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Across Japan’s Quiet Frontier — Oita
Project 47: Episode 4 — Oita Prefecture (Solo Motorcycle Journey Across Japan)
Oita is one of those places Japan doesn’t advertise loudly — and that’s exactly why it works.
In this chapter of Project 47, I spend three days riding through Oita Prefecture on Kyushu’s eastern side: empty mountain passes, volcanic highlands, quiet villages, and coast-bound roads that feel like they were built for motorcycles. The further I ride from the main routes, the more the prefecture opens up — not as a list of attractions, but as a landscape you move through.
Along the way: clear spring water beneath Mount Kuro, remote temples and forest ruins on the Kunisaki Peninsula, Beppu’s geothermal “hells,” the long ridge roads around Mount Yufu, Harajiri Falls, and an underwater limestone cave system that feels like another world.
This is not a guide — it’s a ride through a prefecture, in real time, with all the small setbacks and unexpected finds that make solo travel what it is.
What’s in this Episode:
⛺️ Solo Wild Camping: Finding the perfect spot to pitch a tent under the stars.
💦 The "Niagara of Japan": Discovering the massive Harajiri Falls.
⛩️ Hidden History: Exploring abandoned mountain shrines and ancient underwater caves.
🏍️ The Rider’s Life: Dealing with bike drops, loose mirrors, and the realities of long-distance touring.
▶️ CONTINUE THE RIDE (EP 5): https://youtu.be/VZA9lPZU_38
▶️ WATCH THE FULL SERIES (Project 47): https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmfZhaoecygo5CoOwI7k06tKIk6CYe15&si=q3ic-8Stqnl889aj
Chapters for the Adventure:
00:00 – Finding a Wild Camp: Starting the Oita Adventure
01:50 – The Fresh Springs of Mount Kuro
04:16 – Trying Oita’s Famous Toriten (Fried Chicken)
05:30 – Crossing the Giant Suspension Bridge
09:05 – Ryumon Falls: A Hidden Two-Tiered Oasis
11:23 – Exploring the Stone Pillars of Ura Yabakei
20:44 – Dropped the bike!: The Reality of Solo Riding
24:12 – The Abandoned Ruins of Kyusento-ji
26:05 – Roadside Repairs & Mountain Temples
30:52 – Chinoike Jigoku: A Hot Spring from Hell
32:36 – The Iwashita Collection: Rare Vintage Treasures
38:46 – Riding the Epic Ridges of Mount Yufu
43:41 – Harajiri Falls: The Niagara of Japan
45:54 – Chinda Falls: Surprisingly good waterfall
49:07 – Inazumi: Exploring Japan’s Longest Underwater Cave
🇯🇵 About Project 47
Japan is a unique country made up of 47 prefectures. My goal is to ride them all. This is Project 47! Join me on this epic Japan adventure as I embark on an incredible motorcycle travel journey across the country. In this motovlog, you'll experience the beauty of riding in Japan through scenic routes, ancient shrines, and local culinary stops, all part of my quest to explore the 47 prefectures of Japan. ✨🎬 So sit back, relax and enjoy the whole journey, there is a lot to see!
Watch the full Project 47 playlist — my ride through all 47 prefectures of Japan: 👉 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmfZhaoecyj7cmIPW3d5RVHgljlKch4H
FOLLOW THE JOURNEY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/RideThruJapan/
SUPPORT THE RIDE Join Team Riders (¥140 / $1 per month): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7QUavyzNZwmN69oLfZxsUQ/join
📍 Locations in this video: Oita Prefecture, Kyushu Region
🏍️ The Bike: Triumph Scrambler 400X
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