Kuju Sights & Flower Park Tour

•  Gaze down at one of the world’s biggest and most beautiful volcanic caldera at the Daikanbo viewpoint
• Walk over Japan’s largest pedestrian suspension bridge at Kokonoe Yume Ohashi
•  Take a relaxing nature walk in the heart of the Kuju mountains at Chojabaru 
•  Enjoy a multitude of seasonal flower displays with an alpine backdrop at the Kuju Flower Park
• Small group tour with dedicated transport
• Highly rated, friendly and informative English speaking guide
• Flexible itinerary – Can be customised to go hiking in the Kuju mountains or watch a Drum Tao performance – one of Japan’s top Taiko drumming groups at their amazing outdoor stage

Kuju Sights & Flower Park Tour Sample Itinerary:

Timings are approximate and the schedule and itinerary order may change according to the weather and time constraints. 

*If you’d like a more active experience including more hiking or without the flower park or suspension bridge it is also possible to customise the tour schedule if you request a private tour or are the only participants, there may be extra charges for this. Contact us to find out more.

Timings are approximate and the itinerary order may change due to the weather conditions

09:00 Meet up with your guide in front of Higo Ozu Station (you can take the 08:15 train from Kumamoto City to Higo Ozu station)

We take a scenic 45 minute drive up to Daikanbo, the highest point on the northern caldera rim along Aso’s famous Milk Road.

09:40 Daikanbo Viewpoint – Take a relaxing walk to the tip of this peninsula which sticks out of the caldera edge. Daikanbo is the highest point on the northern caldera edge and from here you can see panoramic views of the Aso caldera below, the caldera rim and smoking Mount Aso in the distance and if you are very, very lucky you may even get to see the ‘Unkai –  Sea of Cloud’ 

10:45 Chojabaru Plateau & Tadewara  We continue our drive up into the Kuju Mountains to first visit the high altitude Chojabaru Plateau, surrounded by mountain scenery here we can take a relaxing 30 minute boardland walk over the Tadewara Marsh, a Ramsar protected unique wetland habitat and through the woodlands at the base of the mountains with views, and sometimes smells, of the gently steaming live volcano of Mt. Io.

11:30 Kokonoe Yume Suspension Bridge We then head a little further through the mountain range to visit the Kokonoe Yume Suspension Bridge, the largest pedestrian suspension bridge in Japan crossing a deep river valley and offering  views of one of Japan’s top waterfalls, wonderful spring and autumn foliage and refreshing breezes in the summer time.

12:45 Lunch We stop at a local restaurant for lunch then head to Kuju Flower Park.

14:00 Kuju Flower Park Free time to explore and enjoy the Kuju Flower Park. The park offers stunning seasonal displays of over 500 varieties of flowers against the backdrop of Kuju and Aso mountain views. You will also find speciality shops and cafes.

16:15  Return trip taking the famous Yamanami Highway (Route 11) making a short stop off at a unique and very quirky roadside topiary spot, there’s also a fruit market and a variety of small animals including deer

17:30 Arrive back at Higo Ozu Station

Pick Up and Drop Off Point: The tour begins and ends from Higo Ozu Station   a short train ride from Kumamoto City. For private tours a customised pick up can usually be arranged from Aso or Kurokawa Onsen please contact us to find out more.

Tour Availability : Late March to late November 

Find out what seasonal flowers are on display

Tour Duration: 1 Day – 09:00 – 17:30 (8.5 hours)

No of People: Minimum 1 to maximum 6 

Activity level: Gentle, suitable for all fitness levels, the tour involves some walking but mostly on gentle slopes or flat ground, wheel chairs and pushchairs are available to borrow at Kuju Flower Park.

Tour Inclusions:

English Guide fees, transport, parking fees, entrance to Kuju Flower Park and Kokonoe Yume Ohashi bridge

Tour Exclusions:

Lunch is not included as standard but please let us know if you have any special dietary requirements so we can make sure there is a restaurant that’s suitable.

Weather: Depending on the weather forecast the itinerary may take place the opposite way round to ensure we can get the best views possible.  If the forecast is for heavy rain all day we will either offer you the chance to cancel or to change to a different tour itinerary.

Drop off: The drop off is at Higo Ozu station around 17:30. Trains back to Kumamoto City run approximately every 20 minutes.

A drop off in the Aso or Kurokawa Onsen area may also be possible with advance booking. Please contact us with your hotel details to find out

Kuju Sights & Flower Park Tour Standard Price                                               

1 person –         38,000 Yen

2 to 3 people – 18,000 Yen per person                     

4 to 6 people – 17,000 Yen per person

Price includes entrance to the Kuju Flower Park and Yume Ohashi suspension bridge

These prices refer to the total number of people on a tour. So if you book a tour for 1 person and no-one else joins then your price is 38,000 yen, if 2 more people join then your price is 18,000 Yen per person etc.                                       

Family discounts available. (Please contact us with your children’s ages to find out more)

All tours are paid for in cash on the day, no deposit is required.

Kuju Mountains

The Kuju mountains are located in the north of the Aso Kuju National Park. Nicknamed the ‘rooftop of Kyushu’ the volcanic peaks reach heights of over 1700m. They also form the boundary between Kumamoto and Oita prefectures. Kuju is  a popular hiking area and like Aso has an active volcano, Mt Io (Sulphur Mountain). Kuju like Aso also has beautiful grasslands and Alpine landscapes.

Kuju Flower Park

The Kuju Flower Park, or Kuju Hana Kouen くじゅう花公園, offers seasonal displays of over 3 million flowers in 500 different varieties from spring to late autumn. The park covers 49 acres of the beautiful Kuju plateau, the Kuju mountain range and Mt Aso making a stunning alpine back drop 

Kokonoe Yume Suspension Bridge

The Kokonoe ‘Yume’ Otsurihashi　九重夢大吊橋　is Japan’s largest pedestrian suspension bridge.

The bridge offers marvellous views of one of Japan’s top 100 waterfalls. The graceful span hangs above the deep Kyusui ravine at a height of 173 m above the river valley floor. With a length of 390 m and an altitude of 777 m, this is a bridge to remember.　Set on the edge of the magnificent Kuju Mountain range on a clear day you will also be rewarded with views across to the gently smoking active volcano.

There are three waterfalls to view collectively known as the Shindo Falls, they comprise the ‘child’ falls, Ko-daki, the ‘female’ falls,  Me-daki and the ‘male’ falls, O-daki, the male falls is the most dramatic falling over 88 m and renowned as one of Japan’s top 100 falls.

Chojabaru Plateau

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 active volcano which last erupted in the 1990’s and the three domed Mt. Mimata both of which have hiking courses starting from Chojabaru.

The Tadawara Marsh is a basin shaped wetland formed by the volcanic activity from the last glacial period of about 15,000 years ago to around 6,500 years ago. Grit carried by the Shiramizu river running through the marsh and marsh sediments created an intermediate moor. The wetlands were created through rainfall collecting in the basin and underground springs creating a special environment for a variety of plants and wildlife. In order to maintain the vegetation and to prevent the forest from spreading, the local people conduct a controlled burning in the meadow every spring.

 Daikanbo Viewpoint

Daikanbo; the highest point on the northern caldera edge with the best panoramic views of the Aso caldera. From the caldera rim you can see the valleys below and the smoking Nakadake volcano in the distance.  You may even get to see the ‘Unkai –  Sea of Cloud’ when the caldera fills with cloud and the mountains appear to float above it. There is also a shop offering local specialities, souvenirs and refreshments.