Takachiho

I highly recommend adding the boating package. If two girls aren't particularly fit or have no boating experience, it might just be a 30-minute float, but it's still very beautiful! My companion rowed seriously and felt a real workout in her back that night, though it was sore the next day. But we were still so glad we bought the package. If we could choose again, we'd choose a tour departing from Kumamoto; the train journeys in Fukuoka were just too long. We didn't take the Sagano Scenic Railway; we walked to the shrine during that time. Walking down the Ten'an River was quite breathtaking. The tour guide casually said, "You guys can go for it." It was a bit of a shame that not all of us in the group went all the way to the bottom. The whole trip was a bit rushed, but we ate well. We'll definitely come back to Takachiho Gorge next time; it's truly beautiful, but we'll need to allow more time.

The weather was great, and the views of Mount Aso and Takachiho while boating were truly beautiful. Plus, our professional guide, Jimmy Yanagi, was witty and humorous. Highly recommended!

Since our accommodation was near the Sakuramachi Bus Terminal, and most other day tours depart from Kumamoto JR Station and require early morning departures, this tour was perfect because it included pick-up from the Sakuramachi Bus Terminal. Plus, we wanted to visit Aso and Takachiho, so it was ideal! If I remember correctly, this was a local tour company's itinerary, so about two-thirds of the passengers were locals. The tour guide spoke Japanese, but there was a Chinese-speaking translator, so there was no need to worry. The times for each stop were clearly indicated on signs. The tour quality was excellent; the guide, translator, and driver were all very friendly, and we had a great time. We ate lunch at a local restaurant in Takachiho and chatted with other Japanese members of the tour group, giving us a real sense of traveling abroad!

The itinerary included Takachiho Gorge, Mount Aso, and Kusasenri. Lunch was delicious, and our tour guide, Zhang Qing, arranged the time well, took great care of the group members, and provided a lot of information. It was wonderful to see the fully open crater.