Excursão de um dia guiada pelo Desfiladeiro de Takachiho e pelo Monte Aso na Província de Kumamoto

Sun Peng, our guide, deserves full marks! He was incredibly knowledgeable about Kumamoto throughout the trip, explaining the unique features of each attraction. To be honest, the Aso Boy train wasn't really worth it, haha. 2300 yen per person just to see a mountain; it's not as beautiful as the Ghibli train I rode in Hakone, Tokyo. It was a shame we couldn't go boating in Takachiho Gorge today, but the scenery was still good, though slightly less impressive than Hokkaido's Blue Pond. However, my only complaint about the guide is that he sent us to Takachiho Shrine. It's fine to go, but the path is genuinely difficult, so be prepared. But on the way back to the parking lot, the guide told us to follow Google Maps to the third parking lot, which would have been a disaster! You absolutely must return to that slope and head straight for the third parking lot. When you go to the shrine, there's a fork in the road on that slope; pay attention to the sign indicating the direction to the third parking lot. It's only 300m that way. Do NOT follow the map! A large group of us followed the map, but luckily I had seen the sign on the way there, otherwise, we would have been completely lost trying to find our way back! The cheese mini-bread recommended by the guide was decent, and the cream puffs were also good, filled with ice cream. I didn't try the summer iced tea special. The horse sashimi and barbecue were okay, but don't have high expectations; it's not as good as grilled beef. Next, regarding the guide's recommendations at Kusasenri: I didn't buy the keychains, didn't buy the horse oil cream, but I did buy a fridge magnet. The green house was a bit hard to find, so look carefully. The beef burger was sold out. The only thing I think is worth recommending, which the guide didn't, is the ice cream. If you go, remember to try the ice cream at the museum! Oh, and I also want to mention that the time at Kusasenri is actually very short. If you climb to the observation deck and then come down, and also want to eat and shop, it might be quite rushed. Be prepared to just have ice cream! The fridge magnet is very cute and worth buying for 800 yen! Finally, the Tenkaippin ramen was a bit disappointing; the firm noodles were very salty and not as good as Ippudo in Osaka, haha. Ippudo is also salty (apparently ramen is meant to be paired with sake). As for the Osmanthus fried rice: it tasted like something any Chinese restaurant could make; no need to specifically try it in Japan, hahaha! Overall, this group tour was actually pretty good, just a bit rushed. Of course, that's because there were many places to visit, and it wasn't a self-guided trip, haha! I would still consider a group tour again if I have the chance!

This is my first trip to Japan, and I'm so glad I had Sun as my guide. Thanks to the guide's ability to speak English and Chinese, I, as a Korean, was able to enjoy the tour and enthusiastically take photos at all the photo spots. Not only that, but the guide passionately explained everything throughout the trip and even told us when to look out the window to enjoy the scenery, making the trip feel incredibly fulfilling. The best part was the Korean guidebook the guide personally created. Reading it before the trip started was truly helpful; there's a big difference between knowing what to expect and what to see, and arriving at a destination completely clueless. Today, with Sun as my guide, is the most memorable part of this Japan trip. If anyone is considering a Kumamoto tour package, I highly recommend Sun. Have an unforgettable day! Plus, the guide also recommended local restaurants, which was a great help in choosing dinner.

It was a shame we couldn't visit Mount Aso as it was closed, but Takachiho Gorge and Kusasenri were wonderful. A huge thank you to our guide, Kong-yi, who guided us so diligently despite the rainy weather. I was a little worried about having a Chinese guide, but the tour schedule was explained in English, so I was able to enjoy the trip without any inconvenience. They also enthusiastically took photos and helped us get great souvenir shots. 🤗 When Mount Aso reopens and I visit Kumamoto again, I definitely want to be with Kong-yi. You worked so hard!

素晴らしいツアーでした。ガイドのサンさんは、すべての観光スポットの歴史と情報に精通しており、彼の率直で生き生きとした説明は旅の大きなハイライトでした。必見のものだけでなく、避けるべきもの（お土産や軽食）も教えてくれるツアーガイドはとても新鮮でした。旅のペースも素晴らしく、サンさんが週末の混雑を避けるために観光スポットの順序を柔軟に入れ替えてくれたことには感謝しています。本当に思慮深いですね！そして、旅の主なハイライトである美しい阿蘇山（最近の事故のため行けませんでしたが）、神社、渓谷を忘れてはいけません！よく計画され、ペースも良く、全体的に素晴らしい旅でした。強くお勧めします！

I highly recommend Tour Guide Kong. He is very kind and dedicated to introducing the scenery, historical origins, and local culture. The entire trip's itinerary was very smooth, and the experience was excellent. In addition to helping with photos and explanations at major attractions, he also introduced various small places the tour bus passed by, allowing us to unexpectedly learn a lot about local customs, traditions, and stories we never knew before. The weather in Takachiho was great today, but there were quite a few people boating, making it easy to get congested, though the canyon itself is still very beautiful. Because Mount Aso was closed, the alternative itinerary took us to Kamishikimi Kumanoza Shrine, which appeared even more solemn nestled in the forest. For the last stop at Kusasenri for dinner, the tour guide also prepared a strategy for everyone on how to eat, shop, and take photos most efficiently. The entire day's experience was wonderful.

