Mount Aso

I was very lucky that our tour leader was Daqiao. His explanations of the best places to eat, activities, and important information in Chinese were very engaging and interesting. The bus seats were quite spacious. I would definitely like to join Daqiao's tour again next time.

Highly recommended! Both our tour guide, Youzhi, and the driver were very helpful and friendly. A great experience!

A relaxed and carefree day trip itinerary. Meeting point: 7:50 AM Japan time, back exit of Kumamoto Station. There were too many groups that day; hopefully, there will be clearer signage next time. Otherwise, everyone was looking at the tour guide to see if they were on the list, which was chaotic. First stop: Kusasenri, enjoy the scenery and have lunch. There are no other places to eat on the rest of the trip, so we had to eat something here. You can see the Kusasenri Grassland (formerly a volcano), Mount Pudding, Mount Aso (view from a distance), and horseback riding (high price, don't ride). The second stop is Ueshikimi Kumanozha Shrine, a shady spot perfect for taking photos. It has dense trees, restrooms, and 220 steps up and down (440 steps round trip). Alternatively, you can choose to climb the nearby slope. Not recommended for those with sensitive skin. There are restrooms and two small vendors in the parking lot. The third stop is the Takachiho Scenic Railway, the most boring part of the day. After checking in in the morning, you need to pay ¥2300 per person for the round trip. The train ride is about 30 minutes. There is no shade throughout the journey, so be sure to wear sunscreen. Umbrellas are not allowed. The main attraction is the spectacular Takachiho landscape. The train conductor provides a bubble-like atmosphere. Limited-edition drinks are available at the vending machines at the station entrance. The fourth stop is the Takachiho Gorge boat tour. After getting off at the parking lot, it's a 20-minute walk to see the gorge (the terrain is usually downhill or down stairs). The boat is at the bottom, with a minimum of one and a maximum of three people. The rower sits in the middle. There are life jackets provided for the abdomen before boarding. There are vendors selling soy sauce dumplings along the way, which are quite delicious. The return trip takes 30 minutes back to the parking lot (uphill or up stairs). Alternatively, you can choose to take a shuttle bus or taxi down the mountain at your own expense. A taxi ride costs ¥600. This full-day trip requires sufficient physical strength and is not recommended for young children (those unable to walk independently) or the elderly (those unable to walk independently). You can bring your own bread or other food before boarding. Coffee, yogurt, and milk are not allowed on the bus.

Since the guided tour to the crater wasn't available that day, and the round trip on foot would take about 40 minutes, I recommend spending more time at Mount Aso to hike and get a glimpse of the crater. The Kusasenri Red Beef Burger was good. Perhaps due to the lunch service time, we spent too much time at Kusasenri, missing the bike ride and not buying tickets to visit the volcano museum, as we spent most of our time waiting for the bus. But overall, it was still a very good experience.

I highly recommend Peng Ge to any family or friends who want to visit Kumamoto. The entire trip was flawless, the attractions were explained in detail, and the recommended food was delicious. It was an unforgettable experience.

My parents and I participated in a day trip on June 1st to Takachiho Gorge, Kamishimi Kumanozha Shrine, Mount Aso, and Kusasenri. It was my first time taking my two 75-year-old parents on a self-guided trip in Kyushu, as these places are inconvenient to reach and we don't drive. I was initially worried about the quality, but the trip turned out to be very relaxing. There was a private car and a dedicated guide. I don't know the names of the driver and tour leader that day, but they were both excellent. The tour leader explained things very carefully, cared about the passengers' well-being, and took photos for everyone. The driver even went out of his way to check if it was passable at the crater, and deliberately slowed down when passing Mt. Yonezuka to allow passengers to take photos. I've decided to continue participating in KKday activities in the future.