There are popular Spa town, also known nationwide. Leaving the atmosphere of the watering place with lined inn full of nostalgia along a tributary of the Chikugo River Harakawa of field on 700 meter elevation. Spring quality is hydrogen sulfate salt which effect to neuralgia or rheumatism. Their popular ticket called “hot springs bill” (1,200 yen) can choose three places of any open bath on listed Ryokan in Kurokawa.

Consinting of Odakawa Medaki (female waterfall) and Harakawa Odai (male waterfall), 12 meter and 15 meter each long. It is popular as a waterfall of marriage.
Couple put name on Emma and decorate called “a souvenir shop of the waterfall”. The shop located by the entrance.

This place is called hell of a sparrow and you will see eruption of sulfurous acid gas all over the place. The name origin from carcass of small animals such as sparrow, fox and raccoon dog by the gas. You will see the unique contrast of hell landscape and green field. And also cold spring that contains the sulfurous acid gas is good for skin disease.

You can go back of the waterfall without getting wet15 minute drive from the Yu station, clean water spot.
There is light up during Golden Week. Please wear walking shoes when visiting.

Daikanbo is located on the highest point of the outer rim of Aso, Kumamoto Prefecture. There is a natural observatory boasts the best views of Aso of 936 meter above sea level. Aso is the highest peak north of outer rim, including the five Aso peak basin and Aso Valley, overlooking the mountain range of Kujyu, sea of colds view in the early morning on late autumn. Figure of the five Aso peak lying calmly in the middle of caldera is majestic, reminiscent of a figure from the place Nirvana of Buddha at the time of sleep, also known as sleeping Buddha.

There is naturally placed the Stone Circle located 6 meter north from “Daikanbo”. In a small mountain of 845 meters above sea levee, there is a group of 15,3meters around boulders near the summit of this hill. The largest is about 5,5 meters hight. You will find a very beautiful place reminiscent of the ancient Holy Land. Everyone feel another dimension world at there, you can enjoy the beautiful magnificent landscape. The legend said Giant or demon was playing with the stone as a beanbags every night.

There is a natural theater of the nature.
We thank Mr. Shogo Utsunomiya who is amateur astronomer has been set up an astronomical telescope and also open his home. Recommended time of day will be October to May on good weather.
The full moon will interfere star light, you can enjoy brilliance of the stars if you go not a full moon day.
Please contact the same day by 17:00 for reservation. Operation is depend on the weather.

Founded in the year 9 of Kourei emperor, temple of the Higo, former government official shrine. There is a venerable shrine dedicated to the development of Aso and twelve god in the shrine. There is a “wishing stone” to grant a wish, “Pines of Takasago” for divine favor for marriage and tanka inscription of Kiyoshi Nishimoto in rare Yokosando in the precinct. Transmitted to the ritual is deeply connected with rice cultivation and specified in the significant intangible folk cultural asset of the country as “festival of Aso farming”. Building of six saint temple of one, saint temple of two, saint-temple of three, gated tower, Shinko mon, Kangyo moon has been designated an important cultural asset of the country. In addition, the gated tower is one of the three large gated tower in Japan. It has been elected to the “One hundred of New Kumamoto” and “One hundred of Kumamoto green view”.

Kusasenri is vast spread 1 km prairie located by one of the Aso five mountain of Eboshiodake. The cows and horses are grazing around the large rainwater pond. You can enjoy walks and horse riding. Off limits free.

Komezuka is traces of a small cone, cute in the prairie grass by the tree. It is 954 meter above sea level but only 100 meter from button of mountain to the summit. A long time ago, God of Aso made to build harvested and God has given to skim to get the ire for poor hit by famine. The dent of the summit is a legend from that time.

There is a circular meadows to the East and west spread of 1 km in diameter crater of a double circular formula originally. There is about 50 meter of small hill in the center. East pond dried up during dry season but west pond have water all year around. Grazing caws and horses gather to drink at pond fountain. That scene is one of the Aso’s seasonal tradition.

There are springs everywhere in the area south of the village surrounded by the outer rim of Aso. Shilakawa flow South to the Northwest edge of the village far away to the “Ariake Ocean”. The headwaters located in Yoshimi Shrine, the largest source of spring water. Daily dose is t 9 mammon and water temperature is 14 degree through the year. You can see the huge amount of water push sand seeps because transparency is high. A large amount of people gathered to pump water which smooth soft to drink and maximize the taste of tea even on weekdays. The water is popular for sake or bottled mineral water and helping to the development of local industry. One of the best hundred water in Japan.

There is “rock of Men” formation seems to be floating in about 30 minutes away from the bottom of the South rim of Minamiasomura (Kugino). Its said there is a rock from 27million years ago when volcanic happened. You can walk about an hour from the trailhead entrance for round trip. You will enjoy many kinds of flowers and grasses in every season. Also you can ask to guide at Minamiasomura.

