Aso travel guide

 

One of the must visit tourist destination in Kyushu

 

 

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Japan’s largest active volcano	Look down the Crater	Around the Crater

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Aso shrine	Kurokawa Onsen	Nabegataki Waterfall

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Shirakawa fountain	Sensui-kyo	Issingyo big cherry tree

 

Featured restaurant / Takamori Dengaku-no sato 

Enjoy Aso beef and local cuisines  

The restaurant uses the old private house with thatched roof built more than 200 years ago.

Bake the meat and local ingredients with charcoal at a Japanese traditional style fire place.

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Kikuchi Valley

Enjoy short trekking in the Nature.

Kikuchi Valley is located in Aso Kuju National Park and underground water flows out of the

subsoil for 4km along the valley floor.  It is also called the Kikuchi water source and its water

was selected as one of the 100 best waters in Japan

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 Featured tours related to Aso  

 

3 days Kumamoto, Aso & Takachiho tour

Where to Explore  

Day 1 : Fukuoka-city  → Kumamoto → Aso  stay Kurokawa Onsen

Day 2 : Aso sightseeing →   stay Kurokawa Onsen

Day 3 : Takachho sightseeing  →　Fukuoka-city

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7 days Central Kyushu tour         

Where to Explore  

Amakusa → Kumamoto → Aso → Takachiho → Kuju → Kokonoe → Yufuin

Asakura → Akizuki → Ukiha → Fukuoka

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8 days Northern Kyushu tour         

Where to Explore

Fukuoka →　Saga →　Nagasaki →　Unzen →　Shimabara →　Kumamoto →　Aso

Okubungo region → Yufuin →　Beppu　→　Kitakyushu →　Fukuoka

 

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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 Location of Aso 

　　 

 

 

 

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Shimabara travel guide

 

Region spread in the foot of gentle mount Unzen and facing to calm sea

 

Shimabara is consist of two cities on Shimabara peninsula, Shimabara-city west side of

peninsula and Minami-Shmabara-city south-west side of peninsula.

 

Located in the foot of mount Unzen and facing Ariake Bay,  and those geographical conditions

and mild climate create natural scenic beauty

in the east and Mt. Unzen including Mt. Fugen. 

 

The region offers various enjoyable things such as Nature, Onsen, Castle town of Shimabara-city,

Hidden Christian history as well as Local Gourmets.

 

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 Exploring Shimabara  

 

 

Shimabara Castle

Located in Shimabara-city and was built in 1625 by the feudal load Matsukura Shigemasa, who was

regarded as a master of castle building.

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Samurai Houses

Samurai was a term for the military nobility in pre-industrial Japan.

The Samurai Houses in Shimabara along the old Samurai street nearby Shimabara Castle

were built in 18th century.

 

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Harajo Castle ruins

Site of Historic Battle field of Shimabara Rebellion, registered on UNESCO’s World Heritage Site

as Hidden Christian Site, to tell the Christian faith continued even during the ban on Christianity.

Located in Minami-Shimabara-city, the Battle field of Shimabara Rebellion which was a peasant

uprising agaist bakufu’s persecution of Christians under the leadership of Amakusa Shiro in 1637.

 

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Ferry to Kumamoto, from Shimabara

Two ferries are operated form Shimabara to Kumamoto

Kyusho Ferry : operated by Kyusho Ferry, 60 minutes ride

Ocean Arrow : operated by Kumamoto Ferry, 30 minutes ride

Shimabara port

Ocean Arrow

Kumamoto port

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Ferry to Amakusa (Oniike) , from Kuchinotsu (Minami-Shimabara-city)

Shimatetsu Ferry : operated by Shinabara Rail Way, 30 minutes ride.

Kuchinotsu port

Kuchinotsu

To Amakusa

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 Featured tours related to Shimabara  

 

2 days Shimabara & Unzen Onsen tour     

Where to Explore  

Day 1 : Fukuoka-city  →  Shimabara sightseeing →　Unzen 　 

Day 2 : Unzen sightseeing → Obama →　Fukuoka-city

 

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Nagasaki Hidden Christian History tour                 

Congratulations on UNESCO’s World Heritage Site registration

Japan’s unique practice of the Christian faith continued even during the ban on Christianity.

This tour introduce the history of Hidden Christian in Nagasaki Region while taking the World Heritages

and related sites of Nagasaki-city, Shimabara and Unzen.

