Departure from Aso: Historical Pilgrimage of the Sekichaya Ruins on the Futae Pass Bungo Road, Edo Period Sankin-kotai

Knowledgeable local guides with expertise in Aso will explain the fascinating story of Aso's caldera from its birth to the present day, covering various aspects such as volcanoes, geology, history, culture, and faith in an easy-to-understand manner. Stroll along the descending stone path on the outer rim of the northern caldera, and set foot on the caldera's land to truly experience the scale of the world's largest caldera. On the caldera land where people have lived for over 2000 years, explore spots related to Aso's history, culture, and faith. Enjoy yogurt and desserts nurtured by the Aso grasslands during your trip for an afternoon tea time.

The walking tour starts from Futae-toge Pass, which offers a panoramic view of the Aso caldera and the majestic active volcano, Mount Aso. The trail we will take is the old Bungo Road, which connects Kumamoto (Higo Province) and Tokyo (Edo) and has a history of over 400 years. It is an ancient path leading to the grassland area on the outer edge of the caldera.

The walking tour route descends from the stone-paved Futae-toge Pass to the Ishi-chaya ruins, then proceeds to "Tekishi" to explore the story of the mythical stone, and finally to Uchimaki Onsen. Experience a historical pilgrimage as if traveling through a time tunnel, imagining the lord of the Higo domain leading a large procession to Edo.