Exchange of contemporary culture(9)
Kyushu Olle : Takeo, Karatsu, Ureshino Courses
Olle are something that began on Jeju Island, Korea. In the local dialect, "olle" means, "a narrow street for going home," and today it has become a general term for routes for backpacking while enjoying nature.
The charm of olle is that they allow people to experience the nature of the coast and the mountains with their five senses and enjoy the courses at their leisure.
Taking cues from olle on Jeju Island, the Kyushu Tourism Promotion Organization is developing appealing hiking courses all over Kyushu. Since 2012, the organization has been advertising the initiative as "Kyushu OLLE" in Korea and Japan.
Saga Prefecture has three olle: the Takeo Course in which trekkers walk on low hills and urban areas with ravines, the Ureshino course that covers hot springs, a pottery village and forest, and the Karatsu course, which follows along the edge of the peninsula for a marine experience.
Related Spots
The following three courses are available in Saga Prefecture, and each takes between 4 and 5 hours.
Source：Kyushu Tourism Promotion Organization Website
Takeo Course (Total distance: approx. 14 km. Difficulty: Intermediate to advanced for the course A, and intermediate for the course B.)
Karatsu Course (Total distance: approx. 11.2 km. Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate)
Ureshino Course (Total distance: approx. 12.5 km. Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced)
Related Spots
a Place to Stop by on the Takeo Course
"Takeo no Okusu"
In Takeo, there are three large camphor trees 3,000 years old, and on the Olle course, you can see two of them.
"Ikenouchi Lake"
Takeo Onsen Hoyo Mura and other places for citizens to rest and relax are located in the area.
"Mountain Promenade Observatory"
This spot affords a sweeping view of all of Takeo City, and the contrast between the range of mountains and the urban scenery of Takeo is striking.
Kyushu Olle Takeo Course
Location: Takeo-shi, Saga
PH: 0954-23-9237 (Takeo City Tourism Division)
Website: Kyushu Tourism Promotion Organization
https://www.welcomekyushu.jp/kyushuolle/?mode=detail&id=5
Transportation: [starting point] JR Takeo-Onsen Station
Approx. 8 min from Kyushu Odan Expressway Nagasaki-Oita Line Takeo-Kitagata Interchange
Parking: Available
a Place to Stop by on the Karatsu Course
"Nagoya Castle Ruins"
Visitors can imagine an enormous phantom castle whose stone wall from 420 years ago is still in place.
"Hado Cape"
At the northwesternmost point of the Higashimatsuura Peninsula, Hado Cape juts out into the Genkai Sea.
"Grilled Turban Shell Food Cart"
Visitors can taste turban shells and other foods at the carts lined up in the Hado Cape parking lot at the end of the course.
Kyushu Olle Karatsu Course
Location: Karatsu-shi, Saga
PH: 0955-51-1052 (Chinzei Town Tourist Information Office)
Website: Kyushu Tourism Promotion Organization
https://www.welcomekyushu.jp/kyushuolle/?mode=detail&id=13
Transportation: [starting point] Michi no Eki Momoyama Tenkaichi
Right next to “Nagoya-jo Hakubutsukan Iriguchi” bus stop
Approx. 36 min from Nishi-Kyushu Expressway Karatsu Interchange
Parking: Available
a Place to Stop by on the Ureshino Course
"Tea Plantation with Personality"
The shapes of tea plantations in Ureshino town create various unique scenes depending on the area.
"Siebold No Yu"
Siebold No Yu, a symbol of Ureshino, is one of several distinctive traditional Japanese inns that stand in a row here.
"Foot Baths and Foot Steam Baths"
Enjoy a rare “foot steam bath”, of which there are few in Japan. This bath converts skin-beautifying spring water into a mist.
Kyushu Olle Ureshino Course
Location: Ureshino-shi, Saga
PH: 0954-42-3310 (Ureshino City Ureshino Onsen Tourism Division)
Website: Kyushu Tourism Promotion Organization
https://www.welcomekyushu.jp/kyushuolle/?mode=detail&id=16
Transportation: [starting point] Hizen Yoshida Pottery Museum
Right next to “Kamisaraya” bus stop
Approx. 11 min from Kyushu Odan Expressway Nagasaki-Oita Line Ureshino Interchange
Parking: Available