Hassaku Festival creations If you are interested in art and traditional crafts in Japan then while you are in Kyushu definitely make time to visit Yamato town to see the Hassaku Festival creations. These amazing objects, made entirely of natural materials, are created each year and paraded through town during the Hassaku Festival. Once the […]
Unique Hassaku Festival creations of Yamato town Read More »
Summers in Japan are hot and humid so heading to a river to splash around or take a swim is one of the best ways to cool down and stay sane. Unfortunately, though there are plenty of rivers around it can be really difficult to find a safe swimming spot with clean water, parking and
Senjoukawara swimming spot 千畳河原 Read More »
Kamishikimi Kumano-imasu Shrine If you only have time to visit one shrine in the Aso area, visit the one with the longest name. Kamishikimi Kumano-imasu Shrine is definitely worth the journey even if you’re not a huge fan of shrines. Situated a few kilometres from Takamori Town in Minami Aso, Kumamoto Prefecture, this once little
Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine 上色見熊野座神社 Read More »
Tucked away in the foothills of Mount Waita, within sight of the Oita border, lies the little known Waita onsen area, a collection of six small onsen resorts. This is a remarkable area, everywhere you look you will see, smell and hear the violently gushing steam and bubbling vents. These puncture the ground and fill the skies
Waita Onsen わいた温泉郷 Read More »
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
Ikeyama Springs 池山水源 Read More »
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
Kokuzo Shrine and the great Teno cedar tree 国造神社 Read More »
One of the most popular activities to do in Takachiho Gorge is to rent out a rowing boat and experience the gorge from the water. Boats cost 4,000 or 5,000 Yen and seat 3 people or 4 if there is a small child, the boats are rented out for 30 minutes, which is just long enough to row to the
Takachiho Boating 高千穂峡ボート Read More »
Ama No Yasukawara Cave From the Ama No Iwato Shrine take a 10-minute walk along the Iwato River, past many delicious looking icecream stalls, descend a steepish path over a simple, arched bridge into the river valley, follow the river path for a few minutes and rounding a corner you will suddenly come to a vast cavern by the river. This
Ama No Yasukawara Cave 天安河原 Read More »
Just over the border into Miyazaki Prefecture, the romantic Takachiho Gorge winds its way through the sleepy town of Takachiho. The gorge was formed from the pyroclastic flow of the Aso volcanos, when sudden cooling led to dramatic columnar formations and sheer cliffs that rise above the river between 80 to 100 m high. At the
Takachiho Gorge 高千穂峡 Read More »
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
Kusasenri Plateau 草千里 Read More »