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6 days North-West Kyushu tour

Where to Explore

Saga (Karatsu, Yobuko, Imari, Kashima, Takeo) →　Nagsaki 　→　Shimabara  

Unzen  →   Yanagawa　→　Kitakyushu  →　Fukuoka 

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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  Location of Shimabara

　　 

 

 

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 General information  

 

Address	Shimabara-city, Nagasaki-prefecture
Access	90 minutes by a vihecle from Nagasaki-city 70 minutes by a vihecle from Nagasaki Air port 30 minutes by a vihecle from Unzen-city

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Beppu travel guide

 

Onsen Resort where the largest hot spring yield in Japan

 

The popular hot spring town nestle at the foot of volcanos, Mt. Yufu and Mt.Tsurumi.

 

 

Beppu bay & Mount Takasaki

Beppu bay

Kannawa Onsen

Myoban Onsen

Foot bath

Hyotan Onsen

 

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Umi jigoku

Umi jigoku

Oniishi bozu jigoku

Yama jigoku

Kamado jigoku

Oniyama jigoku

Chinoike jigoku

Tatsumaki jigoku

Shiraike jigoku

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Takasaki mountain animal park

 

About 1700 wild Japanese monkey are living in the park.

The monkeys are fed regularly by park wardens in order to keep them on the mountain and

prevent conflicts with farmers and residents in the neighborhood.

 

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8 days Northern Kyushu tour         

Where to Explore

Fukuoka →　Saga →　Nagasaki →　Unzen →　Shimabara →　Kumamoto →　Aso

Okubungo region → Yufuin →　Beppu　→　Kitakyushu →　Fukuoka

 

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Ibusuki travel guide

 

Ibusuki and surrounded araa Satsuma peninsula extends about 50 kilometers south from

Kagoshima-city, making up the southwestern section of Kagoshima Prefecture.

The peninsula offers a mixture of hot springs, subtropical natural attractions and cultural sites.

 

Ibusuki is an onsen resort that is famous for its sand baths, where bathers are buried in

naturally heated sand.

 

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Ibusuki Onsen resort

 

Steaming sand bath

It is best known for its steaming sand baths along the beach, where bathers in a yukata, or Japanese bathrobe

get buried in the sand up to their neck. The sand heated by steam containing marine minerals is scientifically proven to have therapeutic effects on neuralgia, rheumatism, back pain and other ailments.

Sand Bath Hall SARAKU

Sand Bath, Kinko bay

Sand Bath

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Ikeda-ko lake​

A circumference of 15 km and a maximum depth of 233 meter, where was created by

volcanic activity long ago. Large eel with a length of 2 meter and circumference of 50 cm

inhabit the lake. It was also known as the lake of a legendary monster called ” Issy” 

purported to live in the lake. 

Monster called Issy

Flower garden

Mount Kaimon

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Nishi-Oyama Station

The Station is the southernmost railway station in Japan operated by JR,

boasts a breathtaking view of Kaimon-dake volcano to the front.

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Ryugu Shrine

It is the Urashima Taro legendary shrine peninsula and this shrine is becoming popular as a power

spot of matchmaking and good fortune in love.

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Nagasaki-bana Cape

The cape is the southernmost point of Satsuma peninsula, where a white lighthouse stands.

You can enjoy the view of the magnificent Mount Kaimondake and rocks with the sea spray

wearing them. The Cape is said to be the birthplace of the legend of Ryugu.

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Meiji-gura

Enjoy tasting Shochu at the most famous Shochu brewery in Kagoshima

Meiji-gura is Satsuma Shuzo’s Shochu brewery and museum.

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Makurazaki Osakana Center

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Somen noodle nagashi

The unique Somen noodle nagashi in Tosenkyo revine in Kaimon open throughout the year

serving cold Somen noodle that swim in the revloving container.

   

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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Location of Ibusuki

　　

 

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 General information on Ibusuki-city  

 

Address	City hall ; 2424 Juchu Ibusuki-city, Kagoshima-prefecture
Access	1 hour and 40 minutes by a vehicle from Kagoshima Airport 50 minutes by a vehicle from Kagoshima-chuo JR Station 55 minuted by JR Express train from Kagoshima-chuo JR Station 1 hour and 15 minutes by local train from from Kagoshima-chuo JR Station
Transportation	Kagoshima kotsu bus
Population	40,000            Pupulation density : 270 / km2

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Futsukaichi Onsen

  

Futsukaichi is the nearest hot-spring town from Fukuoka-city.

