The 16th and 17th Kyushu Olle walking trails have just opened to tourists in Fukuoka and Nagasaki. These sister trails of the local walking paths have the same iconic Ganse, or Jeju pony figures, and ribbons guiding trekkers. Mike Laidman has more.


Kurume City, southwest of Fukuoka, Japan

A river meanders along, twisting and turning over the Jikugo plains.
Korasan Mountain, about 300 meters high, rises above the field.

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16th Kyushu Olle trail opens near Korasan Mountain

With Korasan Mountain as its centre, the 16th Kyushu Olle trail has opened in Kurume City.

Along the new trail walkers can find the Koura Shrine, built 1,600 years ago, as well as groves of bamboo. The shrine is open for tourists, who can also enjoy the view of soaring stalks of bamboo.

Interview
Kunisaki Leiko / Trekker
I love Olle trails and have finished hiking all of the Kyushu trails. I was especially impressed with the old shrine, the forests, and the hospitality of the residents along the trail.
< 쿠니사키 레이코 / 후쿠오카시 >
올레를 너무 좋아해서 규슈올레의 모든 코스를 다 걸었는데, 특히 이번 코스는 지역민의 환대 속에 신사와 숲을 볼 수 있어서 좋았습니다.

Following the opening of the trail in Kurume City, the 17th trail has already opened in Minami Shimabara, Nagasaki.

The 16th trail takes walkers through forests, while the 17th features blue ocean views.

Interview
Masahiro Matsumoto / Mayor, Minami Shimabara City
We created the trail so that walkers can enjoy the beautiful views of this historic port town.
< 마츠모토 마사히로 / 미나미 시마바라 시장 >
역사가 있는 항구도시의 풍경을 보면서 이 길을 걸어주셨으면 하는 바람에서 코스를 만들었습니다.

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Minami Shimabara is a Global Geopark

The Minami Shimabara peninsula is designated as a Global Geopark. The 17th trail on the peninsula is the trail which most closely resembles Jeju own Olle trails.

Interview
Jeong Hae-ju / Korean tourist
As this area and Jeju are alike, I feel like I am on Jeju Island. Only the shrines on the trail make me realize I’m in Japan.
< 정해주 / 경기도 일산 >
제주도하고 너무 많이 닮아서 일본 같지가 않아요. 일본 느낌이 안나는데 가끔 신사를 보면 일본이라는 생각이 듭니다.

[Camera]
Ko Moon-su

The sea breeze blows gently, cooling walkers off. And residents from the area extend a warm welcome to any passing tourists.

They let tired trekkers use their washrooms, and should someone be especially tired, their let them use their rooms to rest, as well.

Interview
Yamamoto Masako / Resident
I heard that a new trail was being developed and that there would be no restrooms along it. I wanted to be a help to tourists, so I let people use my facilities.
< 야마모토 마사코 / 미나미 시마바라시 >
이번 코스가 생긴다는 얘기와 코스에 화장실이 없어 불편하다는 얘길 들었는데 뭔가 도움이 되고싶다고 생각해서 여기를 내어주게 됐어요.

In the past three-and-a-half years, since the Kyushu Olle trails first began development, 17 courses have been drawn up and opened.

[Reporter]
Mike Laidman

The Kyushu trails now cover nearly 200 kilometers, and more than 160,000 tourists have visited them so far.

These new attractions are not just carbon copies of Jeju’s own Olle trails. They offer their own individual characteristics and are on their way to becoming popular among tourists in their own right.

Mike Laidman, KCTV