Riding from Taichung to Beppu, Japan: Taiwan-Japan Cycling Routes Partner to Promote Bike & Hot Spring Tours

▲ Houfeng Bicycle Path in Taichung (Photo / From the Top 10 Classic Bicycle Routes Voting Website)

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

Following the announcement at this year’s “2016 Taichung Hot Springs Festival” that a regular charter flight from Taichung to Beppu Airport in Japan would commence on September 15, the Taichung City Government’s Tourism and Travel Bureau has recently teamed up with the Bicycle Research and Development Center and cycling groups to visit Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, Japan, to propose an alliance between Taichung’s “Dongfeng Bicycle Green Corridor–Houfeng Bicycle Path” and Japan’s “Yabakei Bicycle Path.” This collaboration aims to expand exchanges beyond hot spring tourism to include cycling travel.

Both Taichung and Beppu boast excellent hot springs and cycling routes. In addition to facilitating the signing of a “Sister Hot Springs” agreement between the Taichung City Hot Springs Tourism Association and the Beppu Yufuin Hot Spring Hotel Association, the Taichung City Government also plans to ally one of Taiwan’s top ten classic cycling routes—the “Dongfeng Green Corridor–Houfeng Bicycle Path”—with Beppu Prefecture’s most scenic cycling path in Japan, the “Yabakei Bicycle Path.”

▲ Taichung promotes an alliance with Beppu, Japan for bicycle paths. (Photo / From the official Taichung City Government website)

The Taichung City Tourism and Travel Bureau stated that during their visit to Oita Prefecture, they proposed a collaboration to promote cycling exchanges. They hope travelers from Beppu can take direct flights to experience the beautiful sights and delicious food in Taichung. Meanwhile, Beppu City’s Nakatsu Mayor Masanori Okutsuka also expressed that a team from the local cycling tourism organization and tourism department will attend the Taiwan Cycling Festival on October 8 to experience Central Taiwan’s cycling environment.