Kyushu Kumamoto Aso Volcano Kumamoto Castle One Day Tour

The following itinerary is for reference only. The specific attractions, tour sequence and time may be changed according to the situation on the day.

Aso volcano contains the largest lava rock in the world.

Local professional "veteran drivers" provide reliable and considerate services, and understand the local customs and customs of Japan in detail.

Enjoy the idyllic scenery and atmosphere, and enjoy the majestic landscape of Mt. Umodo, one of the five mountains in Aso, and the ponds formed by rainwater.

08:00

Fukuoka

Starting from 2024/06/10, it will be distributed every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, in groups of 2 people
Start your beautiful journey today

Collect boarding and alighting packages:08:00 Lawson Fukuoka Oriental Hotel (in front of Hakata Station Chikushiguchi)

ローソンオリエンタルホテル Fukuoka Store

4-23 Hakataekichuogai, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka, 812-0012 Japan
※We will welcome all distinguished guests. We will not wait for late arrivals, so it is recommended to wait at the meeting location 10 minutes before departure.

Please understand and cooperate with each other and follow the instructions of the supervisor.

10:30

Kumamoto

▼Aso Volcano-Nakadake Crater (about 50 minutes, free time, please pay for the crater shuttle bus and other entrance fees by yourself)

(When Aso Volcano issues a notice prohibiting entry, the itinerary will be adjusted according to the on-site conditions. ※If the crater is restricted, first go to Shirakawa Suiyuan-Kusasenri-Aso Station-Suizenji Temple-Kumamoto Castle)

Mount Aso is located in the northeastern part of Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu. It is a famous active volcano in Japan and has a caldera terrain that is rare in the world. It is also one of the few places where you can view active volcanoes up close. It allows you to overlook the volcano crater at close range and stare at the bursts of white smoke that are constantly emitting, making your journey feel the amazing power and spectacular scenery of nature.
▼Shirakawa water source (visit during crater control period)
Shirakawa water source was selected by the Environmental Protection Agency as one of the top 100 famous waters. The water quality here is glycolic and can be drunk raw. It maintains a normal temperature of 14°C and 60 tons of water gushes out from the ground every minute. It also becomes the source of the Shirakawa River that flows along the center of Kumamoto City.

11:30

Kumamoto

▼Aso Mountain Grass Senri (about 50 minutes, including lunch time by yourself, you can move around freely, please pay for your own lunch)

Aso Sancao Senri is a prairie located at the northern foot of Mt. Mugabo. There is a pond formed by rainwater in the center of the prairie. There are also cows and horses grazing on the grassland. You can see various scenery throughout the year. In the 20,000 hectares of endless grassland, taking a leisurely walk in this green grassland, watching the free cattle and sheep, and breathing the fresh air of the mountains will make you relaxed and happy, and make you feel like you are in a fairyland.

12:50

Kumamoto

▼A stop on Aso Road (about 20 minutes)

Mount Aso is home to one of the world's largest large calderas and the majestic Mt. Wairin. There is a road stop at Kukino, Minami Aso Village, at its southern foot.

The facility mainly houses souvenir shops selling agricultural and livestock products, and there is always a constant flow of customers.

14:20

Kumamoto

▼Suizenji Fun Garden (about 50 minutes, free time)

This garden located southeast of Kumamoto Castle was created by Hosokawa Tadayoshi (1586-1641), who became the first lord of the Hosokawa clan in 1632. In the 1630s, he built a temple and a teahouse called "Suizenji Temple" here.

Suizenji Temple's "Seijoen" is a circular garden built around a pond, and is a nationally designated scenic spot. The pond is fed with spring water from Aso Mountain, and the name of the garden is taken from the sentence "The garden becomes interesting by crossing the sun" in "Returning to Come Back" written by Tao Yuanming, a Chinese poet from the Eastern Jin Dynasty. There are two stone bridges at the entrance that date back to the Meiji Era (1868-1912). There is an artificial mountain called "Tsukuyama" on the other side of the lake to the east. The symmetrical shape of the mountain is very eye-catching and reminds people of Mount Fuji. To the north of the garden is Demizu Shrine, which was built in 1878. Just the previous year, the "Southoku War" broke out when Samurai warriors from Satsuma (today's Kagoshima Prefecture) rebelled against the Meiji government. Large areas of Kumamoto City were destroyed. A battle. Legend has it that during the rebel attack, artillery was deployed on this miniature Mount Fuji in the garden. It is also said that the pine trees here were cultivated from bonsai cultivated by Tadori Hosokawa. A little further on, there is the Inari Shrine with its vermilion torii gate, which is dedicated to the God of Harvest.

