Kyushu Kumamoto & Takachiho Gorge 2-Day Trip (Accommodation Not Included)

DAY1: Visit Kumamoto Castle, one of Japan's three famous castles. Although it has experienced earthquakes, the restored castle tower is still magnificent. You can admire the "Musha-gaeshi" stone walls designed by Kiyomasa Kato and feel the castle-building wisdom of the Sengoku warlords. You can watch the white smoke constantly spewing from the Mt. Naka-dake crater up close (depending on the gas concentration on the day) and feel the pulse of the earth. Stroll through the vast Kusasenri and, if you are lucky, you can see cattle and horses grazing. Stop by the Aso Roadside Station to buy local specialties.

DAY2: Step into a real-life version of "Hotarubi no Mori e" (To the Forest of Fireflies' Light). Stroll along the moss-covered torii-lined approach, and explore the mysterious Kamitoiwa (a large hole kicked through by the legendary Oni Hachiho-shi), a mysterious place perfect for taking pictures. Ama-no-Iwato Shrine: This is the cave where "Amaterasu Omikami," the sun goddess in Japanese mythology, hid, and it is divided into East and West Main Shrines. On the riverbank where eight million gods are said to have gathered in legend, you can make a wish by stacking stones by hand, which is said to be very effective. Enjoy Takachiho Gorge, a V-shaped gorge formed by volcanic eruptions, and visit the Manai Falls (one of Japan's 100 best waterfalls).