Miyazaki City

It was a great trip, but I felt the time in Takachiho was a bit rushed. The tour guide was very attentive in guiding us through the sights. Thank you to the driver for his safe driving. Everyone, young and old, had a great time.

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.

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!

We departed on time in the morning for Takachiho Gorge, a breathtaking natural wonder. A ride on the miniature train offered panoramic views of the landscape, with patterns reflected in the caves along the way – a truly stunning sight. Our guide, Yoshiko Yamasugi, provided detailed explanations, and we even enjoyed horse meat skewers. At noon, we arrived at Kusasenri. Thanks to half the snowfall, we were able to play in the remaining snow on the mountain, which was delightful. After taking the shuttle bus to the crater, we were incredibly lucky – the crater, which was originally closed, was open! However, it immediately closed again after we finished. It was very cold, and the smell was unpleasant, so we wore masks.

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.