Exporting Jeju Olle to the world

A blue and red-colored ribbons hang on a tree to show directions on the Kyushu Olle trail’s Ureshino Course. / Korea Times photos by Baek Byung-yeul

Kyushu Olle opens 15th trekking course

By Baek Byung-yeul

REIHOKU, Japan — When a series of trekking courses called “Olle Trails” were opened on Korea’s southern island of Jeju in 2007, many tilted their heads, asking themselves: “Who would visit there just for walking?”

Local residents and Korean travelers walk along the Kyushu Olle’s 15th trail Amakusa-Reihoku Course in Reihoku, Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan on Feb. 28.

Travelers walk on mountain path in the Kyushu Olle’s Ureshino Course.

Dispelling those worries, however, more people began realizing the hidden charms of hiking around the volcanic island and the Olle Trails sent “shockwaves” to many Koreans who thought touring somewhere means just another relentless schedule of golfing or wandering here and there. Nowadays more than a million people visit the island annually just to walk along the trekking routes.

“The reason for Jeju Olle’s success is simple. Every course is designed to let visitors walk along the pristine coastal perimeter of the island, and when walking along the courses, visitors eventually have a chance to meet and talk with local residents or another trekker,” Park Mi-joung, public relations manager at Jeju Olle Foundation said.

Exporting Jeju Olle to Japan

Travelers take a photo of green tea fields on the Kyushu Olle’s Ureshino Course on March 2. / Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeul

Thanks to a huge success of the trekking courses, the foundation embarked on a plan to franchise its brand in Kyushu, one of Japan’s four main islands.

Due to easy accessibility to Kyushu, about 80 minutes by plane from Seoul and about three hours by ferry from Busan, has been a favorite tourist destination for many Koreans. With a population of about 13 million, the island is also a suitable place for people who want to enjoy both big city life and beautiful natural setting.

In a bid to attract more overseas tourists including Koreans, who make up the majority of foreign visitors, Kyushu’s tourism officers cooperated with the Jeju Olle Foundation and opened the very first “Kyushu Olle” trail in Saga Prefecture in February, 2012.

Suh Myung-sook, center, president of the Jeju Olle Foundation, speaks during the opening ceremony of the Kyushu Olle’s 15th course in Reihoku, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan on Feb. 28. / Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeul

The attempt was successful. With small annual royalties of one million yen ($8,340), a total of 14 trails were installed in Kyushu as of last year. According to a survey of Kyushu Tourism Promotion Organization, Nearly 100,000 people including some 65,000 Koreans had visited Kyushu Olle trekking courses as of November, last year.

The Kyushu Olle share the same direction signs as the Jeju Olle. The indicator called “ganse,” which is shaped after the distinctive Jeju Island’s pony, is decorated with blue and orange-colored ribbon at each point in order to help trekkers not to get lost. To specify Kyushu, the Kyushu Olle uses blue and scarlet-colored ribbons instead. The scarlet color represents the color of the arches of the Japanese Shinto shrine.

This year, the Kyushu Olle officially added its 15th trail, the “Amakusa-Reihoku Course” on Feb. 28, attended by hundreds of local residents and some dozens of Korean travelers who call themselves “Olle lovers.”

A group of volunteers distribute a cup of “tonjiru” (pork miso soup) to trekkers walking along the Kyushu Olle trail’s Amakusa-Reihoku Course on Feb. 28.

“I am deeply moved that Kyushu has launched a 15th course, today,” Suh Myung-sook, president of the Jeju Olle Foundation said, adding it couldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for local residents’ help.

“I think Kyushu Olle was only possible because of the local residents and tourism officials of Kyushu. The officials put their utmost effort to invent suitable trails in a bid to promote their hometown, giving up their holidays,” Suh said during a speech at the opening event of the Amakusa-Reihoku Course.

Suh, a former managing editor of local online news website OhmyNews, is a founder of the Jeju Olle trails. After finishing her 23-year-long journalist career, she returned to her native place — Jeju Island — and set up the nonprofit foundation and the trails.

Travelers soak their feet in a foot bath after completing the Amakusa-Matsushima Course on March 1. / Korea Times photos by Baek Byung-yeul

Commemorating the opening of 15th Kyushu Olle trail course, Suh emphasized that Kyushu Olle is an example of an eco-friendly designed trail.

“The Jeju Olle’s principle, when inventing a new trail, is to leave nature as it is. We didn’t ask the local government to pave the road with asphalt.

In line with such a principle, Kyushu Olle trails are also designed with an eco-friendly mind,” she said.

Suh also stressed that she decided to help Kyushu establish its own trails as she believed Kyushu Olle could be a symbol of “non-governmental exchange amid strained relations over historical and territorial rows between Korea and Japan.”

“As many people know, relations between the two countries deteriorated years ago. If we keep cooperating at a non-governmental level, and things keep going, Kyushu Olle will keep attracting more Koreans to Japan like today. It will eventually get the two governments closer,” Suh said.

A view of Amakusa city from the top of Mount Senganzan in Amakusa, Kumamoto Prefecture. / Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeul

Amakusa-Reihoku Course

The newly opened Amakusa-Reihoku Course overwhelms visitors with diverse attractions of Japan. Amakusa is a city made up of about 100 islets. With the city’s superb natural landscape, three Olle trails are allocated to this area.

Starting at Tomioka Port in Reihoko, Amakusa District in Kumamoto Prefecture, the 11-kilometer-long course first takes trekkers to Tomioka Castle.

The historic castle, where renovation is still ongoing, was the venue for the Shimabara Rebellion — a large-scaled peasant revolt from 1636 to 1638. The rebellion caused by religious persecution of the local Catholics and excessive taxes, were suppressed by the army of the Tokugawa Shogunate, killing about 37,000 residents.

Passing through the castle, visitors will go by citrus fields and coastal villages where a 140-year-old “wagashi” (traditional Japanese sweets) are made.

The difficulty level of Amakusa-Reihoky Course is moderate, meaning it is a nice course to walk, talk to others.

Amakusa-Matsushima Course

“Matsushima” is not a specific name of a certain area. It means a landscape shaped with many islets gathered together. Among many matsushima areas throughout Japan, Japanese used to say Amakusa-Matsushima should be included among the top three.

As the difficulty level is designated as advanced, the 12.3-kilometer-long trail trails, which takes up to five hours, consists of a series of uphill courses.

Visitors on this trail can enjoy a striking seascape at an observatory.

After completing the up-and-down course, visitors will be led to the fishing village that provides an outdoor foot bath for free.

Ureshino Course

The Ureshino Course will probably be a superb choice for those who both like to be gently braised by hot spring water and to go hiking.

Ureshino, best known as a hot spring village in Saga Prefecture, is also famous for producing green tea.

The 12.5-kilometer-long course, which has difficulty level of between moderate and advanced, is also designed to take up to four to five hours.

Starting at Yoshida village, known for producing quality ceramics, visitors will soon face vast array of green tea fields.

The Ureshino Course ends at a village consisting of several “ryokan” or traditional Japanese inns.

For more information of Kyushu Olle, visit https://www.visitkyushu.org/category/kyushu-olle/.