Speaking of waterfalls, flow of water from the river is flowing down. Usogui no Taki (lier of waterfalls) of spring water brought together several springs from between the rocks and the spray runs down detailed from about 30 meters in height. The waterfalls called illusion because cannot found even can hear the sound of water for a few years ago, so named Usogui (lier). You will be able to feel the majestic forces of nature waterfall comes blowing from rich groundwater area, the South rim of the rock surface.

You will see a large cedar when you go the promenade on Seieizan trail of a little ranch in the wilderness. There is the “Takamoriden no Oosugi” (Large cedar tree of Takamori palace). The two large cedar rises while standing quietly cuddled about two thousand age of a tree. Brave appearance of male cedar, grown supple of female cedar. This couple large cedar has a legend that feudal lord of Takamori disembowelment arcading large number of soldiers about three hundred years ago by the base of cedar.

It’s an animal theme park to enjoy the contact with 250 bears and other animals located at the foot of Mount Aso, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefevture. You can enjoy as kids playing with animals, watching variety sow. There are two theater and genius chimpanzee “Pan-kun” appear on “Miyazawa theater” is also popular as you seen on TV show.

Aso Farm Land is a large nature theme park with the theme of “People, Nature, Health”. To a vast range hillside Aso National Park of 550 meter above sea level, you can enjoy a variety of beer garden, hot springs, golf course, mini zoo, studio experience, athletic giant, gourmet, and souvenir shop In million square meter facility.

A world’s largest class composite volcano surrounded by 1000 m above sea level of around 128 km. “Mount Aso” is know, officially called Aso gogaku (Aso five mountains), to the highest peak Takadake (1,592 m), Nakadake (1,506 m), Nekodake (1,408 m), Eboshiodake (1,337 m), Kishimadake (1,270 m) are sequences.
You can directly fell the alive mountain energy of nature.
It is possible to tour Nakadake crater which active volcano. And also possible to use Aso ropeway from middle to the top.

Mountain Aso ropeway is the first ropeway to put on active volcano in the world. Its take 4 minutes for 108 m height difference, from end of the bus station Aso west station to the crater rim of crater west station. The gondola is a large 91 passenger gondola. You can overlook majestic view of the caldera, desolate land from the wide window. Experience a masterpiece view of flowering Miyama Kirishima in late May.

Yume Daichi Green valley (dream earth green valley) is the world’s largest caldera of about 850 meters above sea level by the north rim of Aso. You can experience horse riding when overlooking a 360* panoramic prairie of Aso and Kujyu mountains. The most extensive area boats in the domestic horse riding club that size is 55 times the area of Tokyo Dome. Their varieties of menu such as horse led (10 minutes) 1050 yen, outside horseback 40 minutes for 5250 yen, 60 minutes for 8400 yen. You can enjoy horseback riding regardless of age, experience, gender even its your first time.
We recommended advance reservation.

One of the Japan’s top three castle along Osaka castle and Nagoya castle. Teisho year of 16 (1588), Kiyomasa Kato became the lord of Higo and over seven years later, Keicho year of 12 (1607), he complete his castle. There is a stone wall to protect from predators attractions called “warrior returns”.
When the role of Southwest(1877), the castle comes into its own as an impregnable castle to siege more than 50 days against the Satsuma Army. But two days before of the total attack to Satsuma Army, unknown cause of fire destroyed the main building such as a castle tower. The current tower was rebuilt by the city of Kumamoto in 1960.

The beginning was teahouse by first lord of Higo Hosokawa Tadatoshi who found fresh spring water when he hunting(Migiri of falconry).
Large garden work have been made when lord Tsunatomo turn, circuit Momoyama style graceful expression garden was completed. It has been named Seijyuen by quaint garden consist of poem of Tosuimei
March – November 7:30 – 18:00 (admission by 17:30)
December – February 8:30 – 17:00 (admission by 16:30)

There are so may cute monkeys. You will find popular monkey stage of trainer. You will inspire how smart they are, such as riding stilts interactions and reminiscent of the comedy show during 40 minutes performance. You can take picture or handshake with the monkey after the show.
Start 10:00 for every hour, 6 times a day for weekdays, 7 times a day for weekend and holidays.
Adult 1080 yen, junior high 850 yen, 3 years old to elementary 600 yen.

A largest pedestrian suspension bridge which boats 390 m length, 173 m height and width 1.5 m in Japan. It was chosen the “Best 100 waterfalls in Japan” ,from 777 m above sea level on a bridge of Kyusuikyo, overlooking the river valley Naruko, including the waterfall of tremor. It will be expanded further views of colored autumn leaves in around late October to early November.

