Things to do in Daikanbo

it’s a very good experience and easy to get into the place with lots of fun knowledge. the tour guide arranged the timing well and didn’t waste any of the time waiting anything. so I will highly recommend to join the tour if you don’t want to drive yourself from other places.

It was a truly impressive trip. I was the only English speaker, but the guide. Zhu Zhu, took good care of me, ensuring I fully understood everything about the tour. The experience far exceeded my expectations.

This project is a highly valuable and worthwhile itinerary. I had originally read online that Kumamoto Castle might be closed for maintenance, but luckily, we were able to visit! The ginkgo and cherry trees were truly beautiful. The timing was just right; if you want to eat and shop, you need to move quickly and take fewer photos to have a chance to try everything. The tempura was incredibly delicious and a must-try; it was sold alongside the bear-shaped cakes, and both were tasty and adorable. Aso Volcano, however, was a shame... we couldn't visit due to a red alert, which was the only disappointment. Our tour guide mentioned that it's very rare for Aso Volcano to be on a green alert, and even they couldn't predict the timing. The scenery was truly beautiful. Oh, and definitely bring a windbreaker! We thought it wouldn't be cold, but we were absolutely freezing. You should also try the coffee, and if you want to experience buying a lucky bag in Japan, you can grab one. The lucky bags contain a selection of the store's key items, so if you don't want to pick out souvenirs, you can just buy a lucky bag; it has plenty of things to give as gifts! It's excellent value for money, though it did rain a few times and disrupted things. There's also a supermarket where you should definitely buy things if you can. The Aso Musume strawberries are very popular, but they are incredibly sweet and delicious, not sour at all, with a fragrant strawberry aroma. There are other varieties of strawberries too, and the prices are all fantastic!

Because transportation and timing for Mt. Aso and Takachiho are a bit inconvenient, I joined a one-day tour. Our guide, Jiang Cui, was enthusiastic and friendly. We went in June 2026 during the rainy season, so it was definitely raining in the mountains, which unfortunately made the scenery less beautiful. The first stop was the Takachiho Gorge Railway station (where disposable raincoats were sold). Next, there was a hiking trail to see the gorge, leading to the shuttle bus pick-up point (remember to take an earlier shuttle back to the original starting point for the group, don't try to walk back) (the shuttle is a 9-seater van, only one at a time). There was an old lady selling hot mochi and ice cream there, which were quite good. If you like any of the local specialties sold there, you should buy them then, as they might not be available on the way back down the mountain. The next stop was Takachiho Shrine to see the enormous sacred trees. Finally, we arrived at the Kusasenri rest stop. The second floor here sells full meals (very expensive), while the first floor has local specialties and a coffee shop. Again, if you like something, buy it, as some cookies are exclusive to this store. Overall, the timing of the tour was well-managed, and we didn't feel rushed when taking photos. I'm not sure if the driver had a set working time for the day, but it felt like he drove quite fast throughout the trip.

Our tour guide 배태권 was absolutely amazing! He’s friendly and fluent in English, Japanese and Korean. He took photos for us enthusiastically every time and would check with us to see if we liked them. As the only Chinese couple in the group, he took extra good care of us.

The tour guide was wonderful and went around picking everyone up because they were worried we might get lost. Since the group was small, they provided a van, and as soon as we got in with our travel pillows, we fell right asleep. Because we left early, the weather at Takachiho Gorge was lovely when we arrived, and we got to try flowing somen noodles and local cuisine for the first time. This tour was the only one that went to Daikanbo. The wind was so strong it made my eyes water. My favorite place was Kurokawa Onsen, where I managed to squeeze in a cave bath for just 400 yen. The whole town is gorgeous. Staying overnight is too expensive, so a day trip is definitely more cost-effective.

Compared to other itineraries, the cost is higher, but it's very convenient to visit most famous attractions in a single day. The weather is crucial when visiting attractions, and on this trip, the sun was very strong. Although it was hot, the overall scenery and views were excellent.

Our itinerary for this trip was: starting from Tenjin city center ➡️ Itoshima Hana Shio Pudding ➡️ Meoto Iwa (Wedded Rocks) at Futamigaura ➡️ Tsukamoto Fish Market ➡️ Miyajidake Shrine ➡️ Munakata Shrine. The driver was very thoughtful! His service attitude was incredibly friendly! He even recommended a delicious seafood restaurant, which my family also thoroughly enjoyed 👍🏽 The car was clean and tidy, and the entire journey went smoothly and perfectly 💯

The one-day tour from Kumamoto was very pleasant, and we were part of a small group of 7 people. The scenery at Kamishikimi Kumano-imasu Shrine was beautiful, the views in Kugino were expansive, and Kurokawa Onsen was also impressive; two hours there felt just right. Our tour guide, Ge Ning, was very friendly, and the driver was also thoughtful, dropping off and picking up passengers at convenient locations.