Tour de Kagoshima-Kyoto Day 1: Izumi to Hinagu

The tour kicked off on the bikes with a ride through a samurai household neighborhood in Izumi and then moved its way through mandarin groves while heading toward the coast.

Riders reached Minamata, which gave its name to one of the world’s best-known instances of industrial disease. Despite it’s bleak and tragic past, Minamata is quite quaint.

From Minamata it was a trek around the glorious Ashikita Coast. Roads were almost traffic free and the journey was peaceful and quite with wonderful views of the seas and Amakusa Islands in the distance.

The rode drew to a close with a tough climb and descent back down to the coast and along a railroad through to the destination of Hinagu. Tour cyclists stayed in the opulent Kinparo ryokan dating back to 1909.

The day ended with a multi-course banquet so full of carbs it makes the remaining days’ cycling a necessity rather than fun!

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