If you’ve already tackled Japan’s major hubs such as Tokyo’s Akihabara, Kyoto’s temples, Osaka’s food scene, you’re probably ready for something new.
If you’re craving something quieter, greener, and way less commercial, the Aso region in Kumamoto Prefecture is the perfect contender for your next Japan trip.
A far cry from the flashing lights of Japan’s bigger cities, Mount Aso sits at the heart of one of the world’s largest volcanic calderas and offers sweeping grasslands, scenic drives, steaming crater views, and quiet onsen towns that make you forget all about the struggle of big city life.
It’s the kind of place where slow travelers thrive. No, you won’t face rush hour train rides and tourist traps here.
And no, the Shinkansen doesn’t go here. But renting a car in Kyushu is cheap and easy (as long as you’ve got an International Driver’s Permit), and let me tell you—this is one of those “worth the drive” sort of destinations.
It’s still under the radar for most international travelers, which means you get the peace and space to really take it all in.
We spent two full days in the Aso area and, as nature lovers, fell head over heels in love with it.
There’s a lot to see here — way more than you can fit in two days. After a ton of research, we narrowed our stops to the ones that felt most worth the time.
While fog did throw a wrench in our plans at a couple of key viewpoints, we’ve included them in this guide in case you’re inspired to visit for yourself (and you happen to blessed with clearer skies).
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Where To Base Yourself In The Aso Area
Mount Aso is located in Kumamoto Prefecture, and the largest nearby city is Kumamoto. A stay in Kumamoto is a decent choice if you’re traveling by train and need a city with well-connected train and bus services.
If you’re traveling via the bullet train, head for Kumamoto Station. From there, you can either rent a car or take a local train to the Aso area on the Hohi Main Line, which takes 90 minutes.
Since we had a rental car, we had the luxury of staying in whichever city/town appealed to us the most.
The top two areas I was debating between were Kurokawa Onsen and Aso.
Kurokawa Onsen is a small onsen village (home to mostly small, family-owned ryokan) located about 35 minutes away from Mount Aso. Meanwhile, Aso is more of a direct base for exploring the Aso-Kuju National Park area.
After comparing availability, accommodation costs, and amenities, we went with a resort in the Aso area, and we’re so glad we did. This family-friendly resort was amazing in every way possible!
HOTEL SPOTLIGHT: ASO AREA
Kamenoi Hotel Aso
Wake up facing the most beautiful of peaks, Mount Aso.
Spend your mornings exploring the expansive grounds, your evenings soaking in the communal baths, and partaking in nightly guest activities.
And the decadent dinner/breakfast buffets? Chef’s kiss!
How To Spend 2 Days In The Mount Aso Area
Kurokawa Onsen
Located in the forested hills of Kumamoto Prefecture is a little tucked away onsen village called Kurokawa Onsen. Compared to other popular onsen towns in Kyushu like Beppu or Yufuin, Kurokawa is quieter, more rustic, and designed for soaking and relaxing amidst mother nature.
While tiny, it’s easily one of the most picturesque onsen villages we saw in Kyushu—think wooden bridges, stone paths, and high-end ryokan shrouded by Japanese maple trees.
Many of the traditional ryokan there have beautiful outdoor baths surrounded by greenery, and you can hop between them using a bath-hopping pass.
We had originally planned to try out a few of the public bathhouses, but since we already had a room at Kamenoi Hotel Aso (with its own hot spring baths) that night, we decided to skip the extra soak.
Instead, we spent our late morning enjoying a VERY delicious lunch at Tsuji no Chaya, a small roadside teahouse owned by an elderly couple.
We spent the rest of our short visit popping into sweets shops, trying more onsen-boiled eggs, and just wandering the quiet streets while admiring all the traditional architecture.
Even without bathing, Kurokawa Onsen was such a cute detour—a peaceful, scenic pocket of Kyushu that’s perfect for a slow mid-morning stroll.
💡 Fun Fact: Kurokawa Onsen has earned many accolades, including a two-star rating in the Michelin Guide to Japan and the top spot in the “Atmosphere” category of Japan’s best hot springs!
Daikanbō Lookout
From Kurokawa Onsen, we headed south towards Aso, home to one of the world’s largest active calderas.
During our drive, it was foggy. Like next-level foggy. Since it was already so hard to see anything on the road, we already knew going to any viewpoints that day would be futile and a total bust.
Should you be granted with better weather, make your way to Daikanbō Lookout, one of the most iconic viewpoints in the area. On a clear day, you’ll get sweeping panoramic views over the Aso caldera and the five peaks that form its distinct ridgeline.
It’s a quick stop, but absolutely worth it if the weather cooperates! Check visibility before committing, as fog can completely blanket the view (we unfortunately learned that firsthand).
Enjoy your hotel to the fullest
Afterwards, check into your hotel—and take your time here. A big part of the draw to Aso is slowing down, especially if you’ve booked a ryokan or resort-style hotel with onsen facilities and half board (dinner and breakfast included).
Many of the best accommodations in this region come with communal baths, open-air private onsen, beautiful mountain views, and generous dinner buffets or kaiseki-style meals.
Instead of cramming your day with too many stops, treat your hotel as a destination in itself.
Wander the grounds, take a bath before dinner, then relax again after. The whole point of coming to Aso is to unwind in nature—and your first day is the perfect time to settle into that slower rhythm.
We chose to stay at Kamenoi Hotel Aso.
We freakin’ LOVED this hotel. Aside from having 5+ communal onsen baths per gender, the property itself was a playground—literally! They have a massive open field that looks like a golf course, but it’s actually just for hotel guests to relax, play sports, and run around on.
And then there was dinner. The buffet honestly blew us away. We went in with low expectations (as you do with buffets in the USA), but everything was incredibly fresh—YES… even the sushi.
We kept asking ourselves, “how is this all-you-can-eat?!” and went back for seconds… and thirds. The food was top-notch quality.
Needless to say, our nightly dinner buffets were hands-down some of the best meals of the trip.
Kusasenri Grassland
The next day, we set off to explore as much of Aso-Kuju National Park as possible. We started with Kusasenri Grassland, a huge open plateau at the base of Mount Eboshi.
In the US, we’re used to paved paths that keep us off the grass, but this was one of those “walk wherever you want” on top of the grass kind of places—no real trails, just soft grassy hills you can climb for panoramic views of the surrounding peaks.
If you don’t feel comfortable exploring on your own and want a little bit of trail guidance, I recommend the Mount Eboshi Loop (that starts at the Kusasenri Parking Lot).
The landscape here was a complete 180 from what we’d seen so far—wide open grasslands, crater lakes, and panoramic views.
It was so foggy during our time here, but that didn’t stop us from snapping some really pretty photos of the area.
Mt. Aso Nakadake Crater
From there, we drove over to Mt. Aso Nakadake Crater. After parking, we spent time exploring around the edge of the crater (depending on volcanic activity levels, of course). The first thing we noticed was the eggy, sulfuric smell.
It sure was active, with plumes of steam rising from the center—a cool contrast to the soft green grasslands we had just come from!
Catch a glimpse of Komezuka
Before wrapping up our time at the main Mount Aso area, we made sure to stop for a look at Komezuka, a perfectly cone-shaped volcanic hill about 50 meters high. It’s so picturesque during springtime!
If you think about it, it kind of looks like a giant matcha mochi from afar. Hiking/climbing it is prohibited, but the view from the surrounding road is definitely worth pulling over for.
After heading back to the main visitors center to eat lunch and enjoy a mid-day coffee, we headed out to our next and final stop: Sensuikyo Gorge.
Sensuikyo Gorge
Sensuikyo Gorge is not as widely visited as you’d think given its extreme prettiness, but maybe that’s because its bloom period is rather short.
This area is particularly famous in mid to late May when around 50,000 Miyama Kirishima azaleas explode into full bloom. The whole hillside turns into a pink sea—something we couldn’t stop photographing!
You can either take a short walk along the trail to immerse yourself in the views or just enjoy it right from the parking lot.
This spot was a non-negotiable for me — our trip fell perfectly within the gorge’s peak bloom period, so I knew I had to see it with my own eyes! Outside of that season, it’s probably skippable—you can decide for yourself.
Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine
The last landmark on our list was Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine, an atmospheric spot nestled in the forests near Takamori, on the southeastern side of Mt. Aso.
We ended up skipping this one—not because we didn’t want to go, but because we lingered too long at the coffee shops and souvenir stands near the national park visitor center!
That said, this shrine is absolutely staying on our list for next time. The moss-covered lanterns lining the stone path through the cypress forest give it a Ghibli-like energy, and behind the main hall is Ugetoiwa, a sacred boulder with a 10-meter hole clean through it.
According to local legend, a demon punched its way out—and now the rock symbolizes overcoming difficult challenges. If you make it here, let me live vicariously through your photos!
How To Get To The Aso Area
The best way to explore the Aso region is by renting a car. While public transportation does exist, it’s limited and can eat up valuable time—especially if you’re trying to see more than just one or two spots.
You can rent a car from Kumamoto or Fukuoka, two major cities in Northern Kyushu with plenty of rental car options.
We rented a car through Toyota Rent-A-Car, but other popular local options include Nippon Rent A Car and Nissan Rent A Car. When we were in Japan, we saw these three brands at nearly all the major airports.
We picked up our car in Fukuoka as part of a week-long Northern Kyushu road trip, but if your focus is just on Aso, Kumamoto is definitely closer and more convenient as a base.
You can compare prices between the major brands using Klook’s car rental search.
Go Logistics-Free: Guided Tours Of Mount Aso
If the idea of navigating a rental car or planning out an entire road trip feels like too much work, you’re not out of luck. There are several full-day guided tours that take you through the Aso area and beyond—no international license or navigation skills required.
Most of these tours depart from either Fukuoka or Kumamoto, and they tend to pack a lot in since there’s so much to appreciate and see. Depending on the itinerary, a tour might include a mix of the following:
- Kumamoto Castle – One of Japan’s top castles, beautifully restored and historically significant.
- Mount Aso – The star of the region, with crater visits depending on volcanic activity.
- Kusasenri Grassland – An expansive plain where you can walk around and take in sweeping views of the caldera.
- Kurokawa Onsen – One of Japan’s most picturesque and atmospheric hot spring towns.
- Yufuin Onsen – A charming hot spring town surrounded by mountains, with boutique shopping and art galleries.
- Takachiho Gorge – A bit farther out, but absolutely worth the detour if it’s included. Think boat rides through lava-formed canyons. We didn’t make it here ourselves, but are definitely going to try on our next road trip through Kyushu!
Here are the top combo tours that I think will provide you with the most well-rounded experience:
- From Fukuoka: Kamishirokumano Shrine, Mt. Aso, and Kurokawa Onsen
- From Fukuoka: Kumamoto Castle, Aso Farm Land, Kusasenri, & Aso Crater
Driving in Japan: What to Expect
This was our first time driving in Japan, and yes—it was also our first time driving on the left side of the road. We were nervous at first, but honestly, it was more manageable than we expected!
The hardest part? Leaving the car rental lot in the city for the first time. You’re nervous and just getting the feel of a Japanese car where some features are opposite (like the windshield wipers and the turn signals).
The IC (interchanges, or highways) can also be pretty confusing. Google Maps is a bit delayed at telling you which lane you need to be in, so it’s best to have the passenger read the physical road signs and tell you which exit to take / which lane to get into.
The easiest part? Driving around Mt. Aso and the rest of the countryside! It’s mostly open country roads with low traffic, clear signage, and well-paved roads.
You might hit a little congestion around Mt. Aso itself, but it’s typically just people entering or exiting parking lots—not aggressive city traffic.
Important: You must have an International Driving Permit (IDP) to rent and drive a car in Japan. Get it before your trip—Japan doesn’t issue them locally. If you don’t have one, they won’t rent to you. We are based in the USA and got ours at our local AAA.
When you rent the car, choose the option that includes ETC. ETC is the automated toll system that lets you drive right past toll gates in the ETC lanes. Once you go to return your car, you’ll pay all your toll fees you’ve accumulated on your trip.
Planning Your Trip To Japan?
Here are a few other useful travel guides to help you plan the perfect trip to Japan.
Kyushu Region
- 10 Reasons Kyushu Is Japan’s Best-Kept Secret: Volcanoes, Onsen, and More!
- How To Spend A Perfect Day At Yufuin Onsen, Japan
- 15 Unmissable Things To Do In Beppu For First-Timers
- 7 Best Ryokans In Beppu, Japan (With Private Onsen)
- 10 Amazing Onsen Towns In Japan To Visit On Your Next Trip
