Mt. Aso & Takachiho Gorge Full-Day Guided Exploration

Most people join this tour for the helicopter experience. The one-hour stop at Kumamoto Castle is not enough time to explore it properly. You can take photos of the castle tower from a distance and then eat and buy souvenirs at Josaien. The raw horse meat is quite unique, costing ¥600 for two pieces. The helicopter ticket price is shown in the picture, but remember that you still need to buy a zoo ticket for ¥2000 per person. The animals' living spaces in the zoo are very small... It seems their main source of income is the helicopter rides... Many of the black bears exhibit stereotypical behaviors. On the day of my visit, the volcanic smoke was heavy due to strong winds, so we couldn't do the full circle tour. However, because there's a timer, the pilot still flew for a certain amount of time, so we saw other areas. The staff will help you take photos. The pilot plus the number of passengers is limited to 4 people. The caldera of Aso Mountain is a beautiful turquoise color and the scenery is magnificent. Later, the minibus drove us directly to Mount Naka to experience the crater up close. Be careful of the pungent smoke and don't stay too long. Everyone in our group was coughing afterwards... Next, we went to buy Aso milk and soft-serve ice cream, which were rich and delicious. The soft-serve ice cream with a cone cost ¥550 and the milk cost ¥280. Kusasenri was bare and yellow because it was winter, so we didn't take any special photos. Also, the stops at each location were very short, so it was mostly a whirlwind tour. The tour guide, Ms. Wang, will contact you via WhatsApp beforehand. If you provided your phone number, remember to check it. The minibus seats 12 people and the space is quite small, but the driver drives smoothly, so if you are prone to motion sickness, remember to take medication beforehand. Ms. Wang basically serves as a timer, reminding us of the stop times and when to get back on the bus. Everyone was sleeping on the bus. If you just want to see Kumamoto Castle and the crater + experience the helicopter ride in one day, you can buy this tour. I don't think it makes much difference whether the tour guide speaks Chinese, Japanese, or English, and almost all of the Chinese-speaking tour guides are of Chinese descent... The members of this tour were all from Hong Kong and Taiwan, so... decide for yourself.

The tour guide Ms. Li Hua was really nice and took care every guests. The time spent at each scenic spot is well controlled. Ms. Li Hua keep track of the Aso volcano crater closely. She adjusted the itinerary to head for Aso volcano first instead of Kusasenri when she saw that all zones were fully opened to public to view the crater. She also offered to take photos at the attraction which I really appreciate! By the time we reach Kusasenri, it was the time when the horses run wild in the grassland at 3pm. The view is mesmerising. I wish that we have more time spent at the crater and Kusasenri! Thank you tour guide and driver, Ms. Li Shi and Mr. Bai Shi for their hard work.

It is difficult to visit the scenic spots. It is more cost-effective than chartering a car. I like small groups and better quality. The small van is stable and easy to sleep in. It is clean and comfortable. The tour guide is also very enthusiastic to introduce the scenic spots, tell stories, and teach the steps to visit the shrine, etc. Although the travel companions in this car are very I, they will not give more introductions because they don't get a response. The only thing I feel sorry about is that the visiting time of Kumamoto Castle (including meal time) is not enough. The buffet is rich and delicious. We are lucky to go up to Aso Volcano. It is very beautiful. Remember to bring a mask. The volcanic gas has a strong odor and contains sulfur dioxide. It is very dangerous for people with asthma or heart disease. There are commemorative badges in the visitor center. You can bring a piece of white paper. Finally, the Kumamoto Shrine requires physical strength. It is steep but also beautiful. On the way back, I found that there are wooden crutches in the parking lot that can be borrowed, but I don’t know if it is charged. This is a great itinerary for small-scale tourism. You can get multiple popular attractions in one day.

Ms Shi is very experienced guide, it was a nice small group which means the bus was able to access the top parking area of the crater observation area. very lucky to be able to look into the caldera. Kumamoto castle is a long term reconstruction project, still impressive and interesting to observe the damage from the 2016 earthquake. The little shrine is a nice interlude after lunch to walk off the nice buffet which offers quite a variety. Glad we took this trip and had a wonderful time

Joining this day tour was so much more comfortable because I didn't have to deal with transportation in the suburbs myself. I was smoothly taken around the whole day. The most unforgettable part was taking a helicopter to see the volcano crater. The shock of seeing it from above felt like hitting the pause button on everyday life. The tour guide took care of contacting people, buying tickets, and coordinating everything, paying great attention to all the little details. The driver was also very steady and safely transported us to each location. I only hope that everyone who joins the tour will be on time for the meeting points, so that the trip will be as smooth and beautiful as the scenery.

It's a great value for money. If you come here, I really recommend a helicopter trip. I personally recommend the 15-minute trip. The helicopter will fly over both sides, not just one side as it says on the Internet. This time we took ARIair because there were too many cars on the road during the long holiday and we couldn't make it to the original scheduled time. Not only did the tour guide Xiao Chen work hard to help us make the contact, but the other party was also very generous and let us proceed according to the plan! Thanks 🙏. The food and activities recommended by the tour guide are very real and the introductions are very detailed. I will choose these activities again next time if I have the chance.

Highly recommended, a one-day tour that exceeded expectations! Several attractions are relatively scattered, and the bus pick-up is very convenient. The tour guide explains in Chinese. Lunch is a buffet next to Kumamoto Castle, with many varieties and good taste. We were lucky that day and were able to go up to the crater because it was a little cold because of the snow the day before. The shrine is relatively small, and it is not summer yet, so the grass is still a little withered and yellow, not as beautiful as in the photos on the Internet. We returned to Hakata Station on time at 6 pm and caught up with dinner smoothly.

Although the itinerary was a bit tight, I was able to visit all the places I wanted to go in one trip, saving a lot of transportation costs. Although the Kumamoto Castle tour was only one hour, it made the whole experience feel a bit rushed, but because I was more focused on the helicopter experience and Mount Aso, and Kumamoto Castle was just a side trip, it was okay. Our tour guide, Ms. Wang Qi, was friendly and kind, and she always checked the volcano's opening status for us. I am very grateful to her for helping us successfully reach the crater and see the volcano's splendor.

This tour is an excellent value for the money! The helicopter experience allows group bookings to skip the line, saving you from queuing on-site. The zoo features bears, penguins, and other small animals. The only downside is the limited legroom on the minibus. At 178cm tall, my knees were pressed against the seat in front, making the long ride quite uncomfortable.

Kumamoto Castle is one of Japan's three most famous castles and a must-see. The Aso volcanic region boasts beautiful scenery, and the close-up view of the crater is breathtaking. Kusasenri's lush greenery is a welcome escape. Add to that the meticulous arrangements and detailed information provided by our tour leader, Mr. Chen Xi, and the safe driving of our driver, and you have a tour that's fun and worry-free for all. A 5-star experience, highly recommended.