Approximately 1 hour and 30 mins by car.
Takana Meshi (Takane Rice)
Pickled Takana top on boiled rice grown in delicious spring water.
As the trinity of blessings of Aso, you will be definitely satisfied with the sweetness of rice and the saltiness of Takana.
Dago Jiru is a soup with wheat flour cakes.
It is a taste of nostalgia with miso, plenty of vegetables, and chewy flour cakes.
Approximately 15 mins by car.
Aso Shrine is said to have a history of around 2500 years. When you go through Miyaji in Ichinomiya Town of Aso City, a large tower gate will leap out at you. Twelve deities starting with Takeiwatatsu-no-mikoto who is said to be the first pioneer of Aso and a grandchild of the Emperor Jinmu are enshrined there. Until before the Second World War it was the only state-supported shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture. There are 461 shrines with the divided spirits throughout the prefecture, and some are even in Kanto and Tohoku regions. The approach runs parallel to the shrine. A wooden sword which an image of a dragon was carved on the hilt is enshrined on the tower gate. Tradition says a dragon, an incarnation of Takeiwatatsu-no-mikoto, eradicates calamities if you go through the gate. The set of agricultural rituals performed at the shrine like Onda and Tanomi Festivals was designated as a nation’s significant intangible folk cultural asset in 1982.
Approximately 30 mins by car.
Daikanbo is in the northeast of the Uchinomaki Onsen area and is on the edge of the outer rim of the Aso caldera.
Daikanbo offers the best 360-degree panoramic view in Aso. Here, you can see the Five Peaks of Aso, as well as the Kuju Mountain Range.
The Five Peaks of Aso, as seen from Daikanbo, are said to resemble a Buddha lying down. During the fall and winter months it may be possible to see a phenomenon known as "Unkai" in Japanese, where the clouds are low and the peaks appear to rise from a sea of clouds.
Daikanbo viewing point also has a souvenir shop and restaurant, and is also popular for stargazing at night.
Approximately 1 hour by car.
Approximately 45 mins by car.
Kurokawa Onsen, at an elevation of 700meters, is renowned as one of the most popular hot spring spots in Japan. Each Onsen Ryokan(inns) has different attractive open-air bath, Rotenburo.
You can purchase “Tegata”, a wooden pass, as bath charges for 3 different open-air baths you chose.
When strolling around, “Yurutto coupon” is recommended. It is 500 yen, a book of 6 coupons, and it is available at shops which sell sweets and croquettes. The coupon and “Tegata” can be purchased at Kazenoya, a Tourism Center.
Approximately 25 mins by car.
This is only 5 minutes from Sakamoto Zenzo Museum of Art by car.
A coalition of willing locals have been preserving with every minimal amount of human elements added to this ”place of serenity” as well as the trail leading up to the this cataract. The scene of it during spring season is especially magnificent because of its wide width (9 meters in height, 20 meters in width). It’s only a 5-minute drive from Sakamoto Zenzo Museum of Art.
※ The light-up show shining lights from the back of the Falls will take place during Japan’s Golden Week in early May.
Approximately 1 hour and 15 mins by car.
Mt.Aso's caldera is one of the world's largest calderas, which stretches 18km east-west, 25km north-south. There are five mountains, Mt.Nekodake, Mt.Takadake, Mt.Nakadake, Mt.Eboshidake, Mt.Kishimadake called "Aso Gogaku" at the center of the caldera. Mt.Nakadake is still active and its crater is 600m in diameter, 130m in depth and 4km in circumference. You can see the huge crater emitting white smoke and the magnificent scenery up close. When the level of volcanic activity is high, you may not be able to approach the crater.
※Access to the crater can be restricted due to the weather conditions, please check the following website in advance for details.
Information on restrictions for the Aso Volcano Crater (The Aso Volcano Disaster Prevention Council)
Approximately 40 mins by car.
Once there was a plan for former national railways crossing the prefectural border and was excavating a tunnel, but eventually the large amount of spring water came out from ground water source. After that the construction plan was cancelled and “Takamori Yusui Tunnel Park” was finished on the site. Of the 2km long tunnel, about 1km is used for parks, and the amount of water flowing along the wooden boardwalk is 32 tons per minute. At the end of the tunnel, which is constant at 17 ° C throughout the year, you can see the water source that flows like a waterfall from the unearthed bedrock. In front of it, there is a beautiful water and light art called “Water Pearl” with stroboscope effect and water flow. Outside the tunnel, there is a space to learn about the importance of water, global environmental issues, and the history of the Takamori Tunnel, at where irises are planted using spring water and at the museum of spring water. It is holding soecual events through the year such as "Takamori Tanabata Festival" on July and "Christmas Fantasy" on December.
Approximately 3 mins by car.
Recently operation between Takamori station and Nakamatsu station only.You can also enjoy getting a thrill of crossing deep valleys on the "Trams”, a specialty that makes you enjoy the breathtaking scenery of Mt. Aso Gogaku and calderas of South Aso. Operations of the trams starts from April to October on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays with 2 roud trips per day, but during Summer holidays in Japan it is operated everyday.
Approximately 15 mins by car.
Approximately 10 mins by car.
In the middle of cider forest on Minami Gairin Mountain in Makinouchi along the sidewalk in Kyusyu, there are two large cedar trees, thus it is called a pair of cedar, a male cedar and a female cedar, praises to each other. It has been lately popular that Takamori Don No Sugi has a matchmaking blessing as a great power spot.
Approximately 30 mins by car.
Minamiaso Onsen is a cluster of onsens located in the Minamiaso region.
Each onsen here has its own unique characteristics and history:
"Tochinoki Onsen" offers views of the southern outer rim of the Aso caldera, while being in an ancient forest.
"Tarutama Onsen" was once visited by a group of famous Japanese writers.
"Hakusui Onsen" is known for having guest rooms with private outdoor baths.
"Jigoku Onsen" is said to have special properties which are beneficial to your health and wellbeing.
This is a place to relax and let the hot water wash away your troubles.
Approximately 50 mins by car.
Approximately 1 hour and 10 mins by car.
Soyo Gorge is a “U-shaped valley” which is rare even in the whole country, with a steep precipice of about 200m in height and continuing for 10km. It is sometimes described as “Kyushu Grand Canyon” from its significance. From the “Nagasaki Nose Observatory”, you can see the canyon. Looking down the valley from the observatory, a white river runs through the deep green, and it is just a masterpiece of magnificent scenery. In autumn, it is dyed with autumn leaves and becomes even more beautiful. The autumn leaves are from late October to early November.
Approximately 1 hour and 15 mins by car.
Approximately 40 mins by car.
Approximately 1 hour and 30 mins by car.