Its public baths are grouped together in the old main street, favoured by traditionalists, 

Gozen-yu is the most characteristic.

 

 

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Minamata travel guide

 

Minamata is located in Kumamoto Prefecture, It is on the west coast of Kyushu and faces

Amakusa islands. There are two Onsen resorts;

Yunotsuru Onsen located along the Yuide River in the mountains and called Mountain Onsen.

Yunoko Onsen faces Yatsushiro Sea and called Ocean Onsen.

 

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Yunotsuru Onsen	Ryokan	Ryokan

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Yuido River	Corridor of Ryokan	Outdoor bath

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Airinkan, local restaurant	Paddy field at mountain area	Paddy field at mountain area

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Yunoko Onsen	Yunoko Onsen	Yunoko Onsen

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Spanish Village, restaurant	Spanish Village	Spanish Village

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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　     Location of Minamata

       

 

 

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 General information  

 

Address	City hall : 1-1-1 Jinnai, Minamata-city, Kumamoto-prefecture
Access	60 minutes by a vehicle from Hitoyoshi 1 hour and 40 minutes by a vehicle from Kumamoto-city 2 hours and 30 minutes by a vehicle from Takachiho 2 hours and 20 minutes by a vehicle from Aso 2 hours and 40 minutes by a vehicle from Fukuoka-city
Population	24,000   Population density 150

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Yufuin travel guide

 

A beautiful and quietly rustic Onsen Resort

One of the most popular among ladies and International tourist visits to here are increasing. 

Yufuin is located near Beppu in a green valley beneath the spectacular Mt. Yufu, a short walk from the

town center will take you to a mix of paddy fields, housing and unmarked Ryokan, with the old temple

thrown in.

 

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 Explore Yufuin 

 

Kinrinko lake

One of landmark in Yufuin. Hot water gushes from the bottom of the lake, and hot

steam rises from its surface on a cold day.  The lake is located at the end of the town’s main

walking route, about a kilometer and a half from the Yufuin station

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Shitan-yu

The old public outdoor bath with a thatched roof beside Kinrinko lake in Yufuin.
The bathing here is mixed, as baths often were before the arrival, during the Meiji period

( 1869 – 1912). 

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Yufuin Floral Village

Reproduced the townscape of the Cotswold region in England.

The place was also used for Harry Potter’s shooting location.

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Yunotsubo Avenue

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Kamenoi Besso,  a featured accommodation around Kinrinko lake

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8 days Northern Kyushu tour         

Where to Explore

Fukuoka →　Saga →　Nagasaki →　Unzen →　Shimabara →　Kumamoto →　Aso

Okubungo region → Yufuin →　Beppu　→　Kitakyushu →　Fukuoka

 

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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Location of Yufuin

 

 

 

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Nagayu Onsen

 

One of the most popular hot spring for foreign tourists

 

Located at the foot of Kuju mountain range in Oita-prefecture.
The hot spring is known as one of the world’s top carbonate spring.

 

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Ramune Onsen	Ramune Onsen	Ramune Onsen

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Nagayu Onsen	Open air Bath in the river	River side

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Onsen Town	Onsen Town	Onsen Town

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Michino-eki, Souvenir shop	Local restaurant	Onsen town

 

 

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Hyotan Onsen

 

The most popular pubulic bath in Beppu.

 

You can enjoy various type of Onsen.

 

Hyotan Onsen is a public bath where you can enjoy various type of bathes and is located in Kannawa district in Beppu. The waters of this Onsen contain sodium chloride which is effective for neuralgia and women’s diseases.

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There are Outdoor bathes, Hyotan bath, Waterfall bath, Steam bath and Sand bath. You can also enjoy meals at the restaurant; local specialty cuisine Dangojiru, or food steamed with the steam from hot spring.

 

 

 General information  

 

Address	159-2 Kannawa, Beppu-city, Oita-prefecture
Access	15 minutes by a vehicle from JR Beppu Station 10 minutes walk from Kannawa Kamenoi Bus stop
Open hours	9:00 to 25:00
Admission fee	JPY 750
Days closed	No closing days

 

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Hitoyoshi travel guide

The Hitoyoshi Onsen is the collective name for 30-add hot springs including Sagara Onsen, all of which are supplied with hot water from sources around Hitoyoshi Station and in the basin of Kuma-gawa River.

 

 Where to explore

 

Hitoyoshi Castle Ruins

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Japanese style accommodation, Ryokan

 

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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Location of Hitoyoshi

　

 

 

 

 

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