Miyazaki

It's a pity we didn't get to the crater, but we did manage to grab a coffee in Kusasenri! 👍 Kusasenri is best visited in summer when the grass is lush and green; on November 22nd, the grass was withered and yellow. Takachiho was beautiful. Lunch was so-so; if possible, I recommend bringing your own bread and snacks to spend more time exploring.

Traveling with elderly family members. Our driver, Xiao Guan, was very patient and polite, and also introduced local facilities along the way. Since there were many elderly people in our group, he also helped communicate with the restaurant during lunch, making the trip very smooth. The smooth trip left us with extra time, and he even recommended some suitable short trips along the route. We would definitely book again next time.

The guide spoke Chinese, but I asked in advance if English would be acceptable, and he replied that it would be fine. It was difficult to find the tour at the Chikushi Exit of Hakata Station in the morning, as there were many tour buses parked there. There were many tours from the same travel agency, and a guide on another tour told me that it was the young man's place. I was relieved when our guide, Alex, checked the list. The tour participants spoke about half English and half Chinese. The guide's English was very easy to understand, and he patiently answered my questions. I was deeply moved by the majesty of Aso's Kusasenri. We took a shuttle bus to the Aso Crater. It was a valuable experience, seeing the inside of a volcano for the first time in my life. The distance from Hakata to Aso and then to Takachiho Gorge was quite long, but we arrived at our destination earlier than expected, and I'm grateful for the driver's skill. At Takachiho Gorge, we rented a boat to get close to the waterfalls. The air was crisp and cold, and it was truly mystical and beautiful. I thoroughly enjoyed Takachiho Gorge, known as the path of the gods. I'm originally from Kyushu, but I'd never been to the Aso crater, Kusasenri, or Takachiho Gorge in Miyazaki. I chose this tour to show my daughter the highlights of Kyushu for her birthday. I was a little worried about the tour being full of foreigners, but our guide, Alex, was very kind and guided us carefully, so we had a great day. My daughter was also very happy. On the bus ride back, Alex told everyone that in addition to Aso and Takachiho, which we'd visited that day, he also recommended Beppu Onsen, a Kyushu hot spring. As a Beppu native, I was very happy. Thank you very much.

The entire tour is guided, making it perfect for travelers who want to enjoy the scenery in peace and quiet. The bus ride takes almost six hours round trip, but I personally think it's well worth it. Although it's very weather-dependent, Miyazaki is the birthplace of mythology, so a visit here will offer a unique experience. It's definitely an energy-boosting destination, highly recommended! After lunch, you'll need to return to the bus station on your own. After visiting Takachiho Gorge, you can ask the staff at the tourist information center to help you call a taxi to Takachiho Shrine. The walk from Takachiho Gorge to the shrine is quite physically demanding, so I suggest that travelers like me who don't want to go through that much exertion take a taxi (laughs). Overall, it's a fantastic experience!