Coisas para fazer em Prefeitura de Kumamoto

This one-day tour to Takachiho Gorge, Kusasenri, and Kamishikimi Kumanoza Shrine was exceptionally well-planned, with a smooth and well-paced itinerary. We didn't feel tired from too many attractions, nor did we experience excessive waiting times. The trip perfectly blended natural scenery, cultural experiences, and relaxation. Our tour guide, Mr. Ohashi, provided explanations in fluent Chinese and Korean, clearly outlining meeting times, boarding and alighting procedures, and various important notes. He also shared the history, culture, and local stories behind each attraction, making the journey more than just a superficial visit, allowing us to gain a deeper understanding of Kyushu's human and natural characteristics. Mr. Ohashi was friendly, meticulous, and managed time perfectly, ensuring we could enjoy the trip with peace of mind. Our first stop was the long-anticipated Takachiho Gorge. Known for its spectacular columnar jointed gorge and Manai Falls, it was even more breathtaking in person than in photos. The emerald green stream, towering rock walls on both sides, and the waterfall intertwined to create a natural masterpiece that was truly captivating. We experienced boating on this trip, which allowed us to admire the waterfall and gorge scenery up close, leaving a lasting impression. After leaving Takachiho, we headed to Kusasenri, a famous area in Aso. The vast grasslands, combined with the majestic terrain of Mount Aso, presented a natural landscape distinctly different from Takachiho. The weather was excellent that day, offering expansive views, allowing us to clearly appreciate the magnificent topography around the crater. Mr. Ohashi introduced the formation process of Mount Aso, its volcanic activity history, and the origin of Kusasenri, allowing us to understand how this land evolved over a long period to become what it is today, while enjoying the scenery. Standing on the vast grassland, we felt exceptionally relaxed and deeply appreciated the charm of Kyushu's natural landscapes. Finally, we arrived at Kamishikimi Kumanoza Shrine. As we ascended the stone steps, moss-covered stone lanterns lined both sides, surrounded by dense forests, creating a mysterious and tranquil atmosphere. Mr. Ohashi introduced the history and origin of the shrine, and also shared that it had been used as a filming location for movies and anime. Throughout the entire journey, Mr. Ohashi provided rich explanations and took care of every group member. He proactively reminded us of meeting times, recommended the best photo spots, introduced local specialties worth purchasing, and constantly checked if everyone was present, maintaining a relaxed yet efficient pace for the entire group. Even during long bus rides, he interspersed introductions to the human history, culture, and daily life of the Kumamoto, Aso, and Takachiho regions, deepening the overall experience of the trip. Overall, this was a well-planned and high-quality one-day tour. The astonishing beauty of Takachiho Gorge, the vast and magnificent natural landscape of Kusasenri and Mount Aso, and the serene and mysterious forest atmosphere of Kamishikimi Kumanoza Shrine – these three attractions, each unique and non-repetitive, filled the day's itinerary with variety and surprises. I highly recommend this tour, and especially recommend our guide, Mr. Ohashi. His professional explanations, meticulous service, and rich experience made this journey more than just admiring beautiful scenery; it allowed us to gain a deeper understanding of Kyushu's history, culture, and nature. If I participate in another Kyushu day tour in the future, I would definitely hope to be led by Mr. Ohashi again, confident that it would be another fulfilling and enjoyable trip.

#This was my first group tour in Japan, and I had a fantastic impression! The tour guide was very dedicated, explaining Japanese culture to us along the way and clarifying the design intent behind Kumamon's appearance, which helped us remember quickly! During the tour, the guide was also very thoughtful, helping us take photos before boating, leaving us with wonderful memories. We felt the day's itinerary was very fulfilling. Although the weather was hot, we were tired but happy, having visited most of Kumamoto's most distinctive places. Even with limited time, we were very satisfied! I hope to have the opportunity to join different group tour routes next time! The Aso cuisine recommended by the guide was really good 😌, it's just a shame we couldn't pack it to take home... Thank you!

Acabamos de regresar de nuestro viaje y fue fantástico. Un agradecimiento especial a nuestra guía "Summer", fue de gran ayuda, llena de consejos locales e hizo que todo el día fuera tranquilo y divertido. Vimos todos los lugares destacados y probamos mucha comida excelente gracias a sus recomendaciones. 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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 time, I booked the "Kumamoto Castle & Mount Aso & Kusasenri & Aso Shrine & Kurokawa Onsen" day tour through Klook, and the overall experience was fantastic! Itinerary: Being able to visit so many attractions in one day is truly great value, especially the magnificent scenery of Mount Aso and Kusasenri, which left a deep impression. The atmosphere at Kurokawa Onsen was also wonderful, making it a great place to relax. Convenience: For those who don't want to plan complicated transportation routes themselves, this type of day tour is very suitable. Having a dedicated shuttle service (including the volcano shuttle bus) saved a lot of commuting time, allowing us to focus more on enjoying the beautiful scenery. Summary: The guide/driver provided excellent service, and the pace of the tour was well-managed. This is a highly cost-effective option, recommended for travelers who want to experience the unique attractions of Kyushu in a short amount of time!

This tour was really good if you love animals and want to see them up close. I enjoyed the guide Zhu Zhu was so sweet and even she spoke little English she was so great and made sure I was able to follow along with rest of the group. She was so delightful and kindhearted, helped me order all the foods form all the shops and stores and offered me her umbrella and even the sweet apples. I highly recommend this route you get to see lots in one day!

I visited Kumamoto Castle for the second time! As expected of one of Japan's three great castles, it was large and magnificent! A few years ago, a major earthquake in Kumamoto destroyed parts of the castle, and restoration work is still ongoing, but from a tourist's perspective, there were no issues touring Kumamoto Castle! I highly recommend purchasing tickets in advance through Klook! This is because at the entrance, there are separate lines for buying tickets and for those who pre-purchased tickets. If you show the staff your QR code, you can enter immediately, which greatly reduces waiting time!

This experience was wonderful, we were able to catch dolphins diving and the captain of the boat would drive around until we’d find dolphins. Great for wildlife photography and a new experience!