Travel Guide of Scenic Byway Kyushu Q-⓫ Green Village in Minou Mountains

Kurume City and Ukiha City in Fukuoka Pref.－Minou Mountains, Byways of Planting-tree, Gardens of Camelia, and Azalea－ The Chikugo Plain is in the southern part of , In short, this scenic road area is located on the suburbs adjacent with the Chikugo River flowing through the central part and Mt. to Fukuoka City. As mentioned above, this area is a local city, but it Minou lying at the southern part. The Chikugo River is the largest is along the main transportation of Kyushu, and access by car or in Kyushu, and Minou Mountains are a series of mountains formed public transportation is not a problem and convenient. along the fault of the earthquakes in 679 (see photo below). [Main Road] The main route of this scenic byways area is National Kurume City and Ukiha City are local cities that are sandwiched Road 210, which is parallel to Prefecture Road 151. In addition, as between the above two and line up in the direction of the Kuju shown in the map, Oita Expressway and JR Kyudai Line comple- Mountains from the Sea. The scenic area is called "Green ment the main roads for speedy access. Villages in Minou Mountains ", and all of them is as shown in the [Scenic Resources] By the way, the view of the route from the train map below. window is the scenery of the farmland and countryside at the foot of The scenic spots are scattered Kurume City and Ukiha City, and the mountain. Paddy fields develop in the waters of the Chikugo are divided to three large zones. A common highlight of these zones River and spread over the Chikugo Plain. However, such a distant is the Minou Skyline parallel to the active faults. You can enjoy view is very different from what you see up close. hiking in the suburbs on the hillside, and there are many scenic Different types of trees and flowers are planted on the slopes of spots comparable to other tourist routes, such as the burial mounds mountain. Cherry blossoms in full bloom in spring can be seen eve- of the Kusano family, which flourished in the rywhere in parks, roadsides, Middle Ages. riverbanks and so on. Azalea Park [Access] The access points to this scenic byway and the camellia garden (photo (3)) area are Fukuoka Airport, and Hakata Port. are famous for their flowers, while You can enter the Kyushu Expressway from the more than 5000 pieces of hydrangea access points via the urban motorway. Then, can be seen at Senkou-ji temple in heading south and getting off the Kurume inter- June. In the fall, autumn leaves can change, you can arrive at the starting point of be seen in other temples, and wax this scenic tour. trees turn red on some farm roads. On the other hand, Kurume Station on the In short, this scenic village is is available, and if you take adorned with many seasonal flower National Road 210 to the east from Kurume gardens and arboretums. Station, you will arrive at the above-mentioned Meanwhile, the agricultural land Kurume IC in about 20 minutes. Furthermore, is characterized by the development you can use Nishitetsu Omuta Line, JR Minou Mountains and Scenic Byways Area that connects flatlands and , and National Road 3. mountainous areas, and rice,

1 orchards, and vegetables are actively produced. These products are sold in large quantities at the roadside station (see the photo (2)), and are purchased by many shoppers. This scenic area is also known as the birthplace of gardening technology. ------* Roadside Station (Michi-no -Eki) is a convenient facility to take a break when using the road, to obtain information on (1) Kōra-Taisha Shrine the traffic, and to purchase local foods and products. Not only tourists, but also residents of the neighborhood fre- (3) Susanoo Shrine (1197) quently use such stores.

-Zones of Mii & Yamamoto-

Zones of Mii and Yamamoto are on the east side of the Kurume IC on the Kyushu Expressway, as shown in the map. Based on Ku- rume Roadside Station, you can visit various spots. (1) Kora Taisha Shrine and Minou (2) Sales corner in Roadside station, Kurume. Skyline Road (Kurume City). (4) Tanushimaru Otsuka Tomb The best scenic spot in the Chikugo area is the Kora-Taisha shrine in the southeastern part of Kurume IC, which is a national important cultural property. The area around the shrine is crowded with golden bamboo, and in spring, the red flowers of azaleas are in full bloom. And, driving from there to the summit, you can enjoy the view from the forest road “Minou-Skyline” which is parallel to the fault on the hillside. (2) Yamamoto Machi District in Kurume City Heading east on National Road 210 from Kurume Interchange, you will reach Senkō-Ji Temple, known as Hydrangea Temple, in about 20 minutes. Alternatively, at the end of April, more than 20,000 azaleas will bloom at the World's Azalea Center. There are many other temples and shrines decorated with flowers or trees, but (6) Terraced Paddy-Field in Summer in any case, hiking during the flower season brings the gorgeous at- mosphere to tourists. -Zones of Kusano &Tanushimaru - Since the 12th and 13th centuries (the Kamakura period), the Kusano family has contributed the prosperity of the town and the formation of a unique regional culture. (3) Kusano-Machi District in Kurume City The Kusano-machi (town) is located in the eastern part of Kurume City and the main scenic spot in this area is the heritage of the Kusano family, which has a medieval atmosphere. The red- (1) Kurume Azalea in full Bloom in Spring colored Sennen-Ji Temple called Nikko of Kyushu was built in 1204 and rebuilt in 1911 (See Photo (3)). An important statue of Amida (100 years ago). As shown in the photo (3), one of them is a two-story Buddha is enshrined. As shown in photo (3), the Susano Shrine wooden building that was originally a hospital (1914) and is now the adjacent to the other side of the road was built in 1197 and is Yamabeno-Michi Culture Center. Traditional cultural materials of luxurious. When you visit them, you can see historic traces of the Kusano district are collected and displayed. glory and development of the Kusano family. In 2014, the World Tsubaki (camellia) Hall opened along During the Edo period, Kusano Town developed as the main town Prefecture Road 151. You can enjoy a variety of camellia flowers, but along Hita-kaido (road), and the old townscape remains. As you you can also visit the adjacent outdoor Tsubaki Park. walk along the street, you will find some buildings from Taisho era (4) Tanushimaru-Machi in Kurume City

