Taking a break from cycling we parked our bikes for a day and set out for a day-hike. On the ancient pilgrim route to Hiko-San (1199m) we gazed at Shintō Shrines, some of them neatly embedded into the rock, Onisugi – a 1200 year old cedar at the Takasumi Shrine and stroked the bronze cow supposed to posess curative power. Autumn is coming to Kyushū and in higher elevations the mountains are starting to wear a red dress.