Explore Kumamoto

Noyaki – 野焼 Aso’s Grassland Burning

Noyaki – the burning of the grasslands If you visit the Aso area in late February or March you might be surprised to find the lush green grasslands you saw in all the photos scorched and blackened. Don’t worry a war has not broken out it’s only the yearly Noyaki. Noyaki season Noyaki takes place from mid […]

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Aso Sankinkotai Road 豊後街道 二重峠石畳

Aso Sankinkotai Road Walk Parts of an ancient highway dating from the end of the 16th century still remain in the Aso region, this short walk takes you from the village of Akamizu (Redwater) up to the top of the caldera wall and back down again. The route follows the path the Kumamoto lords and their huge retinues

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ancient burial mounds

Kumamoto Ancient Burial Mound Museum 熊本県立装飾古墳館

Ancient Burial Mound Museum The Kumamoto Prefectural Ancient Burial Mound museum in Yamaga celebrates the many and various decorated tumuli of Kumamoto.  A tumulus is an ancient burial mound, there are approximately 200,000 of these burial mounds scattered  over Japan all dating back from 400 to 700 AD. The era when these tumulus were built

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nagomi, kumamoto

Mystery spot: Tonkararin トンカラリン

Tonkararin   If you love a good mystery – or dark, narrow spaces! – , then you are bound to be intrigued by Tonkararin. The many questions surrounding Tonkararin  serve to make the site more interesting and you cannot help but come up with your own theories as you explore. Tonkararin is so mysterious it’s hard to know how

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Explore Kumamoto

Ikeyama Springs 池山水源

Ikeyama Springs Of all the springs I’ve visited in the Aso area, the Ikeyama Springs one has the biggest wow factor. Possibly because I visited in early February and to come across this lush green oasis in the middle of winter was something special. Situated a few km north of the tiny village of Ubuyama, off Route 11 on

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Explore Kumamoto

Kokuzo Shrine and the great Teno cedar tree 国造神社

Kokuzo Shrine Tucked away in the shade of the caldera wall in the hamlet of Teno you will find the Kokuzo Shrine 国造神社. Situated only 6 km north of the better known Aso Shrine if you have time the Kokuzo shrine is definitely worth a detour. Why visit? Primarily because here you can see the remains

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