Nagasaki & Unzen Volcanic Hell Loop — Shimabara PeninsulaCircuit.
Distance
200 km
Duration
1 day
Climb
1,400 m
Nagasaki & Unzen Volcanic Hell Loop — Shimabara Peninsula Circuit.
A day loop from Nagasaki city around the Shimabara Peninsula — the finger of land that separates Ariake Bay from the East China Sea. The route visits the Atomic Bomb Peace Park, climbs to Unzen's steaming hell vents (jigoku) where volcanic fumaroles have been boiling continuously for centuries, descends to Obama Onsen's famous outdoor foot bath on the Ariake Sea shore, and ends at Shimabara Castle before returning to Nagasaki.
Quick facts
SurfacePaved
Distance200 km
Days1
Total climb1,400 m
DifficultyModerate
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The route.
NagasakiStart · Start in Nagasaki. Fuel up before heading east on Route 251 toward the Shimabara Peninsula.
Nagasaki Peace Park & HypocenterPhoto Spot · The Atomic Bomb Hypocenter — ground zero of the August 9, 1945 bomb — and adjacent Peace Memorial Park. The Nagasaki Peace Statue and international peace monument. A sobering and essential stop before the day's riding begins.
Obama Onsen — Foot BathScenic Point · Obama (小浜) is a small hot spring town on the western Ariake Sea shore, famous for the world's longest natural foot bath — 105m of hot spring water flowing along the waterfront promenade. Soak your feet with views across the bay to Kumamoto. The town also claims rights to US President Obama's name.
Unzen Jigoku — Hell SpringsScenic Point · The Unzen hell vents (jigoku): dozens of boiling sulphurous pools and steaming fumaroles on the volcanic hillside at 700m elevation. The vents were used to execute 33 Christian martyrs in 1627. The 1990-95 eruption of Mt Fugen (1,359m) caused 44 deaths and is preserved as the Heisei Shinzan lava dome to the east.
Shimabara CastlePhoto Spot · The white five-storey castle of Shimabara, rebuilt in 1964, overlooks Ariake Bay with Kumamoto visible on the far shore on clear days. The castle grounds contain a museum of the Shimabara Rebellion (1637) — 37,000 Christian peasants who made their last stand here.
Shimabara — LunchRestaurant · Lunch in Shimabara. The city is known for guzoni — a hearty soup with mochi, vegetables, and fish, served free in some establishments from the town's abundant natural spring water. The carp streams running through the old town are unique.
NagasakiEnd · Return to Nagasaki via Route 57 across the peninsula base. The evening view of Nagasaki harbour from Glover Garden is one of Japan's most romantic cityscapes — best at dusk.
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