Takachiho

I was worried about rowing alone, but when I arrived I learned that women can row solo. Unfortunately, buying tickets at the last minute would mean a long wait and exceeding the allotted time. Because other tourists were late for the group meeting, our guide, Seven, ran to get tickets at several points as soon as we got off the bus, showing great care to give us more time. The driver was very smooth, and the ride was comfortable. The scenery at Takachiho Gorge and Cheonangahara was beautiful, and the little train experience was fantastic. We even received a small Takachiho magatama as a souvenir on the return trip. A wonderful day trip, highly recommended!

The scenery is beautiful, a place worth visiting. The itinerary isn't too rushed, so if you've done a lot of walking the day before, this is a good day to relax.

Aside from being a bit rushed, the tour leader was enthusiastic and recommended the sights, and the Wagyu beef was delicious.

Three generations of us rented a 14-seater car to visit Takachiho and Aso, places with inconvenient transportation. We communicated with Vincent via Line beforehand and received prompt replies and suggestions. Our driver, Mr. Liu, was a very steady and friendly driver. Besides fulfilling our itinerary requests, he pointed out popular photo and shopping spots, and even took us to the small train station to help us negotiate tickets. Highly recommended!

Our tour guide, Sun Peng, was very responsible and humorous, providing detailed introductions to each attraction. Since it was a holiday, the journey from Kumamoto was smooth. The guide said we'd have two hours to visit the site and see firsthand the magnificent cliff formations and waterfalls of Takachiho Gorge – it was truly breathtaking! None of us in the family wanted to go boating 😂 So we chose to hike to Takachiho Shrine for our prayers. The mountain scenery along the way was so beautiful that it made us forget the fatigue of the climb. Takachiho Shrine boasts a history of over 1900 years and is home to many towering trees, most notably the sacred Father Cedar and the Couple Trees. At Takachiho Shrine, you can fully immerse yourself in the Japanese atmosphere, absorb phytoncides, draw fortune slips, and pray for good luck. We bought a bunch of amulets to bless ourselves and give to friends. On the way back, we crossed a bridge and saw beautiful scenery. We were so glad we had hiked up. Ueshikimi Kumanozha Shrine was a place I was really looking forward to. It truly was a serene and beautiful place, the setting for the popular anime *Natsume's Book of Friends* and *Hotarubi no Mori e*. With its hundreds of stone lanterns, moss-covered paths, and rock formations, it creates a fantastical atmosphere like another world. The sunlight occasionally filtered through the cedar forest, making it truly dreamy and beautiful. There were also some unmelted snowflakes along the path, adding to its beauty. It was a place I found very beautiful and loved. Due to the helicopter accident at Mount Aso, Mount Aso is still closed. We went to the closest point we could see to view the volcano. 🌋 Smoke was constantly rising from the mountaintop, and there were even cute little snowmen built here. The temperature was quite low and windy, so it got rather chilly after a while. Next stop was Kusasenri, another place to view Mount Aso. I imagined there would be cows and horses on the grasslands, but there wasn't a single one! 😅 The tour guide said they were on winter break. 🤣 Climbing to the top of the mountain allows for a closer view of Mount Aso 🌋, but again, it was very windy and cold at the summit. I took a quick photo and left. The Aso milk I bought there was delicious (I forgot to take a picture 😅). On the way back, the tour guide asked the driver to take us to see the TSMC campus. I was still half asleep, so I didn't take any pictures 😆