Nestled within one of the world's largest calderas lie the beautiful Aso Grasslands, spanning an impressive 22,000 hectares. This vast expanse has been preserved for centuries through careful grass harvesting and controlled burns. Today, we embark on an exciting adventure through these grasslands on e-bikes under the helpful eye of an Aso field guide.

Throughout the seasons, Aso's grasslands, referred to by the locals as bokuya, showcase a variety of picturesque landscapes. This unique environment has been maintained through a cycle of controlled burns (called noyaki), cattle grazing, and grass harvesting. However, due to changes in agricultural practices and fewer people to carry on tradition, grassland maintenance has become more and more difficult, resulting in a gradual shrinking of grassland areas.

To prevent this, local organizations have negotiated exclusive guided access to areas that are typically off-limits, allowing for their responsible utilization. One such initiative is the Bokuya Ride, where visitors ride e-bikes throughout Aso’s grasslands. The activity fee includes a Grassland Conservation Fee, which goes towards maintaining and preserving the grasslands. This creates a beneficial cycle where tourist activities help contribute to sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Although riding through the grasslands is the highlight of the Bokuya Ride, the presence of a certified guide is indispensable. All currently active guides have undergone specialized training that focuses on Aso's grasslands. Each guide is driven by a desire to contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of the local landscape.

As a result, there are numerous routes offered by different guides (both by individual guides and tour companies), making the experience available to riders of all levels and interests. You can start by selecting a course that suits you best.

(Reservations required in advance.)

Here's a list of organizations offering Bokuya Rides.

Our group joined the Feel the Volcano Bokuya Ride offered by the Aso Be-tai pro guide group. We decided to go on our Bokuya Ride after visiting Nakadake Crater. This beginner-friendly package includes an e-bike rental and the necessary gear, e.g., a helmet.

Arriving at the Kusasenri Parking Area, we found a bike for each rider set up in front of a beige truck with the Aso Be-tai logo on it.

We completed the necessary paperwork before setting off.

Our guide provided a thorough explanation of how to operate the e-bikes, and then we took a quick practice run on the bikes in the parking lot.

Our guide for the day was Usui-san, the leader of Aso Be-tai, who previously worked as captain of a disaster prevention aviation squad and of a firefighting mountain rescue team. During our Bokuya Ride, we affectionately referred to him as Captain!

Once we were prepared, it was time to begin our journey.

Starting at Kusasenri, we headed to the volcanically active Nakadake Crater.

One of the unique aspects of the Bokuya Ride is the ability to casually stop at tourist spots along the cycling route.

One such spot is Furubochu, a place where 37 temples and 51 hermit huts once stood hundreds of years ago. This was said to have been a major spiritual center for mountain Buddhism and was where many ascetic monks lived.

As we approached the crater, the terrain grew more rugged.

Although the road here was quite steep, the bikes' electric power and gear changes made it a surprisingly effortless ride. The bikes rose to the challenge and helped us conquer these slopes with ease.

After about 15 minutes after leaving Kusasenri, we arrived at the main Nakadake crater.

The smell of sulfur grew stronger.

We parked our bikes in the parking lot and walked the rest of the way up to the crater.

Our guide informed us that the main crater is the only currently active crater, but there are actually 7 other dormant craters surrounding the main crater. The concrete building in the background is a shelter meant to protect up to 60 people.

After a 5-minute walk, the 600m-diamter, 130m-deep Nakadake crater came into view.

Steam billowed vigorously from the massive crater measuring 4km in circumference, creating an awe-inspiring spectacle. Aso is one of only a few active volcanoes where you can see the crater from such close proximity.

(Access to the crater is restricted when the volcano is more active than normal.)

Now that we had visited the crater, it was time for the real Bokuya Ride to begin.
We headed off towards the grasslands.

It’s all downhill from here.
Riders can take the paths at full-speed from the top of Aso for an indescribably exhilarating experience.

Now that we arrived at the entrance to the grasslands, this marks the start of our exclusive ride, made possible by permission from our Bokuya guide.

These grasslands are used for grazing cattle, and some areas require disinfection with calcium hydroxide to prevent the spread of disease.

The grasslands had been burned away in March and new grasses were just starting to sprout as we rode our way through the fields.

While the terrain looks flat to the naked eye, the ground is quite bumpy. Our bikes tackled the ups and downs with ease and made the ride feel like something you’d find at an amusement park.

And as we were holding onto our handlebars for dear life, savoring the thrill of the ride, one of the other riders took a minor spill!

Their bike had hit one of these big holes dug by wild boar and moles in the grasslands.

Our guide explained that these holes are created by small animals to protect themselves from the flames during the controlled burns in March. The burns also act as a form of pest control, ultimately contributing to protecting unique flora and fauna that can only be found in Aso.

We even found some deer bones during our adventure! The grasslands, inaccessible to the general public, are teeming with rare plants, wildlife, insects, and more.

After taking a photo with our tour guide, we made our way back to the parking lot at Kusasenri.

Our 90-minute ride passed by in the blink of an eye. It took a little while to get used to the e-bikes, but by the end, we were pros.

After returning the e-bikes and equipment, we paid our tour fee (cashless options available), bringing our adventure to an end.

We visited in early May and the grasslands were already starting to turn lush green. As summer approaches, it transforms into a sea of vibrant grass, followed by golden-hued susuki grass in autumn and the enchanting spectacle of ice-covered trees in winter. Bokuya Rides offer unique experiences in the ever-changing Aso landscapes throughout the year, showcasing the beauty of Aso, a designated World Agricultural Heritage Site and Geopark.

Many thanks to our guide, Captain Usui.

Advance reservations are required to go on a Bokuya Ride.
Here’s a list of organizations offering Bokuya Rides. Riders can choose the style of course that best matches their ability and interest. 

◆Aso Be-tai

◆Asotan Guide Tours

◆Trim Company／Aso Kuju Cycle Tour