Kyoshuho Exploration Trail is a scenic walk through one of Yabakei’s most iconic landscapes: a dramatic 1-kilometer line of towering rock pinnacles that feels like a natural stone “folding screen.” Along the ridge-route you’ll experience a unique mix of cliffside viewpoints, mysterious rock formations, and spiritual spots—making it a short, high-impact hike packed with nature, story, and atmosphere. From mid-April to early May, the opposite bank of the Yamakuni River beside Kyoshuho is covered in blue nemophila flowers, offering a delightful view from the observation point. After the Kyoshuho hike, I will take you to a nearby restaurant. There, you can enjoy Oita's local cuisine.

Enjoy a buffet-style lunch at Farmar's Restaurant DOMON PATIO. You can freely eat as much as you like from a variety of dishes. The vegetables are especially delicious. If this restaurant is closed or fully booked and we can't get a reservation, we'll go to another restaurant nearby.

Fururakan (Old Rakan) Exploration Trail is a unique hike across rugged rocky ridges facing Rakanji Temple, where you’ll pass strange rock formations, natural rock shelters, and historic stone Buddhist carvings placed directly into cliffs and caves. The route feels like a journey through a “living stone gallery,” blending dramatic scenery with a quiet, spiritual atmosphere you can only find in rural Yabakei.

Rakanji is fascinating because it feels like stepping into a hidden “stone Buddha world” carved into a mountain. You walk through caves and rock shelters filled with several thousand stone statues—including some of Japan’s oldest 500 Rakan—while the temple buildings blend into massive cliff walls, creating a powerful mix of spirituality, history, and breathtaking scenery that changes with the seasons.