Kusasenri

The scenery at Kusasenri and Kamishimi Kumano Shrine was absolutely stunning and incredibly photogenic. Although it rained when we arrived at Kurokawa Onsen, we still managed to enjoy delicious cream puffs. Our tour guide, Mr. Sun Peng, was incredibly warm and polite. He not only introduced the historical and cultural background of the attractions but also reminded the group members of the meeting times in the group chat, making the trip very smooth. He even gave us recommendations for local restaurants. Thank you so much! 🙏

This trip to the mountains was perfect for a few days of independent travel with elders. Transportation was convenient and the guide was very helpful! It saved us the trouble of finding transportation or planning the itinerary. The weather was also fantastic on the day of our trip to Kusanagi Senri, and we even got to experience horseback riding! The Aso boy's ticket was given to us right after boarding, and we managed to snag a front-row seat! We were very lucky.

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.

The driver was very friendly, the car was clean, and the tourist attractions' safety precautions were explained.

The itinerary was fantastic, and the tour guide service was excellent! Definitely worth going again! It was so beautiful – delicious ice cream and stunning views!