Fill Your Fukuoka Trip with Sports, Culture, and the Great Outdoors

Not far from the big city of Fukuoka you’ll find a very different kind of destination, with a very different kind of atmosphere. The peaceful town of Okagaki is still largely unknown by foreign travelers, but not only does it have great food and beautiful scenery, it’s also known to cycling fans as a bike-riding destination. Okagaki is part of the route for the Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2024, one of Japan’s largest cycling festivals, making it a perfect place to plan a cycling trip in Japan and enjoy the local culture, sports, and lovely seaside landscapes.

Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2024

^{_{Image Source: Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2023}}

What kind of event is the Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2024? This Japanese bike race was inspired by the world’s most famous, most historic race of its kind – the Tour de France. Although the Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2024 is just the second edition of this annual event, it joins a lineup of similar bike races across Japan, like the Tour de Hokkaido, Tour de Okinawa, and Tour de Osaka. With a route traversing the southwestern Kyushu region of Japan, the Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2024 is recognized as one of the biggest cycling events in Japan.

This year, the Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2024 lasts for four days from October 11th to 14th (2024), traveling all over Kyushu and passing through Fukuoka, Kumamoto, and Oita Prefectures. Not only will the athletes get to enjoy a tour of the beautiful island of Kyushu, but spectators can also enjoy the spectacular natural scenery as they cheer on the riders!

Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2024 (マイナビ ツール・ド・九州2024)
Location: Oita Prefecture, Kumamoto Prefecture, Fukuoka Prefecture
Dates: October 11~14, 2024
Race Category: UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) Asia Tour 2.1
Participating Team Details | Event Details

Okagaki: A Hidden Gem in Fukuoka

Okagaki, Fukuoka is the starting point for the Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2024, which means athletes will start the race with picturesque rides down the cycling roads that trace the coastline in this little seaside town. For tourists, the town is known for its beautiful ocean views, facilities for all kinds of marine sports, and spectacular sunsets over the water. Locals, on the other hand, will tell you how amazing the food is, from fish straight from the boat to fresh fruit and vegetables. Okagaki is still basically unknown to most international travelers visiting Kyushu, but it’s easily accessible from the big city of Fukuoka, with a direct train that travels the 40-or-so kilometers in under an hour. As a quick Fukuoka day trip, or a longer getaway from the hustle and bustle of Japan’s cities, Okagaki is a hidden gem of a destination for travelers looking to immerse themselves in local Japanese culture and serene seaside scenery.

JR Ebitsu Station (JR海老津駅)
1-5 Ebisuminami, Shibuya City, Tokyo

The Tour de Okagaki Tour: Take the Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2024 to 200%

Spectating the Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2024 is one thing, but to really make the most of the event, you’ll want to sign up for one of the Tour de Okagaki Tours. These tours provide full plans for enjoying both the cycling festival and all the charms of local Okagaki, with different itineraries offering special viewing seats for the race, cycling tours where you can experience the fun of riding through Kyushu yourself, and accommodation so you can enjoy the race from your room. The tour plans include a balance of local culture, nature, and of course sporting event fun, so you can make the most of your Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2024 visit to Okagaki.

Tour de Okagaki Tour (ツール・ド・岡垣ツア)
Details / Reservations

The Fun Ride Tour

Among the Tour de Okagaki Tour options you’ll find three “Fun Ride Tours,” made for visitors love to cycle, and want to explore Okagaki’s small-town seaside scenery by bike.

The first Fun Ride Tour is the “Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2024 Experience With a Pro Road Racer,” where you can ride your bike along the actual route of the race, alongside a cycling pro! The tour is led by a Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2024 participant from the VC Fukuoka road cycling team, so as you glide down the seaside bike paths, you can even get tips for becoming a better rider.

After spending a day riding with a pro, you can choose the “Beginner Plan” to also try a cooking class where you can learn to make sushi the local Okagaki way, or you can choose the “Advanced Plan” to spend a whole second day riding along the Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2024 route!

Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2024 Experience With a Pro Road Racer (プロのロードレーサーと巡る「マイナビ ツール・ド・九州2024」コース体験)
Plans: Beginner (day 1: bike tour / day 2: sushi-making experience) | Advanced (2 days of bike tours | Day Trip
Language Options: English / Japanese
Details / Reservations

If you want to really see the sites while you ride, we recommend the second Fun Ride Tour: the “Okagaki Culture Cycling Tour.” This option takes you out on the breezy bike routes along the coastline to see more of the area as you stop in at local Okagaki tourist attractions like Ryushoji Temple and Takakura Shrine. For the overnight plans, activity options for the second day depend on when you join, but you might get to participate in a sushi-making experience, or a trip out onto the water on a SUP (stand-up paddleboard). Join in on the Okagaki Culture Cycling Tour to get a better feel for Okagaki, and see some of its most beautiful spots.

