Kyushu OLLE 【01 Beginner】Yame Course -Vast Tea Plantations and Ancient Culture-

Expansively spread green tea field is fragrant, and the green rolling up ancient tombs has warmth too. Kyushu OLLE Yame Course along the gentle ridge line of hilly area is green OLLE where you always walk along with green color. Located southeast of Fukuoka Prefecture, Yame city is the production area of Gyokuro Green Tea which is considered one of the highest grade green tea, and is famous with strawberry and grapes. It entered with Geojedo of Gyeongsangnamdo in Korea as sister city and has active relationship.

Course Outline

Seeing along limpid Hoshino River, the path starts at Yamanoi Park and lead your steps to Donanzan Ancient Tomb which was made latest among group of Yame ancient tombs. In Yame area, there are around 30 ancient tombs and this is because Tsukushinokimi-Iwai who ruled North Kyushu region, extended his power in Yame area in Tumulus Period (6th century).
You can enter directly and see the stone chamber of gigantic stones, standing at Donanzan Ancient Tomb. And, you can check the remains of vermilion-lacquered. While passing by Inuo Castle Ruins which was built in 1191 by Sadamune Kawasaki, heir of Sukeyoshi Kuroki, castellan of Nekoo Castle on the ridge of 180mt. high mountain at north of Hoshino River, you will arrive Yame Central Tea Garden as the highlight of this course.
Yame Central Tea Garden has 65 hectare vast land and far stretched tea field is the highlight. It is an open green tea field, and your step would become light by pure small shining tea leaf on the branch of tea tree. In contrast to the whole view of Yame City spreading opposite of green tea field, this path feels more peaceful. About Yame Tea produced here, this group tea production area gives steady satisfactory result from production to sales in joint business. In 1979, it received Emperor’s Cup in Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Festival. After green tea field, while walking the town path, there is famous Ezaki Food which sells old style drink, lemon soda which is rare to open the cover of bottle. While walking to the end point with fresh feel, you meet the fine-featured Maruyamazuka Ancient Tomb. The cherry blossom (sakura) standing along ancient tombs seems like protecting them. Enjoy the view of Yame mountains far behind the ancient tombs and take some breath. While stepping, you remind the views of the path followed, you arrive at the end point before you know.

Map

Distance: 11km
Time required: 3～4 Hours
Level: Beginner
Contact: Yame City Tourism Promotion Department (TEL: 0943-23-1192)

【Course Details】
Yamanoi Park Start → Donanzan Burial Mounds (0.6km) → Inuo Castle Ruins (1.3km) → Yame Central Tea Garden (3.4km) → Ichinenji Temple (6.4km) → Esaki Foods (7.3km) → Maruyamazuka Tombs (8.1km) → At Yame Rehabilitation Hospital (9.2km) → Iwatoyama History and Culture Exchange Center (11km)

Yame Course Map

Sightseeing spot

1. Yamanoi Park

From the park you can observe the clean waters of the Hoshinogawa River. This park is surrounded by nature and mountains.
2. Donanzan Burial Mounds

Burial mounds containing the tombs of members of the Tsukushinokimi Iwai Family who ruled the area in the 6th century.

3. Yame Central Tea Garden

With its gentle slopes built using the land modification method of construction, the roughly 65-hectare (160-acre) Yame Central Tea Garden is symbolic of the Yame area itself.

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4. Maruyama Tombs

A round burial mound which was constructed in the 6th century.

Food and Drink

Beef Tei

Address: 1576-1 Yoshida, Yame City, Fukuoka
TEL: 0943-22-2982
(Reservations are required for groups)

GoogleMap
Yame Tea Café Bunbuku

Address: 269-2 Toyofuku, Yame City, Fukuoka
TEL: 0943‐24‐2000
(Reservations are required for groups)

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Bengalamura

Address: 100 Miyano, Yame City, Fukuoka
TEL: 0943-24-3339

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Onsen / Day spa

Bengara Village Natural Hot Spring & Sauna “Bengara no Yu”

There are indoor baths, saunas, jet baths, and outdoor baths to soothe your tired body. There is also a manga corner and a flat Tatami-mat space where you can rest and relax.

Hours of operation 10:00 - 22:00

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River Station Funakoya Koi Botaru

The “River Station Funagaya Koi Botaru” has a product hall that directly sells a variety of specialty products from the seven provinces of Chikugo, a hot spring hall where visitors can take a one-day hot spring bath, and a free footbath facility. The spring water, which bubbles up from 1,500 meters underground, is a magnesium-sodium-calcium bicarbonate spring that is highly effective for beautifying the skin. The unique “nigori-yu” (cloudy water) contains a high concentration of carbonic acid, and is popular for keeping the body warm long after bathing.

Hours of operation: Onsen-kan 10:00 - 21:00

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Accommodation

Greenpia Yame

Address: 10905 Kiya, Kuroki-cho, Yame City, Fukuoka
TEL: 0943-42-2400
Pick-up and drop-off service is available for more than 10 people staying.

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Hoshino Onsen Ike no Yama-so

Address: 10780-58 Hoshino-mura, Yame City, Fukuoka
TEL: 0943-52-2082
Pick-up and drop-off service is available for more than 10 people staying.

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Yame Green Hotel

Address: 47-1 Motomachi, Yame City, Fukuoka
TEL: 0943-22-2156
Pick-up and drop-off service is available for more than 2 people staying.

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Hotel AZ Fukuoka Yame Branch

Address: 539 Motomura, Yame City, Fukuoka
TEL: 0943‐24‐5101

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Neighborhood Sightseeing spots

Yame Tourism Products Hall Tokimeki

Address: 2-129 Motomachi, Yame City, Fukuoka
TEL: 0943-22-7730
(Closures every 2nd and 4th mondays of each month)

Yame tea, mugwort buns, and other Yame specialties are available!

Transportation to Starting Locations

01 Fukuoka Airport → JR Hakata Station (JR Kyushu Kagoshima Main Line Alight) → JR Hainuzuka Station → <Horikawa Bus> → Horikawa Bus → Horikawa Bus

02 Fukuoka Airport → Nishitetsu Fukuoka Station → Nishitetsu Kurume Station → <Nishitetsu Bus> → Fukushima Bus Stop → <Horikawa Bus> → Horikawa Bus → Horikawa Bus

03 Fukuoka Airport → Dazaifu Interchange (Kyushu Expressway) → Alight at Yame Interchange or Hirogawa Interchange (20min)