After a week of cold temperatures and below-average weather back in March, we finally had a bright sunny day with a clear blue sky. You know the kind of day - where the air is cool and crisp and you can actually feel the sun's pitiful warmth tingling on your face. In the space of just a week it went from single digits temperatures, surviving by never straying too far from the Kotatsu, to being outside in a T-shirt with the temperature in the low 20s!
With it also being peak Sakura cherry blossom season, we piled into the car with the in-laws and took a 1.5 hour drive, traversing the expanse of farm land that separates Kumamoto City from the Kyushu mountains. We stopped to grab some Bento lunch boxes before heading up and into the Mt Aso Caldera, and then onto Miniamiaso.
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| Sakura (Cherry Blossom) |
Mt Aso is the largest active Volcano in Japan and one of the largest in the world. Most clear days you can see it smoldering away in some shape or form just to remind everyone that it's still alive. As a result of some major eruptions a few hundred thousands of years ago, the Caldera was formed, creating a rather large crater with the group of mountains in the centre. If it is your first time to Mt Aso, there are a lot of epic places to visit on and around the mountain that I'll tell you about another time. This day trip was off the usual beaten path.
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| Mt Aso viewed from near Takamori |
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| Mt Nekodake viewed from near Takamori |
Our destination for the day, Minamiaso, is on the southern side of the Caldera. 'Minami' literally meaning South. Unlike the larger and more heavily populated region on the North side of Mt Aso that includes Aso City, where it is quite apparent you really are in the Caldera thanks to the large expanses of flat land ringed by the caldera walls, Minamiaso feels much more like you are simply in a pleasant valley, with the Mountain group on one side and rugged green hills on the other.
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| Minamiaso area highlighted in the Mt Aso Caldera |
Minamiaso Sakura Kouen
Aside from going to Minamiaso to view Cherry Blossoms I had no idea where we were headed, so it was much to my surprise when we arrived at a live music venue called ASPECTA. This must be one of the most idyllic settings you will ever find to watch live music. A huge lawn sprawling down the hillside looking towards the stage, with the Mt Aso mountains as the backdrop. Stunning.
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| ASPECTA outdoor music venue with Mt Aso behind |
That wasn't where we were visiting technically, it just happens to be on the same grounds as the Minamiaso Sakura Kouen (Minamiaso Cherry blossom Park). The park consists simply of sprawling hills covered in Cherry Blossom trees, with great views toward Mt Aso.
We enjoyed a nice picnic with our Bento Boxes before taking a stroll around. Not much else to say other than a perfect place on a perfect day at the perfect time of year. Pictures speak a thousand words as they say!
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| A nice spot for lunch |
Takamori Yusui Tunnel Park
From there we headed further east to the other end of the valley to Takamori, a small village located where you would exit the Caldera at the South East corner to head toward Miyazaki prefecture. A place I wanted to revisit was the Takamori Yusui Tunnel park.
Takamori Tunnel park is an odd place indeed. You approach along a stream with various water features and concrete walls rising in height on either side, leading your eyes toward the tunnel entrance in the near distance.
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| Takamori Tunnel Park |
The History behind the tunnels origins are quite interesting. It was supposed to be a railway tunnel. They built the approach infrastructure and then tunneled 2km into the hillside, but upon discovering an underground river the project was eventually abandoned in 1980. The river is what now flows out of the tunnel. If you look at the map below you can see the existing railway line and the pretty clear straight line of where it would have gone into the hillside to exit the Caldera. The original plan was to join with the Takachiho line, 23km away across the central Kyushu mountains, thus completing a route from Kumamoto to Nobeoka on the opposite coast.
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| Takamori railway and proposed tunnel direction |
At the entrance to the tunnel you pay the entrance fee (around 300 Yen for an adult) and simply walk into the Tunnel. It's very roomy inside and gives no feelings of claustrophobia. There are pathways either side, with water constantly running down the centre. 550m of the 2km Tunnel is open to the Public, and throughout the year you will see bright and colorful displays, often contributed to by local schools and the community. There are little side tunnels also with other unique displays. Incidentally the tunnel is a constant 17C all year round, so a good place to visit on one of those unbearably hot summer days.
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| Inside Takamori Tunnel Park, the decorations change throughout the tunnel and year. |
Aso Farm Land
There are a few animal related attractions dotted around the Mt Aso area. The Animal Kingdom at Aso Farm land is probably our favourite.
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| The entrance to Aso Farm Land |
Aso farmland is actually a huge complex with many attractions and facilities that could make for an extended stay. It's like a health and wellness theme park, sort of. We go for the 'Animal Kingdom' petting zoo, but aside from that, the facilities and attractions include:
- Restaurants and souvenir shops
- Accommodation in the Dome Village
- Spa facilities with various experiences
- Hot Springs
- Health focused activities for all ages including fun obstacle courses for children
- Experience-focused activities involving animals and crafts
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| A Map of Aso farm land and it's facilities |
The Animal Kingdom is a delightful little petting Zoo. Cost is around 900 Yen per Adult, 600 Yen for over 3's. I think it is a bit steep for the size of the place if you were going to visit more than once, but if it's your one and only visit then well worth it.
There are around 35 different types of Animal, many of which you can get up close and personal with, without supervision and in a way that you often don't get to experience elsewhere. You will see Beavers, Capybara, Mara, Tortoises and Flamingos just roaming around. Last time we were here I saw an Iguana, a Macaw and a Beaver all hanging out together under a bench!
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| The Capybara are very chill and open to receiving pats |
There are other animals inside the small domed buildings as well, such as Mice, Guinea Pigs, Chinchillas, Owls and even snakes. The Squirrel monkeys are particularly fun if you buy them some meal worms to feed - you'll have many small hands frantically thrusting through the cage mesh trying to get their treats from you!
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| Feeding Flamingos, this boy was Brave as they aren't too friendly |
It really is a great little place if you love animals and want some hands on experiences. Even better for the kids too. I think next time with our Daughter being a bit older she will like it even more, and we can look at doing some of the other activities as well.
How to get there
From Kumamoto Station it is around a 1 hour drive to reach Tateno, the gateway to the Mt Aso Caldera. From there it is around another 45 minutes total driving to visit the 3 places that we did. You can get to the area by train and it is just as fast as driving, however the Minamiaso railway won't get you anywhere near many of the attractions in the area. However it is supposedly a very nice and popular railway line for tourists, I'll let you know when we do it!
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| Driving to Aso from Kumamoto |
In Closing
Thank you for reading about our little alternative day trip to the Mount Aso area. There is just so much to do for everyone, all with incredible views too. It is definitely an area worth exploring more or again if you are able to!
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