Travel Guide of Scenic Byway Kyushu

Q-⓫ Green Village in Minou Mountains
Kurume City and Ukiha City (Fukuoka Prefecture)－Minou Mountains, Bywaysof Planting-tree, Gardens of Camelia and Azalea－
The Chikugo Plain is located in the southern part of Fukuoka
also use Nishitetsu Omuta Line, JR Kagoshima Main Line, andPrefecture, with the Chikugo River flowing in the central part andNational Route 3.
the Minou Mountains lying in the south. The Chikugo River is theIn short, this scenic road area is located on the suburbs adjacentlargest river in Kyushu, and Minou Mountain Range is a series ofto Fukuoka City. As mentioned earlier, the area is rural cities, but
mountains formed along the fault of the earthquakes in 679 (seehas good transport limks and no problem accessing by car or
photo below).
public transport.
Kurume City and Ukiha City are local cities that are(Main Road). The main route of this scenic byways area issandwiched between the above two and line up in the direction of
National Route 210, which is parallel to Prefectural Road 151. Inthe Kuju Mountains from the Ariake Sea. The scenic path area
addition, as shown in the map, the Oita Expressway and JR
called "Green Villages in Minou Mountains " is built in this region,
Kyudai Line complement the main road.
and the whole is shown in the figure below.
(Scenic Resources). By the way, the view of the route from theThat is, the scenic spots are scattered Kurume City and Ukiha
train window is the farmland at the foot of the mountain. Paddy
City, and are divided into three large zones as shown on the map.
fields have developed in the waters of the Chikugo River and have
A common highlight of these zones is the Minou Skyline, which isspread to the Chikugo Plain. But such a distant view is very
parallel to the active faults. Along the road, you can enjoy adifferent from what you see up close.
mountainside suburban hike, and there are many
Different types of trees andscenic spots comparable to other scenic highway
flowers are planted on theroutes, such as the burial mounds of the Kusano
mountainslopes.
Cherryfamily which flourished in the Middle Ages.
blossoms in full bloom in spring(Access). The access points for this scenic byway
can be seen everywhere in parks,
area are Fukuoka Airport, and Kurume Station on
roadsides, riverbanks and so on.
the Kyushu Shinkansen. You can enter theThe azalea park and theKyushu Expressway from Fukuoka Airport via thecamellia garden (photo (3)) areurban motorway. Then, heading south and getting
famous as flower attractions.
off the Kurume interchange, you will arrive at theMore than 5000 pieces ofstarting point of the scenic tour.
hydrangea can be seen at
On the other hand, if you take National RouteSenkouji temple in June, and210 to the east from Kurume Station, you will
autumn leaves, at another
Minou Mountains and Scenic Byways Area
arrive at Kurume IC in about 20 minutes. You cantemple in the fall. You can also1

find the red wax trees in some
sections of the farm road. In short,
this scenic village is adorned withmany seasonal flower gardens andarboretums.
On the other hand, theagricultural land is characterized by
the development that connects theflatlands and the mountainous
areas, and rice, orchards, andvegetables are actively produced.
These items are sold in large
quantities at a roadside station(photo (2)), and are purchased bymany shoppers.
This scenic area is also known asthebirthplaceofgardening
technology.

(3) Susanoo Shrine (1197)(1) Kōra-Taisha Shrine(4) Tanushimaru Otsuka Tomb--------------------------------------* Roadside Station (Michi-no -Eki) is aconvenient facility for taking a breakwhen using a general road, obtaining
information on the road or traffic, andpurchasing local foods and products.

➀. Zones of Mii & Yamamoto ((1)
and (2))(2) Sales corner in Roadside station, Kurume.

built in 1204 and rebuilt in 1911. The important statue ofAmidbha is enshrined. As shown in photo (3), the Susano Shrine
adjacent to the other side of the road was built in 1197 and isluxurious. If you visit them, you can see the glory anddevelopment of the former Kusano family at the foot of themountain..
During the Edo period, Kusano Town developed as the main
town along the Hita Kaido road, and the old townscape remains.

The zone of Mii and Yamamoto is on the east side of Kurume ICon the Kyushu Expressway. By car, you can go around many spots,
while using Kurume Roadside Station as a base.
(1) Kora Taisha Shrine and Minou Skyline Road (Kurume City)
The best scenic spot in the Chikugo area is Kōra-Taisha Shrinein the southeastern part of Kurume IC, and is a national
important cultural property. The area around the shrine is
crowded with golden bamboo, and in spring, the red flowers of oldazaleas are in full bloom.
Driving from there to the summit, you can enjoy the view fromthe forest road “Minou-Skyline” which is parallel to the fault on
the hillside.
(2) Yamamoto Machi District in Kurume City
Heading east National Route 210 from the Kurume IC, you willreach Senkō-Ji Temple that is well known as a hydrangea temple,
in about 20 minutes.
There are many other temples and shrines decorated withflowers or trees. At the end of April, more than 20,000 azaleas will
bloom at the World's Azalea Center. Hikes during the flower
season bring a truly gorgeous atmosphere to tourists.