Okagaki Culture Cycling Tour (OKAGAKI カルチャーサイクリングツアー)
Plans: Overnight (day 1: bike tour / day 2: sushi-making experience or SUP experience) | Day Trip
*Sushi making experience offered on 10/21, 11/10, 11/22. SUP experience offered on 9/18, 10/5.
Language Options: English / Japanese
Details / Reservations

^{_{Image Source: Meitetsu World Travel Inc. Fukuoka}}

The final Fun Ride Tour option is for those who believe that food is one of the true joys of travel. Join the Okagaki Fruit Ride to not only enjoy a relaxing bike ride along the shore, but also enjoy a bounty of locally-grown Okagaki fruit, known for being especially sweet and juicy. Try picking grapes and gathering mandarin oranges fresh from the tree, then use that fruit in a special cooking class to make your own sweet treats. If you want to enjoy a little bit of everything in Okagaki, choose an overnight plan to try the sushi-making experience or SUP experience on the second day!

Okagaki Fruit Ride (フルーツライド)
Plans: Overnight (day 1: bike tour, fruit-picking, cooking class / day 2: sushi-making experience or SUP experience) | Day Trip
Language Options: English / Japanese
Details / Reservations

Add a Little Luxury to Your Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2024 Trip

In addition to the Fun Ride Tours that let you experience the Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2024 route for yourself, there are also plans that let you enjoy your time in Okagaki in style. Choose a Deluxe Accommodations Plan to turn spectating into a luxurious private experience in a local hotel. Guest room options include suites with their own jacuzzis and private saunas, rooms with views of the ocean or the course, and even rooms looking out on the goal line! The plan even comes with breakfasts made with fresh local ingredients, food vouchers, drink passes, and an invitation to the after-race party where you can meet the athletes in person.

Watch From Your Room! Deluxe Accommodations Plan (お部屋から観戦！特別室宿泊プラン)
Details / Reservations

If you’re looking for a plan that includes accommodations, but the deluxe options look a little out of your budget, we recommend the Premium Spectator Seat & Accommodations Plan to really get in on the fun. The plan includes local accommodations along with an up-close viewing seat at the Fukuoka Stage Okagaki Side Race, breakfast made with local ingredients, a food voucher and drink pass for access to refreshments while you watch the race, and an invitation to rub shoulders with the athletes at the after-race party. (Party not included with the Yoshinoya Hotel plan.)

Spectator Seat & Accommodations Plan (プレミアム観戦シート付・宿泊プラン)
Details / Reservations

Extra Options to Suit Your Needs

^{_{Top Image Source: Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2023}}

To suit the needs of fans and spectators of all kinds, there are a variety of different options available for you to make the most of your Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2024 experience. Try a Premium Seat prepared just for watching the race, buy a ticket for the special Spectator’s Lounge, pick up a drink pss for free-flow wine, craft beer, and soft drinks, get yourself an Okagaki Event Passport to get autographs from athletes participating in the Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2024, or choose the After-Race Party Plan for access to the after party and accommodations included!

Fukuoka Stage, Okagaki Spectator Plan Details
Details / Reservations

Enjoy Your Time in Fukuoka With Extra Okagaki Sightseeing

There are many ways to enjoy the Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2024 in Okagaki, but for travelers who want to see all that this quaint seaside community has to offer, here are a few extra Okagaki travel recommendations to fill out your itinerary.

Just 15 minutes from JR Ebitsu Station by taxi, visitors often come to Naritasan Fudoji Temple to pray for safety and protection, but the temple is most famous for its lookout point. On clear days, you can see straight out over the water as far as Japan’s main island of Honshu! The Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2024 is being held in the fall, but if you venture back to Okagaki during the spring, you can also see Naritasan Fudoji Temple’s beautiful landscape turn pink as more than 300 cherry blossom trees burst into bloom.

Naritasan Fudoji Temple (成田山不動寺)
885 Utsura, Okagaki, Onga District, Fukuoka

Okagaki’s famous grapes are also used to make wine, and to try it you can visit the Budounoki Winery! Visitors are welcome to drop in any time to taste their original Okagaki wines or shop at the store with around 80 international varieties of wine for sale. With an advance reservation, you can also get a tour of the winery to see the wine being made.

Budounoki Winery (ぶどうの樹ワイナリー)
344-7 Utsura, Okagaki, Onga District, Fukuoka
Hours: 10:00 – 17:00
Official Website (jp)

At the end of your trip, if you’re searching for some tasty treats to bring back as souvenirs, then you’ll find some great options at the Mori no Bakery Mugi no Kitchen & Gift House. This little bakery offers baked goods like cookies and pizza that make great snacks during your trip, along with ice cream, and of course a whole selection of packaged snacks that you save for friends and family back home. If you want to share a real taste of Okagaki, this is the place to shop.

Mori no Bakery Mugi no Kitchen & Gift House (森のパン屋さん 麦のキッチン＆ギフトハウス)
183 Teno, Okagaki, Onga District, Fukuoka
Hours: weekdays/holidays 10:00 – 17:00 | weekends 10:00 – 18:00
Official Website (jp)

Pack Your Helmet for This Relaxing Japanese Bike Trip

Whether you’re a huge fan of cycling on a mission to enjoy the Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2024 as much as you possibly can, or just a sightseer looking for a unique Japanese travel plan, these Japanese cycling tours offer a fresh new way to enjoy autumn in Japan. This year, join in on a special bike ride along the coast, book a plan with a decadent race-viewing setup right in your hotel room, immerse yourself in the Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2024 with spectator seats and after-race party plans, and explore another side of Japan as you head to Fukuoka and explore the dreamy seaside town of Okagaki.

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