Reward Trip #13: [Kumamoto/Aso]
Series #13: [Kumamoto/Aso] A supreme detox trip in the great outdoors, where your heart will cry out at the vast panoramic green meadows!
[Theme & Destination Introduction]
To you, who works so hard every day, why not treat yourself to the ultimate summer vacation reward? The 13th day of our new series finally enters the Kumamoto/Oita chapter!We will guide you through Aso, Kumamoto Prefecture, home to one of the world's largest calderas. This is a power spot where you can feel the earth breathing, with green meadows stretching as far as the eye can see.
Standing at 'Kusasenrigahama', you will be greeted by alush green carpet illuminated by the summer sun, a large pond, and the smoking Mount Nakadake in the distance. As you take a deep breath in the endless expanse of nature, you will feel your heart and body, stiffened by the busyness of daily life, slowly begin to release.It is the ultimate reward trip where you can recharge your life energy, thinking, 'In this wide world, I too will live freely!'
[How to Get There]
The start of this trip is Aso Station on the JR Hohi Main Line.You can travel in style while enjoying the beautiful scenery from the train window, taking about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Kumamoto Station on the 'Aso Boy!' or 'Kyushu Crossing Limited Express' trains. Since there is a local bus called the 'Aso Crater Line' from Aso Station, you can head to the summit area with peace of mind even if you are traveling alone without a car.
[Expenses]
These are the basic transportation costs to start from Aso Station and travel to Kusasenrigahama. ・Local bus fare (one way): 650 yen for adults, 1,300 yen round trip, allowing you to easily access a front-row seat to the great outdoors. With the money you saved, let's enjoy plenty of Aso's famous juicy 'Aka-ushi beef bowl' or rich Jersey milk soft-serve ice cream!
[Travel Expenses and Admission Fees]
Strolling through the endless'Kusasenrigahama' is, of course, 'free'. Anyone can freely feel the unobstructed grand panorama and the pleasant highland breeze. As a reward to yourself this time, let's add a special feeling of being the protagonist of a movie bytrying the 'horseback riding experience' (approx. 5 minutes, from 1,500 yen) to walk leisurely on the meadow.
[Highlights]
The biggest highlight of Aso is thedynamic appearance of 'Mount Aso Nakadake' looking up from Kusasenrigahama. The sight of white volcanic smoke rising into the sky is truly proof that the earth is alive.Just by watching the horses and cows grazing leisurely on the green meadows, you will forget the hustle and bustle of the city, and your heart will slowly calm down. By placing yourself in the overwhelming scale created by nature, you will be filled with vitality for a new start.
[A Little Detour]
After fully enjoying the meadows, let's take a detour to'Aso Shrine', located right near Aso Station. It is an ancient shrine with over 2,000 years of history and is a very strong power spot with a'side approach' (yoko-sando), which is rare even nationwide. A stylish temple town spreads along the approach, making it the perfect place for a leisurely stroll, where you can drink the delicious spring water 'Kami no Izumi' or browse cute variety shops.
[If You Stay Overnight]
If you decide to stay overnight on this trip and spend a more luxurious and extravagant time, I recommend extending your trip to an inn in 'Kurokawa Onsen', surrounded by the rich nature of Aso.In this hot spring town that looks like a hideaway nestled along a lush green valley, you can enjoy hot springs to your heart's content using the 'Nyuto Tegata' (hot spring pass) to visit atmospheric open-air baths. For dinner, you can enjoy plenty of luxurious mountain bounty, such as Kumamoto's famous fresh 'horse sashimi' and charcoal-grilled Higo beef. If you spend a quiet night in the great outdoors, both your heart and body will be filled with the best energy.
[Summary]
How was your trip to Aso, wrapped in the powerful life force of the earth and the endlessly spreading green meadows?By surrendering yourself to the overwhelming grand panorama, the stress in your heart should have cleared away, and you should have gained the energy to take a new step forward. Once you have pampered yourself enough, well, what wonderful scenery will you encounter tomorrow?
Next time, we will go further through Kumamoto to that famous Oita/Beppu Onsen, the number one hot spring town in Japan where steam rises! Please look forward to it!