Aso Tour
1.Places
When we talk about Aso, it is not a single mountain, but it is the huge caldera including extensive grassland, beautiful mountains with one active volcano, farmland and residential areas. It is one of the largest calderas in the world, the total area of 380km2, the diameter of 18km east-west and 25km north-south, covered with the rim which forms a gently-sloping pyroclastic plateau of 900m above sea level. The circumference is more than 120 km. This unique geography was formed by the several huge eruptions occurred 270,000 ～9,000 years ago. You will be intrigued by the grandeur and beauty of this caldera. This area is also designated as UNESCO’s Global Geopark.
(1) Minami Aso Road Station
Located in the southern part of Aso caldera, this road station sells seasonal local crops and processed foods. You will also enjoy the spacious wooden deck offering fanastic views of the southern slopes of Aso mountains.
We will make a first stop here in the morning.
(2) Kamishikimi Kumano Imasu Shrine
Photo lovers must visit this shrine because here is the very famous instagrammable sight. The shrine building is located in the middle of the hill, eastern edge of the caldera rim. About 100 dedicated lanterns are placed on either side of the path, producing a mysterious atmosphere.
On top of the hill at the back of the building, there is a big windhole. According to Aso's legend, the servant of the pioneering god of Aso kicked the huge rock called Ugetoiwa, and made a big hole of 10m wide and high. Making a windhole in a stone is a very tough work, so that people believe it is the symbol that can achieve any difficult goals.
(3) Nakadake Crater
Nakadake is the mountain located in the center of Aso caldera along with 4 other beautiful mountains, and is the only one active volcano. It is amazing that people can come close to the edge of this active crater by car and look into it. There is a crater lake with the beautiful color of emerald green.
The activity of this volcano is always monitored and the crater area is sometime closed for security reasons. Even though we are not allowed to reach the edge of the crater, we are sure you will be moved to feel the dynamism of the earth by looking at the fuming of this volcano from a distance.
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(4) Kusasenri Grassland
Kusasenri is a huge grassland area, located at the upper part of Aso mountains, 1,100 meter above sea level. It literally means the grassland of thousand miles. Here was originally a double crater in which the crater of about 400 meter was produced inside a crater of about 1km in diameter. This extensive grassland with 2 ponds allows you to forget about time and relax in the idyllic scenery.
We can also observe the fuming Nakadake from here and feel the dynamism of the earth.
(5) Komezuka
Komezuka is located on the way driving down from the top of mountainous area, and was shaped most recently among mountains in Aso (about 3,000 years ago!). Although it is only about 80 meters high, it is such an instagrammable sight because of its beautiful cone shape as if you turned a bowl down. It is also covered with only grass, no tree.
Just before spring starts, dried grass of this mountain is totally burned in order to keep its beautiful surface covered with green grass like other grassland in Aso every year.
(6) Daikanbo Observatory
Daikanbo is the observatory located in the northern edge of Aso caldera. Here is a fantastic lookout site that allows you to command Aso mountains and surrounding vast grassland. The shape of Aso mountains looks like the Buddha reclining in the extensive grassland. You will be overwhelmed by this breathtaking and mysterious view.
(7) Driving through extensive Pastureland
When we move from one spot to another in Aso, we drive through pastureland and encounter a lot of cows and horses. You will feel so comfortable and relaxed while looking at slowly moving cows and horses in the vast pastureland.
A cow representing Aso is called “Red Cow”, although it is brown colored. About 7,000 red cows are grazed here from spring to autumn. A grown one weighs about 600kg, and eats 60 kg grass a day, 10% of its weight.
2.Timetable
(duration: 8.5 hours)
09:00 pickup in Kumamoto
10:00～16:00 Aso
Minami Aso Road Station
Kamishikimi Shrine
lunch
Nakadake Crater
Kusasenri Grassland
Komezuka
Daikanbo Observatory
17:30 farewell in Kumamoto
3.Price
(1) Guiding fee: 7,000 yen per person
(2) Transportation: shared by tour member
* Big group discount and children discount are available. Please make contact with us.
* Lunch and admission fees are not included above.
4.Lunch
* As for lunch, we prepare a traditional handmade lunch box. If the weather is fine, we can eat outside. Please refer to "Special Treat" tag.