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in Ukiha City has an unusually colorful painting walls, which is valuable (see Photo (6)). b) The Tanushimaru area is the birthplace of gardening technology and the town of its designers. In other words, during the Edo period, farmers, who had many natural disasters or suffered from heavy land tax, (2) Hydrangea in Senkou Ji Temple (Kurume City) planted azaleas, camellias, and peony as side jobs. And today, there are many garden shops and orchards in the area. You can fully enjoy the planting technology cultivated in the garden village along the mountain path. c) You can also visit the winery (2) Sone Cherry Tree in Asai District of Yama- brewery and the Shochu storage, (3) A group of Flower Magnolia in Spring. moto-Machi (Kurume City) along the way. The farm road that runs parallel to prefecture road 151 is called "Yamadzutono-michi (road)" and was once a mountain path that brought back souvenirs wrapped in straw. Currently, there are a large selection of local prod- ucts. d) In the town around JR Ta- nushimaru Station, various stat- ues are arranged under the theme of Kappa, a mythical creature that lives in water. As shown in photo (3) World's Tsubakikan (Camellia Hall) in Kurume City (4), there are many sculptures of Kappa on roadsides and bridges over the waterway. Also, the build- ing of JR Tanushimaru Station is designed with a Kappa motif. Kappa with a variety of funny ges- tures welcomes all travelers. It will be fun to explore with the city while touching these statues and talking to the Kappa.

(3) Sennen Ji Temple (1204) (3) Yamabe-no-Michi Culture Center (1914). -Zones of Yoshii & Ukiha ((5) There are four scenic spots in this and (6))- area; Kofun (the ancient burial mounds), mountain path of farm and Zones of Yoshii and Ukiha are souvenirs (Yamazutono-michi), birth- attractive country towns. place of gardening technology, and the Kappa’s town. (5) “White walled town” in Yo- a) From the Tanushimaru district in shiimachi in Ukiha City. Kurume City to Yoshii-cho district in Yoshii District was a town of Ukiha City, you can see the ancient merchants during the Edo period, tombs on the south side of prefecture but in the Meiji era thrived in road 151. They were made for chiefs of commerce, finance and breweries. the powerful family in the second half of As a result, fire-resistant white- the sixth century. The Otsuka burial walled houses were built in the city mound in the Tanushimaru area is (5) Mezurashituka Mounded Tomb with Wall of Col- as symbols of wealth after the Great ored Painting. estimated to be the largest in Kyushu. In Fire in 1869 and are still preserved. addition, the Mezurashitsuka Tumulus The picture on the white outer wall was drawn by the plasterer using a trowel and is a craftsman's

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(4) Storage of Shochu Liquor in Mountain. Kyoho (Large Grain of Grape). Kyoho Winery.

(4) Statue of Kappa Decorated in a Road or a Bridge (4) JR-Tanushimaru Station Building of Motif of Kappa technique, as in Photo (5). The area is designated as a conservation stop by the “ Tsuzura ” terriced rice field, and arrive at a area of traditional buildings. mountainous area with four waterfalls. The road in this section is a From February to April, the Hina dolls, which have been passed mountain path with waterfalls, and is also called a “Forest Therapy down for generations, will be exhibited in a private house with white Road”. In the summer, you can enjoy the cool breeze and the sound walls, as a festival for girls. During the period, two types of dolls, of the waterfalls as you take a quiet walk to refresh your body and hand dolls and boxed dolls, will be open to the public. The decora- soul. tions are arranged in the image of various things such as the wed- ding ceremony of the Heian Aristocracy. For example, the number Publishing and Copy right: Promotion Conference of Kyushu Scenic By- ways C○(Copy right 2021. All rights reserved.) of stages is odd, but the upper stage is decorated with dolls of new- lywed, the dolls of servants and musicians are arranged middle stage, and miscellane- ous items are placed in the bot- tom stage, as shown in Photo (5).

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

Zone (6) is on the hillside in Ukiha City. When proceeding to Prefecture Road 106 from National Road 210, you will (5) Doll Display of Private House in Yoshii Town. (5) White Wall Town in Yoshii-Machi (Ukiha City). find the “House of Hirakawa Family” in about 20 minutes by car. As shown in photo (6), this house was built in the late 18th century. The two build- ings on the right are connected in a U-shape, and the house on the left is a separate barn. In 1971, it was designated as a national important cultural property. (6) Choon-no-Taki (Waterfalls of Tuning along Therapy Next, driving along Road) (Ukiha City) (6) Hirakawa Family's House of the U-shape. Prefecture Road 52, you can

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