(6) Terraced Paddy-Field in Summer➁. Zone of Kusano &Tanushimaru ((3) and (4))
Since the 12th and 13th centuries from the Kamakura period, theKusano family has contributed the prosperity of the town and theformation of a unique regional culture.
(3) Kusano-Machi District in Kurume CityThe Kusano-machi is located in the eastern part of KurumeCity and the main scenic spot in this area is the heritage of theKusano family, which has a medieval atmosphere. The redcolored Sennen-Ji Temple which is called Nikko of Kyushu, was(1)2& (2) Kurume Azalea in full Bloom in SpringAs you walk along the street, you will find some buildings ofTaisho era. As shown in the photo (3), one of them is a two-story
wooden building that was originally a hospital (1914) and is now
the Yamabeno-Michi Culture Center.
Traditional cultural materials of Kusano
are collected and displayed.
In 2014, the World Tsubaki (camellia)
Hall opened along Prefectural Road 151.
You can enjoy a variety of camellia
flowers, but you can also visit theadjacent outdoor Tsubaki Park.

Yamazuto-no-michi (road of farm and souvenirs), the birthplace ofgardening technology, and the Kappa’s town.
〇From the Tanushimaru district of Kurume City to Yoshii-cho
district of Ukiha City, you can see theancient tombs on the south side ofprefecture road 151. They werecreated in the second half of the sixth
century for the clan chief. The Otsuka
burial mound in the Tanushimaru
area is estimated to be the largest inKyushu.
Inaddition,theMezurashitsuka
Tumulus
inUkiha(4) Tanushimaru-Machi in Kurume City
City has an unusually colorful
There are four scenic spots in this area:
painting wall.
Kofun(ancientburialmound),(5) Mezurashituka Mounded Tomb with Wall of〇 The Tanushimaru area is theColored Painting.
birthplaceofgardening
technology and its designers. In
other words, during the Edoperiod, farmers, who had many
natural disasters or sufferedfrom heavy land tax, planted
azaleas, camellias, and peony asside jobs. And today, there aremany garden shops andorchards in the area. You can(2) Hydrangea in Senkou Ji Temple (Kurume City)
fullyenjoy
the planting
technology cultivated in thegarden village along themountain path.
〇You can also visit the winery
brewery and the Shochu storage,
along the way. The farm roadthat runs parallel to prefectureroad 151 is called "Yamazuto-no(2) Sone Cherry Tree in Asai District ofMichi (road)", and was a(3) A group of Flower Magnolia in Spring.
Yamamoto-Machi (Kurume City)
mountain path that carriedsouvenirs wrapped in straws.
Now, there are a large selectionof local products.
〇 The town around JRTanushimaru
Stationisarranged under the theme ofKappa, a mythical creature thatlives in water. As shown in photo(4), there are many sculptures ofKappa on roadsides and bridges
over the waterway. Also, the(3) World's Tsubakikan (Camellia Hall) in Kurume Citybuilding of JR Tanushimaru
Station has a design with aKappa motif. Kappa with avariety of funny gestures
welcomes all travelers. Itwould be fun to explore withthe city while touching thesestatues and talking to theKappa.

(3) Sennen Ji Temple (1204)(3) Yamabe-no-Michi Culture Center (1914).

3③. Zones of Yoshii & Ukiha((5) and (6))

Storage of Shochu Liquor in Mountain. Kyoho (Large Grain of Grape).
Kyoho Winery.
(4) Shochu storage and wine brewery at Tanushimaru district of mountain area. (Kurume City).

(4) Statue of Kappa Decorated in a Road or a Bridge(4) JR-Tanushimaru Station Building of Motif of Kappa

Zones of Yoshii and Ukiha are attractive country towns or quiet
villages.

down for generations will be exhibited at a private house on awhite wall as a festival for girls. There are two types of dolls, a
hand doll and a boxed doll, which are open to the public during
the period. There are various ways to decorate, but in general it isdecorated in the image of the wedding ceremony of the Heianaristocrat. Although the number of stages is odd, the upper stage
is decorated with dolls of married couples, the dolls of servants
and musicians are arranged below, and miscellaneous items areplaced in the lower stage.

(5) Yoshii Town in Ukiha City.
Yoshii was a town of merchants during the Edo period, but inthe Meiji era thrived in commerce, finance and breweries. As aresult, fire-resistant white-walled houses were built in the city as
symbols of wealth after the Great Fire in 1869 and are stillpreserved. The picture on the outer white wall was drawn by theplasterer using a trowel and is a craftsman's technique. The area
is designated as a conservation area of traditional buildings.
From February to April, the Hina dolls that have been passed(5) Doll Display of Private House in Yoshii Town.

(6) Tsuzura Paddy Terraced Fields in Ukiha City.

(6) Therapy Road in the Forest in Ukiha City.

Zone (6) is the area of mountainside. When proceeding along
Prefecture Road 106 from National
Route 210, you will find “House ofHirakawa Family” in about 20
minutes by car. As shown in photo (6),this house was built in the late 18thcentury. The two buildings on theright are connected in a U-shape, andthe house on the left is a barn. In1971, it was designated as a national
important cultural property.
Next, driving along the Prefecture(5) White Wall Town in Yoshii-Machi (Ukiha City).
Road 52, you can stop by the Tsuzura
terriced rice field, and arrive at a
mounteneous area with fourwaterfalls. The road in this section isa mountain path, also called “ForestTherapy Road”. It is quiet, and you
can enjoy a refreshing feeling by
taking a walk while enjoying the coolbreeze in summer.

(6) Hirakawa Family's House of the U-shape.

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