My friend originally planned to rent a car for our trip on May 4, 2026, but we later realized it coincided with Japan's Golden Week. Worried about the dangers of driving, we switched to this one-day tour instead. To our surprise, it was much more convenient and we managed to visit so many places! I'm incredibly grateful to tour guide Kong for his detailed explanations and introductions throughout the trip, which made understanding Japanese culture very clear and easy. Although the itinerary was a bit tight, and we couldn't visit the volcano because it was closed, and Aso didn't have horse meat to eat, only mango shaved ice left, it was still all very worthwhile :). Before reaching Kusasenri, we passed by Matcha Pudding Mountain, which was very cute. It was very cold on the mountain, and with limited time, I recommend skipping the coffee queue and heading straight up to take photos, where you can overlook the volcano. Also, if possible, I suggest the itinerary details advise travelers to dress warmly beforehand, as I completely underestimated how cold it would be on the mountain this time. No wonder the tour guide wore a sweater and a down jacket… I recommend anyone going to bring a wool hat, otherwise, your hair will get messy and it will be hard to take pictures. The scenic train has an additional charge of 2300 yen. There are only two small stalls selling things (sweets and drinks) and a small souvenir area inside the ticket station. The entire train ride is very interesting; it's a very retro journey, and everyone waves at you throughout, which is very enthusiastic. When passing through tunnels, the train has cute lights, and the driver blows bubbles at the summit. However, be careful not to drop your phone, as the wind was very strong that day, and holding a phone with one hand was dangerous. I recommend having some protective measure to secure your phone. Additionally, the towering trees at Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine are beautiful and magnificent. Climbing the stairs to the summit is also quite a tight schedule, so you might not be able to stroll too slowly. The very top is a unique cave entrance, but if you're really tired, it's fine to just visit the shrine in the middle. You can buy the Goshuin (stamp) at the parking lot before getting back on the bus. One hour at Takachiho Gorge is plenty, and thankfully, we managed to go boating that day. If your package includes boating, it's quite funny if you happen to be with a group of beginners who all get stuck at the gorge entrance. I was very nervous when I first got on the boat, and capsizing or accidentally deploying the airbag costs 3000 yen. But there are always people on-site to assist; if you get stuck or can't paddle, you can ask the guide for help, so it's very safe. 30 minutes of boating time is ample to paddle to the gorge and back. In summary, the overall trip was still great. Thanks to the good weather, we had a wonderful time and made beautiful memories ^_^

Ada, our guide, was the luckiest find of this trip! Her professionalism was outstanding. She provided detailed and rich explanations throughout, making historical, cultural, and roadside knowledge points clear and easy to understand. Her itinerary planning was reasonable and smooth, and she managed the pace perfectly. Ada is cheerful and witty, with a humorous and engaging way of speaking, which made the journey relaxed and joyful, never boring. She is sincere and enthusiastic, incredibly thoughtful and meticulous, always looking after every group member. Whether it was itinerary reminders, travel precautions, or small, impromptu requests from anyone, she patiently helped resolve them. Spending time with her throughout the trip was incredibly comfortable; she was reliable and heartwarming, making the entire travel experience absolutely perfect. Highly recommended!

Sun was our tour guide for the day, and he was fantastic. He’s very experienced and kept us entertained with plenty of fun stories throughout the bus journey. At every stop, he shared helpful tips and great recommendations on what to do, eat, and buy. He even suggested places to try after the tour ended, which we really appreciated. He helped every group taking photos as well. He makes sure everyone is well taken care of. Overall, we had a wonderful family experience. We’re so glad we chose the train and boat rides—they really helped us make the most of the day. The timing was just right, not rushed at all. Highly recommended!

Overall, we had a great time despite the rain and despite being unlucky with getting sat by a blacked out window. That made it difficult to enjoy the 1-2hr ride up and down. Our guide, Kong, did such an amazing job with guiding us and even had the group stop for photo ops where she took pictures of everyone. She genuinely wanted everyone to have a memorable experience and did an amazing job ensuring that. Thank you for the memorable experience!

素晴らしい価値、美しい渓谷、興味深い列車での移動、ユニークなボートパドリング体験、そしてガイドは非常に親切で知識が豊富で面白かったです。全体的に、熊本に滞在するなら強くお勧めします。良いスケジュールで、各場所で十分な時間が与えられ、急かされる感じはありませんでした。