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Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine 上色見熊野座神社

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 […]

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Takachiho and Aso Tour

Takachiho and Aso Tour The Takachiho and Aso tour  combines two of Kyushu’s top destinations. The unforgettable Takachiho Gorge and Mt Aso the name given to the breathtaking Aso caldera.  Within the vast caldera lies a chain of volcanoes and Mt Nakadake; the only active volcano in Japan where you have the chance to visit the

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Dolphin watching Amakusa Explore Kumamoto

Dolphin watching

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

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Ama No Yasukawara Cave 天安河原

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

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Kusasenri Plateau 草千里

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

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Daikanbo viewpoint 大観峰

Daikanbo Viewpoint The name given to the prime viewpoint of Aso, from here dramatic 360 degree views reveal the panoramic expanse of the whole caldera and the rolling grasslands behind. On a clear day this point gives you the best views of ‘Nehanzo’, the sleeping buddha, its silhouette formed by the central 5 peaks of Mount Aso. If the conditions are right you may see the buddha

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kurokawa onsen nabagataki falls tour

Nabegataki Falls 鍋ケ滝

  If you are visiting Kurokawa Onsen, Aso or just a fan of waterfalls put the Nabegataki Falls high on your list to see. Only recently discovered as a tourist location, the fall itself is a wide sheet of water; though not particularly high at 10 meters it makes up for it with  a width of around 20

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Kumamoto weather snow in Aso

Nakadake Mount Aso’s active volcano

The title Mount Aso Volcano is a little misleading as the whole central mountain range within the Aso caldera is comprised of volcanos, fortunately only one is still active. Mt. Nakadake – Mount Aso’s active volcano  Nakadake long worshipped as a powerful god, the active volcano at the center of Mount Aso is a rarity, not only does

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