leave, I cycle up for a better look at Kumamoto Castle, which is looking absolutely gorgeous, even when under renovation. The trams, they roll right into Kumamoto station. I want to jump on just to see where they take me. But it’s time to leave. Inside, the station platforms are constructed in wooden beams. Super impressive. And Japanese craftsmanship on full display. I bought a local train to Kurum station, ready for the final push to Fukuoka. Lunch is a lucky find. An Udon and Tempura spot buzzing with locals. A real hidden little gem that I just stumbled upon. Rolling towards Fukuoka. I reflect. I kind of rolled the dice, you know, barely researched. Those mechanical hiccups in episode 2, they had me worried. But here I am 18 days later and it’s been quite a trip. A few brutal rides like that Beu Hill climb, but then every evening felt like a win with a side of dread for the next day’s grind. Favorite cities? Well, Nagasaki springs to mind. It was a treasure, especially staying in Minamyame. And Kumamoto’s mix of modern and cozy stole my heart. Favorite towns? I got to say Katu’s nature, castle, isakaya’s kick things off. Isahaya with its foot bridge is an utter gem. And that pottery village near Imari Okawakiyama is pure tranquility. I pull into a kambini for a quick achie. Check this out. Fresh refreshing purple goodness. Excuse me. 7-Eleven. Can you do this in Australia, please? Okay. favorite meals. This is going to be a tough call. I’ve eaten god tier for this whole trip. So maybe third was the Nagasaki izakaya with unsen ham, black natto bomb, and miring glazed sable fish. On point. So second, let’s go Kadatu’s iz isekai with that unreal sushimi plate, sizzling beef tongue, and yaki onigiri paired no less with local sake in that gorgeous old building. And then first you already know is episode 14’s Miyazaki beef yakiniku at Kinguen. Aburi nigiri galby A5 skirt pork cheek pure perfection made even sweeter by that stranger’s kindness to pay the bill. A roll into Fukuoka back where it all started. Now I’m thinking about that Fukuoka okonomiyaki joint. That really could have made the top three list too. Anyway, time to say goodbye to my foldy. Thanks for everything, little guy. We’ve sure had a time like Karatu to Itima across bridges through forest and to the coast. Great little ride. Then of course the Kajiki to Kagashima route with Sakurajima’s volcano looming in the bay. Absolutely beyond stunning. But my favorite would have to be that ride after I ate the lobster that was just too fresh, man. as a mui to Psyche’s Spiritedaway tunnels, coastal towns, single carriage trains, and other worldly cement works. Interesting, quaint, stunning. Cycling paradise. Now it’s to the harbor, and I’m catching a 6-hour ferry to Busan, South Korea. Restaurants closed, so it’s vending machine gimb instant noodles. Have you started to receive all those postcards that I’ve been sending? They’re probably still in the mail. I wonder if I have a favorite. It’s a tough one cuz Kyushu is just too stunning. But let’s try. So, third place and it’s Sakurajima for nature. And then in second, let’s go Ayama for culture. And my favorite, it has to be Nagasaki Viewpoint for nature and culture. But what’s your favorite? Let me know in the comments. [Music] So that’s it. Time to say goodbye. If you enjoyed this series, let me know. I could go again in Shikoku for more Foldi and Japan and Hizakaya. Or if you have a foldy writing suggestion, let me know and I’ll see what I can do. So farewell, Tucker. Anything to add? How about a sign off? So that’s it. I returned the bike yesterday to Fukuoka and now I’m on the ferry heading across to Busan. Really great trip. Really nice way to explore Japan because the infrastructurees just made for it. I guess the bikes I guess they suffered on the mountain passes and I certainly suffered on the mountain passes. But all in all, a really fun experience and good to burn a lot of calories and so I got to eat a lot of food. And I’d recommend that if you’re fit and you don’t mind to suffer a bit, get a foldy in Japan and go for a cycle around. Really, really great experience, but to be honest, 2 and 1/2 weeks was pushing it. Last couple of days, I felt very fatigued. I’m very happy today that I can just sit on this ferry and do nothing for the 6-hour crossing. Not heaps happening on this ferry, so it’s a good opportunity to just have a chill. All right, with that said, I’m going to go back down into my cabin and get a few more hours sleep. All right, take it easy. [Music]

Flying from Jakarta Indonesia to Fukuoka Japan for a bicycle tour on a Brompton folding bike. Expect to see Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Kitakyushu, Miyazaki, Kagoshima, Kumamoto and plenty of towns in between. I ride, I eat, I ride, I eat, I rinse, I repeat. 18 episodes. Ramen, gyoza, onigiri, miso black cod, Imari beef, Takuro rice, kushiyaki, sashimi, combini, okonomiyaki, sushi, yakitori, yakiniku, tonkatsu, tonkotsu, tempura, soba, udon, matsunabe, sake, keiseki, not gonna lie, I do a lotta eating.

Sunset Reverie:

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@Japan @Kyushu @Ramen @gyoza @onigiri @miso black cod @Imari beef @Takuro rice @kushiyaki @sashimi @combini @okonomiyaki @sushi @yakitori @yakiniku @tonkatsu @tonkotsu @tempura @soba @udon @matsunabe @sake @keiseki @Fukuoka @Nagasaki @Kitakyushu @Miyazaki @Kagoshima @Kumamoto @drone @foldy @Brompton @bike @bicycle @biketour @oita @Imari @karatsu @kashima @isahaya @miyajidake @beppu @nakatsu @hells @azamui @saiki @nobeoka @takachiho @takachihogorge @sakurajima