Things to do in Kumamoto Prefecture

We had an amazing experience on this one-day tour covering Mount Aso, Kusasenri, and Takachiho Gorge. Everything was thoughtfully planned and well-paced, so the day felt relaxed rather than rushed. There was enough time at each stop to explore, enjoy the views, and take photos without pressure. Our guide, Jimmy Liu, really made the difference. He was extremely attentive and proactive, giving important reminders before each activity and sharing useful tips and tricks along the way. He was also very impressive in how smoothly he switched between Chinese and English, making communication clear and effortless for everyone in the group. Each destination was breathtaking on its own, but with Jimmy’s guidance, the trip felt even more special and stress-free. I booked the trip last minute so I wasn’t able to get the boat ride but I’d suggest to get that option if you can cause the waterfalls look breathtaking.

It was a perfect weather and we even had a chance to go see the crater. All places are super beautiful and the Tour Guide Ms. Yang was also very helpful. We had difficulties to book the private onsen for 3 couples but she made the resevations for us in the last minutes.

We chose Course B because Kumamoto Castle was within personal visiting distance. First of all, thank you to guides Jungwoo and Mao. Guide Jungwoo provided guidance in Korean and Chinese, and Guide Mao provided guidance in English and Japanese. Thank you so much for providing guidance in 4 languages. And thank you for your kind and very detailed guidance. The course was in the order of Mount Aso crater, Kusasenri, Aso Shrine, and Kurokawa Onsen. We were given an hour and a half in Kurokawa Onsen, but I wish we had a little more time. I thought it might be better to spend a little less time at Aso Shrine. Because there isn't much to see in Kurokawa Onsen town, but there are cute shops and a delicious cream puff store, so I spent more than 40 minutes walking around. So I couldn't take a bath in the hot spring. The parking lot was a bit far away, so I was worried about being late, so I couldn't take a bath. ㅠ If you want to take a bath, I recommend taking a bath for about 30 minutes first, and then spending the rest of your time looking around. We plan to use it again next time we come. Guide Jungwoo, Guide Mao, always be healthy. Thank you ^^

Experience: A 30-minute round trip on the “Super Cart,” an open-air train with glass floors, bubble-blowing, and illuminated tunnels. - Highlights: Crossing the Takachiho Iron Bridge (105m high), biodiesel-powered engine, narration during the ride. - Pros: Unique, eco-friendly, family-friendly, short but memorable. - Cons: Ride is brief (5 km), more novelty than full excursion.

A fully-packed tour bus on a trip where it drizzled in Kumamoto early in the morning. I bought an umbrella at the convenience store, and after getting on the bus, our guide, Sun Peng, said that Aso had been open for seven consecutive days, so we shouldn't worry. Hearing these confident words made me feel much more relaxed. Unexpectedly, about ten minutes before arriving at Takachiho, the weather turned sunny and beautiful, and I took many lovely photos. The next stop was up the mountain, and it started raining heavily along the way. We arrived at Kusasenri for lunch, and it was still raining outside. But after we finished lunch, the rain stopped. Although it was cloudy later on when we went up Mt. Aso, we still saw the blue crater lake. It was a great day! Finally, on the way back, Sun Peng shared his favorite restaurant, Tengaiten Ramen at Kumamoto Station, which became our dinner. The tour guide was humorous and fun. If you have the chance to meet him, you'll have a wonderful trip to Kumamoto.

I highly recommended this tour, vakue for money indeed. And our tour guide Melo is very nice and informative, speaks english very well. She took care of everyone. Arigatou! You can check my post on IG of the places we've visited: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQzXDxpAbhV/?igsh=MW1xOXo5dzd3eTRuZw==

This was a wonderful day trip and we enjoyed it immensely. Our guide San San was great—funny, personable, and helpful. Mt. Aso and the gorge were amazing, the open-air train ride was great fun with amazing views, and overall, it was a fantastic day. One word of advice: prepare for all seasons on this trip! The gorge can be quite warm on a sunny day, especially on the hike back up. Likewise, the volcano is windy and freezing cold at the top—take a warm jacket! I would also suggest taking a face mask up there as there is some sulphur gas you will smell. This is not an area you could easily visit on your own; it would be difficult to arrange even with a car. The tour guide took care of everything, showing us where to go while allowing enough time to enjoy each area. We would highly recommend this tour. it’s an awesome place!

Experience: If you're planning a visit to Kumamoto, this is a must-see destination. My visit to Kumamoto was specifically to see Kumamoto Castle. After visiting, I felt it was definitely a worthwhile choice. However, it was unfortunate that Kumamoto Castle was partially destroyed by the earthquake in 2016. It was also impressive to see them taking a long-term approach to properly restoring the cultural heritage site. Tip: If you purchase your admission ticket in advance on Klook, you can enter quickly by showing it directly to the staff without having to purchase or exchange tickets, so avoid the long lines and buy your tickets in advance!

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.