Kumamoto Aso Day Trip: Enjoy 4 Major Attractions Group Tour
- From July to September, a "Mizuki Pilgrimage Exchange Ticket" that can be used in the shopping street in front of Aso Shrine will be given away for free! (Limited to 1 per person)/
- Guarantee: Guaranteed departure for groups of 1 or more! A translator who speaks Japanese and Chinese will accompany you.
- Currently, due to the closure of the Aso-san Park Road, it is not possible to visit the crater, and there is no definite date for its reopening. Until the Aso-san Park Road reopens, the itinerary will be adjusted to extend the sightseeing time at Kusasenri, similar to when it is not possible to visit the crater due to smoke emission control.
- Departing from Kumamoto City, you can efficiently visit Aso's tourist attractions in one day without transfers, including Daikanbo, which is difficult to reach by independent travel due to inconvenient transportation.
- Pick-up and drop-off locations can be selected from Kumamoto Sakuramachi Bus Terminal, Aso Kumamoto Airport, and Aso Station Front.
What to expect
[Experience Aso to the Fullest] In one day, take in the magnificent scenery of one of the world’s largest calderas and feel the excitement and stimulation it brings! Departing from Kumamoto City, we will first head to Aso’s iconic spot, “Daikanbo,” where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the magnificent Aso Gogaku (Five Peaks of Aso). Afterwards, stroll through the historic “Aso Shrine” and savor local delicacies. In the afternoon, visit the majestic “Mt. Naka Caldera,” followed by the serene and vast “Kusasenri-ga-hama.” This one-day bus tour encapsulates the essence of Aso. The entire tour is equipped with Chinese translation, allowing you to fully enjoy your Aso trip without worrying about language barriers.
[Attraction: Daikanbo] Enjoy a panoramic view of the magnificent scenery formed by one of the world’s largest calderas. The Aso Gogaku (Aso Mountain Range), which resembles a reclining Buddha, is a must-see spot!
[Attraction: Strolling around Aso Shrine’s Monzen-machi]
Aso Shrine's tower gate faces this street. "Monzen-machi Shopping Street" along the approach is lined with restaurants, sake shops, and souvenir shops, attracting many tourists. There are also many springs called "Suiki" (drinking fountains) scattered around the area, and the "Suiki Pilgrimage," where you can stroll around while searching for these water sources, is very popular.
[Attraction: Visiting Mt. Naka Caldera]
It is one of the largest calderas in the world, measuring 18 km from east to west and 25 km from north to south. Among the five mountains of Aso (Neko-dake, Taka-dake, Naka-dake, Eboshi-dake, and Kishima-dake), Mt. Naka remains active. In the huge caldera with a circumference of 4 km, you can see intense white smoke rising up close, creating a dynamic view.
- If you cannot visit the crater due to volcanic gas regulations, the time spent at Kusasenri will be extended.
[Attraction: Kusasenri-ga-hama] One of Aso’s most iconic tourist destinations, a grassland of approximately 1 km. The magnificent scenery is created by Mt. Eboshi in the background and the ponds formed by rainwater. Lush green in summer, fantastically white in winter, and colorful in all seasons. You can enjoy a horseback ride around the grassland, which is very popular with tourists.
Reviews
The itinerary was on time, the activities were abundant, and the locations were highly visitable. However, the water spring staff was relatively inexperienced and rushed through the scenery introduction. Overall, it's still worth trying.
Our tour leader, Mr. Zhou, provided clear and detailed explanations, which was very helpful. The entire itinerary was very accommodating for the elderly members of our group, allowing us to enjoy a day trip without having to queue for buses at Aso attractions.
Awesome itinerary. You can relax all the way. There are Chinese and Japanese tour guides. The driver will also provide additional introductions. The attractions are very good and there is no forced sales. It is suitable for solo travelers.
The guide's introduction is lively and vivid with cultural depth. At the same time, he considerately reserves the appropriate time for tourists to rest and experience without excessively disturbing them. It is an excellent choice for visiting Mount Aso without renting a car.
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.
Although we couldn't visit the Aso crater due to an accident, the time spent at each attraction was appropriate, and both the guide and driver were very responsible. The overall experience was excellent!
The trip was pleasant but the pick up point was a bit inconvenient. I'm staying in Kumamoto and need to take an express bus to the airport.
The tour guide was very friendly. I don't recommend coming in mid-March, as you'll only see withered grass.
Aso tour was great, especialmente the Áso crater views. Tour Guide was very helpful. I would allow less time at Aso Shrine stop and increase by the sabe amount the time at the crater. Also, the explanations in English linguagem could bem improved
It's a bit of a shame that we couldn't go up to see the volcanic crater due to the Aso volcano alert level. The weather wasn't great that day either, and Kusa Senri was almost completely obscured by fog. But I guess that's just luck. Overall, the tour company made the experience very comfortable, and they explained some of the local history and legends. It was a great day.
Good to know
- The tour will be canceled if no reservation is made by 15:00 (Japan time) 10 days prior to the departure date.
- For safety reasons, the route may be changed or the tour may be canceled on the day if the bus cannot operate due to bad weather or other reasons.
- The bus will operate according to the timetable. There will be no compensation if you are late or miss the bus due to personal reasons.
- September to November is the peak tourist season, and traffic is expected to be congested, so the tour end time may be delayed. We are not responsible for any missed connecting flights due to delays in the tour end time, so please understand this in advance.
- Delays may occur due to road traffic conditions, so we cannot guarantee that you will be able to make connecting trains, buses, or flights after the tour.
- The size of the bus will be adjusted according to the number of participants on the day. (For example, it will be upgraded from a Coaster or minibus → medium-sized bus → large bus)
- The buses used for this tour generally do not have space for luggage. If you have large luggage with you, please check it in advance.
- Please note that the accompanying translator will assist you in making your trip smoother and more comfortable, but he or she is not a tour guide or tour conductor and does not provide on-site commentary on the attractions.
- Staff will guide you to your seat on the day, and if there are a large number of participants, you may be seated next to other customers. Thank you for your understanding.
- Preschool children aged 0-2 years old are free of charge if they do not occupy a seat. Facility usage fees must be paid on site. If you require a seat, please apply for a reservation as a child.
- Due to the constant release of volcanic gas (sulfur dioxide/SO2) around the crater, people with respiratory diseases, heart disease, or those who are feeling unwell are not allowed to visit the crater.
- If it is not possible to visit the crater due to volcanic smoke regulations, the viewing time at Kusasenri will be extended.
- Transportation company used: Kyushu Sanko Bus Co., Ltd. or our partner bus company.
Contact us
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