Kusasenri
The view of Kusasenri is one of the iconic scenes of Kumamoto; a vast emerald green grassland plateau with peacefully grazing cows and horses reflected in the still crater ponds on the top of the central peaks of Aso.
The name Kusasenri 草千里 means a thousand leagues of grass and the peaceful vista today belies its violent history. Standing on the plateau it’s amazing to think you are actually standing on top of two vast craters with magma boiling away just a couple of thousand meters below. The craters were filled in with ash and pumice over thousands of years and many eruptions from the nearby Nakadake peak and now form a plateau in front of the Eboshi dake peak. After heavy rain a couple of small lakes often appear and the horses that roam freely after their working hours have finished enjoy wading through.
The plateau can be reached from Aso Station by bus or car, taking roughly 30 minutes. As you reach the plateau there is a free roadside parking area which offers amazing views down into the caldera floor and a great vantage point to admire the small green cone of Kusasenri. (the roadside view pint is currently under repair after it was damaged in the earthquakes) Looking the other way you will see the panorama of Kusasenri with its lush green grass and large ponds backed by Mount Eboshi, further in the distance the a stunning view of the smoking crater of Nakadake, one of the most active volcanos in the world, can be clearly seen.
Drive a couple of hundred meters down to the plateau itself and you will find a large parking area lined with several slightly run down restaurants and souvenir shops. Here you will also find the ‘missable’ and overpriced Volcano museum. The best thing to do here is not shop but explore, there are two easily accessible hiking routes you can take. One takes you on a loop around Kusasenri up to the peak of Mount Eboshi at 1337m taking just under 2 hours. The other goes from the far end of the carpark up to the peak of Mount Kishimadake (1321m) and back in a loop and is a slightly shorter hike of about 90 mins. If you want to extend the hike there is also a detour up to see a couple of small crater lakes. Ask for a hiking map from the information desk in the entrance to the Volcano museum.
Travel Advice
If travelling by bus go first to the ropeway area to see the Nakadake crater up close then either take the bus or walk back to Kusasenri.
Check the bus times for your return journey before heading off on a hike.
The weather can be considerably cooler, wetter and windier on the peaks, so come prepared. If hiking proper footwear is advised, parts of the paths are scree and it can be slippy in places.
If the weather is terrible then a visit to the Volcano Museum is a better way to spend your time and money than a visit to the Aso Super Ring experience up at the Ropeway Station. Save 100 Yen by buying a ticket to the Museum at the tourist information kiosk at Aso Station first. The museum is almost charmingly dated and many exhibits have a home made feel. The highlight is the panoramic film of Aso shot over the four seasons – back in the bubble economy days when people went skiing up on the plateau. There are also live video cameras feeding back images of the current state of the volcano.
If the weather’s good, it’s a lovely spot for a picnic. Pick up some food at the Michi No Eki farmer’s market near Aso Station.
A trip to Kusasenri is included in Explore Kumamoto’s Around Aso Tour, click for details or contact us with your enquiry.
[codepeople-post-map]