Dysprosium horses and cultivated flowers

Along the eastern end of the garden is a straight avenue paved with gravel. Since the completion of Izumi Shrine in 1878, the "Yababusa" (a contest of shooting arrows on galloping horseback) held on this road has been the main attraction of the shrine. Part of the Spring Festival and Autumn Festival. The Hosokawa family are representatives of Japan's "Takeda-ryu" ryu dysprosium horse, but now the performance is more like a religious ceremony than a martial art. Along this avenue, you can see five of the "Higo Six Flowers": Higo camellia, Higo camellia, Higo peony, Higo chrysanthemum and Higo irises. At the southern end of the avenue, there is a small space displaying the "Bonseok" of Hosokawa Ryu (white sand, pebbles and rocks arranged on a black lacquer plate to reproduce the famous landscape in miniature). These are different from the traditional large-scale "Bonseok". ", full of fun and endless aftertaste.

The Noh Theater illuminated by pine trees

There are four cherry blossom trees at the southern end of the garden, leading to the Noh stage. Noh theater, which began in the 14th century, is a model of Japanese classical art that integrates dance, music and drama. It is also one of the oldest existing singing and dancing performing art forms in the world. Hosokawa Tadōtoshi's grandfather, Hosokawa Fujitaka (1534-1610), was the lord of the clan and an active Noh drummer. Therefore, all members of the Hosokawa family became enthusiastic supporters of Noh drama. This theater was first built in 1878 and burned down in 1965. The current theater was moved here in 1986 by the Matsui family, the eighth generation lord of the castle, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Emperor Showa's reign. During the summer months, nightly Noh performances are held here under the light of pine trees (torches).

At the west end of the garden is the 400-year-old thatched-roof building "The Ancient and Modern Teaching Room." It is very relaxing to drink a cup of matcha here, overlooking the pond and enjoying the beautiful garden scenery.

15:30

Kumamoto

▼Kumamoto Castle (about 60 minutes, free time, admission fee is at your own expense)

Kumamoto Castle is ranked as one of the "Three Castles in Japan". Kato Kiyomasa, the first generation lord of the Kumamoto Domain and a well-known fortress builder, spent seven years starting from the 6th year of Keicho (1601) to build the world-famous castle. After the Kato family was demoted, it became the city where the Hosokawa family lived.

The higher you go, the more you want to turn back. There are many places worth seeing, such as the special stone wall known as the "Musha Kai" and the gorgeous Honmaru Palace, which are symbols of Kumamoto City. The cherry blossoms that bloom in spring are also stunning, attracting many flower lovers. The Great Kumamoto Earthquake in 2016 severely damaged the castle tower, and the castle tower was finally restored in the spring of 2021. Kumamoto Castle, which took more than 400 years to build, stands on a slightly higher hill in the center of Kumamoto and is worth a visit. In addition to visiting the famous Kumamoto Castle in Kumamoto, don’t forget to stop by Sakura-nobaba Castle Saien Garden next to Kumamoto Castle. Castle Saien Garden is a sightseeing area planned with the concept of a castle town. It has historical and cultural experience facilities. Uzaza" and the gourmet commercial facility "Sakura no Koji" are great places to enjoy Kumamoto gourmet food and buy souvenirs.

16:30

return

We happily ended the day's tour and started to return.

18:20

Fukuoka

LAWSON Hakata Station Chikushiguchi Store, 2 Chome-2-2 Hakataekihigashi, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka, 812-0013 Japan

*The above itinerary schedule may be adjusted due to weather, road conditions and other reasons, please understand.

Fee included

1）Vehicle service fees listed in the itinerary

2) Vehicle fuel costs, tolls, and highway tolls

3) Vehicle service time: within 10 hours (Japanese law)

4) