Aso travel guide

 

Aso is located almost in the center of Kyushu and possesses the world’s largest

Caldera with 18km west-east and 24km north-south, created by 4 periods of explosive

volcanic activity in the ancient times.

In the Aso Caldera, there are five mountains including Naka-dake mountain 

which is an active volcano where the crater can be viewed from the top. 

Daikanbo peak, on the outer edge of the Aso Caldera is a must place

to visit offering panoramic views of the magnificent scenery including the

five mountains of Aso and the serene and beautiful green plains below.

 

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Exploring Aso

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Aso Shrine

Aso Shrine is popular as a god protecting worshipers from traffic accidents, and exorcism, marriage, and learning. Aso shrine one of the oldest and most prominent shrines in Japan, and was built in 281 before  accession of the 1st Emperor Jinmu.

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Kurokawa Onsen

The most popular hot spring resort in Aso region, located on the northern  side of  Mount Aso.  Widely known for its open-air baths, it is one of the  best places to enjoy the atmosphere of old town in Japan, where more than 20 Inns （Ryokan）and gift shops standing in a row along the  Tanoharu River, a headstream of the Chikugo River.

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Nabegataki Waterfall

Nabegataki Waterfall is a hidden tourist spot in Kumamoto prefecture,  located just outside Oguni town in Aso region. One of the area’s more well-known waterfalls. Looking like a mini-Niagara.

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Shirakawa fountain

Shirakawa suigen is the fountain to Shirakawa river that is one of the  first class rivers of Japan. The quantity of water that spouts with the sand at the bottom of the pond is approximately 60 tons per minute.

 

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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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Local cuisines, Featured restaurant

 

Takamori Dengaku-no sato 

Enjoy Aso beef and local cuisines called dengaku. The restaurant uses the old private house with thatch 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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Aso Akaushi beef rice bowl

Aso Akaushi laterally means red beef that is unique in that it has a higher proportion of red meat with just the right amount of fat. Aso Akaushi beer rice bowl is a local cuisine in Aso consisting of a bowl of rice put in a mildly sweet sauce and topped with Akaushi beef and egg.

 

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General information  

 

 

 

Aso

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Amakusa travel guide

 

Amakusa is situated on an archipelago consisting of several island on the

west side of Kumamoto. It possesses a beautiful lush green landscape and

natural geological formations giving the islands the designation “national

Geopark”. Marine activities such dolphin watching, boat tours, seafood & 

local delicacies can be enjoyed. Amakusa also has an important historical

significance to Christians.

 

 

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Exploring Amakusa 

 

Amakusa Gokyo / Pearl line

Amakusa Gokyo or Amakusa five bridges, is a general term for five bridges which connects from Misumi at the Udo peninsula to the Oyano island, the Nagaura island, Ikejima, Maejima, and Amakusa Kamishima, was built in 1966. The area on the National road route 266 called as the Pearl Line.

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Amakusa cruise

Connecting the islands of Amakusa with the inland of Kumamoto via the Uto Peninsula are Amakusa Gokyo or Amakusa Five Bridge. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Amakusa from the sea on a cruise.

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Christian Pilgrimage sites

 

Oe Cathedral 

The oldest Catholic Church in Amakusa and was one of the first churches built right after the ban on Christianity was lifted. The and Romanesque-style architecture and the chalky white structure was rebuilt in 1933 by a French missionary priest named Father Garnier using his own money.

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Sakitsu Village / UNESCO World Heritage

A Gothic-looking church is located on a cove of a fishing village. In 1934, a French priest Augustin Halbout MEP purchased the premises of the former village headman and built a wooden and concrete finished church, with Tetsukawa Yosuke’s design and construction.

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Amakusa Shiro Memorial Hall

The theme Museum shows History of Christianity in Amakusa and  Shimabara Rebellion which was a peasant uprising against bakufu’s persecution of Christians under the leadership of Amakusa Shiro in 1637.

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Tomioka Castle Ruins

Built in 1602, one year after Terasawa Shimanokami hirotaka came to Amakusa. Although Amakusa ruled by proxy for Terasawa from Tomioka Castle, he revelled with his army in the Shimabara Rebellion in 1637. After the rebellion, Yamasaki Kainokami Ieharu ruled from the castle, and which was restored and enlarged to its present form.

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Featured sites

Sengan moutain Observatory

Ariake Octopus Street

Oppai Stone or breast stone

 

Amakusa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Kumamoto travel guide

 

Kumamoto is the 3rd largest city in Kyushu located almost in the center

of Kyushu, with Aso region on the east side and the Ariake Sea on the

west side. There is one of the Japan’s three great castles, Kumamoto Castle.

Shimotori shopping street is one of the largest shopping arcades in Japan

where you can enjoy shopping and local cuisines.

 

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Exploring Kumamoto  

 

Kumamoto Castle

The Castle is one of the three great castles and one of the 100 best places in Japan to view cherry blossoms. Due to the Earthquakes in 2016, the Castle have heavy damages and many of Castle buildings were destroyed. After that the restoration activities are being performed as fast as possible.

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Sakurano-baba Josaien         

Josaien is located in Sakurano-baba, at the foot of Kumamoto Castle, one of Japan’s three major castles. It is a popular tourist attraction designed to enhance the appeal of the old castle town and convey to visitors the food, his tory and cultural traditions of the region from Kumamoto Castle, a symbol of the Kumamoto-city.

