Aso

Thanks to Miya for her detailed explanations and attentive service throughout the trip, and to driver Mako-san for her smooth and safe driving. Ample time was allocated at each stop. If you're not driving yourself, this would be a great trip to visit several Aso attractions.

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.

We decided to visit the zoo on a whim and found that buying tickets on KKday was the most cost-effective option. We bought tickets directly on-site through KKday and immediately received a QR code to redeem at the counter – perfect for entry! If you're bringing children, this is a great zoo for them, as there are many animals whose food can be purchased on-site for feeding, which made the kids very happy!

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