Beppu Saigoku Pilgrimage: 270 Buddha Statues, 3-Hour Walk

Walk an ancient pilgrimage route and pray at 270 stone Buddhas

This 3-hour walking tour follows part of the Kyushu Saigoku Pilgrimage, a 1,280-year-old route in Beppu, Oita Prefecture. You walk five kilometers with an elevation gain of 200 meters, encountering 270 stone Buddha statues along the way and learning from a local guide about Buddhism's journey from China through Korea to Japan, plus the significance of the mountains and sea that sustain the region. The guide speaks English, Italian or Chinese.

Step-by-step itinerary

Walk pilgrimage route and learn Buddhism

• Walk 5-km pilgrimage route
• See 270 stone Buddha statues
• Listen to local expert guide
• Learn about Buddhism's history
• Discover Japanese life and nature
• Pray to stone Buddhas

The experience

Three hours on foot covers five kilometers of the pilgrimage route, with a 200-meter elevation change that requires moderate fitness. A local guide leads you past the 270 stone Buddhas, explaining how each one fits into the religious practice of pilgrimage and what Buddhism looks like as it took root in Japan. You'll learn to pray at the statues the way pilgrims have for over a thousand years, and understand why this particular route matters to the people of Beppu.

The walk reveals the landscape that has sustained the pilgrimage: the sea visible across the water, the mountains that shelter the route, and the plants and monkeys that live there. This is not a city tour. You're on an actual pilgrimage path, walking where people have walked for centuries, and the guide connects what you see (the blessings of the sea, the resources of the mountains) to how Japanese people understand their relationship with the natural world and with Buddhism.

Comfortable walking shoes and clothing suited to three hours outdoors matter here. Children under five need an adult with them. The route is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, cardiovascular concerns, or pregnancy. Public transportation options are nearby if you need them, and service animals are welcome.

What’s included

• Local guide in English, Italian or Chinese.
• all fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesSaturdayDepartures at 09:00 and 13:00

AgesAdult (13 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (6 to 12 years) · Child (2 to 5 years): free · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish, Italian and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by WANDER COMPASS BEPPU

Is this one for you?The three-hour walk with a 200-meter elevation gain suits travelers with moderate fitness who want to move through the landscape rather than stop at viewpoints. If you have spinal injuries, cardiovascular concerns, or are pregnant, this route is not the right fit.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Italian and Chinese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (6 to 12 years); Child (2 to 5 years): free; Infant (under 2): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How difficult is the 5-kilometer walk along the pilgrimage route?

The route covers five kilometers with a 200-meter elevation gain over about three hours, so you need at least moderate fitness and comfortable walking shoes. The path is the actual pilgrimage route, not a flat urban walk.

What do the 270 stone Buddha statues represent on this route?

The 270 stone Buddhas are the heart of the pilgrimage practice. Your guide explains their individual significance and how they fit into the 1,280-year history of the Kyushu Saigoku Pilgrimage, showing how Buddhism developed as it traveled from China through Korea and took root in Japan.

Will I learn how to pray at the Buddha statues?

Yes. The guide teaches you how pilgrims pray at the statues and what the practice means within Japanese Buddhism, so you experience the route the way people have for over a thousand years.

What is included in the tour price?

The tour includes the guide and all fees and taxes. You do not need to arrange separate transportation to reach the pilgrimage route, as public transportation options are available nearby.