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Suizenji-koen Park

Imitated the beautiful scenery of Japan, is a refined circular garden of Momoyama period style and represents the 53 Stations of the Tokaido Road including Mt. Fuji. The fresh springs in the garden release clean, cold water,  which flows there from Mount Aso via underground currents.

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Shimo-tori Shopping Street       

The largest shopping arcade in Kumamoto-prefecture.  The center of fashion and amusement where department stores and boutiques line up and also there are gourmet area where cafes and restaurants including local cousin restaurants opened daytime and night time.

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Kumamoto City Tram         

The convenient public transportation to travel in the Kumamoto-city.   There are two lines ;  A line and B line. Most of the stops on the A line and B line are the same. Popular stops that both lines go to include  Suizenji-koen Park, Kumamoto Castle, Shimo-tori Shopping Street and the Kumamoto Kotsu Centre Bus Station.

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General information  

 

Kumamoto

 

 

 

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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.

 

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Where to explore

 

Hitoyoshi Castle Ruins

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Japanese style accommodation, Ryokan

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Hitoyoshi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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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.

 

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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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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Kumamoto Castle after the Earthquakes as of Jan. 13, 2021

Five years have passed since the Earthquakes on April 14, 2016.

Now the restoration activities are being performed as fast as possible.

 

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Amakusa / UNESCO Hidden Christian sites 2 days tour

 

Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region

has been registered on  UNESCO World Heritage in 2018, Japanese Christianity has a long

history of continuing faith while coexisting with Japanese traditional religion Shinto and General

society.

 

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

Hidden Christian Site in Nagasaki,  Shimabara and Amakusa Regions bear unique testimony

to the tradition of people and their communities who secretly transmitted their faith in

Christianity while surviving in the midst of the conventional society and its religions during

the time of prohibition.

 

Amakusa is the birthplace of Amakusa Shiro who was the leader of Shimabara Rebellion occurred

in Shimabara in 1637.

And there are two World Heritage sites in Amakusa ; Oe Cathedral and Sakitsu Village.

 

The tour introduces how Christians have been continued their faith since Christianity was

propagated to Japan, by visiting Hidden Christian sites in Amakusa in Kumamoto-prefecture.

 

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 Location of Amakusa

 

　　

 

 

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Tour conditions

 

The tour is the private tour exclusively for your group.

・Minimum number : 2 person

・Maxum number : 30 person

・Tour date : please specify the date

・Accommodations is selected as per your required grade, room conditions and budget

    and the location is considered sightseeing, dinner and nightlife as well.

・English speaking tour attendant escorts your journey to produce a pleasant trip.

・Chartered vehicle is utilized as per number of person.

 

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Day 1  

 

Itinerary

 

8:00 Depart   Fukuoka-city

Transfer to  Amakusa via Kumamoto ( 3 hours )

Travel Amakusa Gokyo / Pearl line

Visit Amakusa Shiro Memorial Hall

Visit UNESCO World Heritage sites : Oe Cathedral , Sakitsu Village

Stay at Amakusa

 

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Where to explore

 

Amakusa Gokyo / Pearl line

Amakusa Gokyo or Amakusa five bridges, is a general term for five bridges which connects 

from Misumi at the Udo peninsula to the Oyano island, the Nagaura island, Ikejima, Maejima,

and Amakusa Kamishima, was built in 1966. The area on the National road route 266 called

as the Pearl Line.

 

First Bridge

Second Bridge

Fourth Bridge

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Amakusa Shiro Memorial Hall

The theme Museum shows History of Christianity in Amakusa and Shimabara Rebellion in

Harajo Castle Ruins which was a peasant uprising agaist bakufu’s persecution of Christians

under the leadership of Amakusa Shiro in 1637.

 

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Oe Cathedral 

The oldest Catholic Church in Amakusa and was one of the first churches built right after the

ban on Christianity was lifted. The and Romanesque-style architecture and the chalky white

structure was rebuilt in 1933 by a French missionary priest named Father Garnier using his

own money and contributions from local Christians living in the area.

 

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Sakitsu Village  / UNESCO World Heritage

A Gothic-looking church is located on a cove of a fishing village. In 1934, a French priest

Augustin Halbout MEP purchased the premises of the former village headman and built a

wooden and concrete finished church, with Tetsukawa Yosuke’s design and construction.

He placed the altar at the very site where fumie or a test to ensure non-allegiance to

Christianity had been conducted.

 

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Day 2  

 

Itinerary

 

Leave Hotel in Amakusa

Exploring Amakusa

 Tomioka Castle Ruins , Matushima area

Amakusa Cruise

Transfer to  Fukuoka-city

17:00 Arrive at Fukuoka-city

 

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Where to explore

 

Tomioka Castle Ruins

Tomioka Castle was built in 1602, one year after Terasawa Shimanokami hirotaka came to

Amakusa. Although Amakusa ruled by proxy for Terasawa from Tomioka Castle, he revelled

with his army in the Shimabara Rebellion in 1637. After the rebellion, Yamasaki Kainokami

Ieharu ruled from the castle, and which was restored and enlarged to its present form. 

 

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Amakusa cruise

Connecting the islands of Amakusa with the inland of Kumamoto via the Uto Peninsula are

Amakusa Gokyo or Amakusa Five Bridge. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Amakusa

from the sea on a cruise.

 

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Exploring featured sites

 

Sengan moutain Observatory

Ariage Octopus Street

Oppai Stone or breast stone

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Contact us  

 

Tour results

We are offering various types of tours, and the tour results up to now are shown links below.        

Tailor-made tour     Study tour     Golf tour

 

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