Kujyukogen remains one of majestic nature flower garden in Japan which spread approximately 200,000 square meters over the hill. You will enjoy various seasonal flower such as tulip and poppy on spring, dyed purple lavender in summer and millions of cosmos will sway in the wind in autumn. It will take 2 hours to walk around the park.

Dynamic cliffs and valleys, clear stream and deep green weave.
The valley has created by virgin forest such as Tochinoki, Itayakaede, zelkova and Kusu river, and also popular place for foliage. Especially the foliage is masterpiece but fresh verdure and summer season also superb view.

Yufuin station to spa town highway aka “Yufumiroad” or spa town highway to Kinrinko “Yunotsubo highway”. There are fancy store and restaurant also various museum lined.

The Bebenko located on a middle of hillside overlooking Kujyu. “Bebenko” means calf in Oita dialect. This restaurant is operated direct from ranch so in-house produce of Bungo steak, croquettes, grilled beef bowl, and curry. Home grown rice and vegetable will be used in the shop as well. Enjoy a delicious meal on the terrace of superb view by Takefue choice.

You can stop by when you driving to Yamanami highway or milk road. There are delicious desert buffet or cake sets with great outdoor view of Senomoto from a window.
Also popular Kumamoto’s gem souvenir has lined.

The shine enshrined God Amaterasu. There is a cave that Amaterasu Amanoiwato was hiding because he was anger of brother Susaomei’s lawless by middle of Amado river cliff behind the shrine. When God Amaterasu was hiding in the Amanoiwato, millions of God gather and had god confidence at Amanoyasukawara.

Takachiho-V-shaped valley was made five Segawa eroded the lava Aso.
“Manai’s waterfalls” was chosen as the 100 waterfalls in Japan. You can also sightseeing with rowing boat under the waterfall and enjoy the view from beneath the waterfall of 17 m drop. You can freely visit throughout the year. Verdure in May, foliage in November and also you can enjoy lit up the waterfall during summer vacation until 22:00.

You can enjoy creative course cuisine with Yoshino, Kumagawa, Akizuki’s real Kuzu(arrowroot) without using any additives, chemical seasoning as natural food store.
Especially their Kuzu roll which use 100% real Kuzu and local jersey milk is very exquisite Japanese sweets recommended by Takefue.

A gentle stream of Harakawa fields, “Yamakawakusaki(mountain river grass tree)” located. The famous water called “flag returns water” springing. The soba noodle shop got chosen because buckwheat cannot talk without water quality.

The soba noodle shop opened at Tonashi in Minamioguni. The name is “Tonashi no Sobaya”. Just like the name. You might think why there is a noodle shop in a place like this the way coming to the shop. There is a nothing but mountain along the old road towards Minamioguri to Aso. But there is a spring water. A good water is important element to taste sensitive flavor and smell of original buckwheat.

It is a one of the popular Soba shop located in the middle of the Yamanami highway toward the Yufuin. The structure of restaurant is traditional Japanese house and shop is calm. Their prejudice menu is just one which is “Sobazen Unsui” (1600 yen).

Separate building with a total 15 rooms, equipped name building of north, south, east and west and also each room has different styles such as cypress or rock bath. There is a break room on eastern wing with the key use (3,600 yen per 100 minutes). You can enjoy the view of farm road’s bridge and greens.

The famous hot springs aka “blue water of milk(Sapphire Blue)”. You can enjoy the view of mountain from a large blue open air bath and a family bath.
*cypress family open air bath and large open air bath are open for 8am to 8pm.

There are 14 family style bath such as stone bath, cypress bath, rock bath and large open air bath in the 5000 square feet vast land. The stone pathway surrounded by trees and bamboo leaves to connect each bath. Water is a very soft, easy touch with skin. The hot water is always changing to fresh hot spring for you to enjoy.

You can enjoy high concentrations of carbonate spring which rare in the country throughout the year. There is a pumped carbonate water to take home for 100 yen/20litter in the same site. Natural carbonate hot spring is available 200yen for children, 500yen for adult and 1500yen for family bath. You can enjoy homemade country style dishes such as udon, soba, vegetarian mountain dishes located next to the facility. The popular speciality menu is carbonated red bean buns and carbonated coffee.

You can enjoy high concentrated carbonate hot spring.
This place one of the popular spot for Kujyu sightseeing people since its located near Shindo’s fall and Kyusuikyo. The price is 400yen.

Mineral springs is available for drinking and called “Ramune water”. Also there are flour water pump to take it home, 100yen for up to 2 litter, 200 yen for up to 5 litter, 300 yen for up to 10 litter and 500yen for up to 20 litter.