The heart of kyushu

The heart of kyushu

Terry

24/01/2023

Kumamoto, a prefecture in Kyushu is where I worked as an ALT for a year. Initially, I was reluctant to be posted to Kumamoto instead of Fukuoka. However, having been to all the prefectures of Kyushu (including Okinawa), I can confidently say that Kumamoto is the best among all.

Arriving in Kumamoto for the first time

Kumamoto is a prefecture that embodies the rich culture and natural beauty of Kyushu. It is also home to the beloved red-cheeked black bear mascot known as Kumamon. As a natural lover, it is one of the best prefectures in Japan to shoot landscape. The most famous landmarks of Kumamoto is Mount Aso. It is home to the largest active volcano in Japan where you can see the huge crater emitting white smoke and the magnificent scenery up close. Getting to the top crater depends on the volcanic conditions. Check on their website beforehand if you plan to visit the top crater. http://www.aso.ne.jp/~volcano/eng/

3 hours hike from Aso station to the crater
Aerial view of the crater

The grassy fields of the Kusasenri might not be what you expect to find on an active volcano, but it makes for a peaceful walk. You can take a short horse ride around the area. If you are daring, there is a helicopter tour available. I recommend staying at Aso base backpackers if you are on a budget and want to make Japanese friends. I stayed there every time when visiting Aso.

DJI_0072 copy
Fly your drone secretly as there are police constantly driving up and down the mountains

I can’t stress how important it is to rent a car in Kumamoto, or I should say the whole Kyushu, because public transport is very limited. The majority of the attractions do not have direct transport. Living in Kikuchi, a countryside city of Kumamoto, I usually take a bus to Kumamoto city to rent a car to explore. If you don’t mind about comfort, Guts-rentalcar offers affordable Kei cars which cost about 2000yen per day. With a car, you can stop by anytime and take a photo when you see something nice. Believe me, you will stop your car a lot when visiting Aso.

 

If you are planning to visit Kyushu for a week or two, I really recommend you to stay at Kumamoto instead of Fukuoka. Kumamoto is in the center of Kyushu where you can drive easily to Oita, Miyazaki, Kagoshima or Nagasaki. It will really help save lots of time and petrol. Not hating on Fukuoka, but it’s just like any modern city of Japan. If you visiting Kyushu, you are probably going for the countryside experience and breathtaking landscape.

Below are some of the places I recommend to visit when in Kumamoto.

  • Aso (Daikanbo, Kusasenri, Komezuka, Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine, Seneuikyo Gorge)
  • Kikuchi Gorge
  • Amakusa
  • Goroga falls
  • Kurokawa Onsen
Click here to view photos