The Chojabaru plateau is a lovely stopping off point on the Yamanami Highway midway between Aso and Yufuin in the midst of the Kuju mountains. Famed for the Tadawara Marsh, a Ramsar designated wetland of international importance which is situated on the north west side of the Kuju mountain range. The marshland offers views of Mt Io, an […]
Chojabaru Plateau 長者原 Read More »
With its extensive white sands and crystal-clear emerald-green sea, the completely unspoilt Mogushi Beach is a rarity in Japan. It is one of the most beautiful natural beaches in Kyushu and has a deserved place in Japan’s top 100 beaches. The beach is in an out of the way location only accessible by car or bicycle or after a
Mogushi Beach 茂串海水浴場 Read More »
Amakusa Dolphin Watching In the beautiful blue sea between the Shimabara peninsula and the northern point of the Amakusa Shimoshima Island there lives a pod of around 200 wild Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins. Man and dolphin have long lived in harmony in this area, the dolphins are present year round due to the rich feeding grounds. Their presence
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 »
Oshitoishi Hill 押戸石- Minami Oguni Oshitoishi has the reputation of a powerspot, a group of mysterious standing stones situated on a hill on the pyroclastic flows above the northern caldera edge of the giant Aso caldera. On top of the grassy hillside there is a mysterious line of rocks. The largest is over 10 metres high。 The
Oshitoishi Hill 押戸石の丘 Read More »
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
Noyaki – 野焼 Aso’s Grassland Burning Read More »
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
Mystery spot: Tonkararin トンカラリン 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 »
So what’s the Kumamoto region like in its different seasons? These seasonal photos taken while exploring the region should give you an idea! Summer Autumn Winter Spring
After the hot spring heaven of Kurokawa why not take a trip to Hell? Sparrow Hell – or Suzume Jigoku in Japanese. This is a cold water volcanic sulphur spring, the gas is so powerful it can kill sparrows and even tanuki and fox have been found killed by the fumes…. humans are fine though
Suzume Jigoku Springs すずめ地獄 Read More »
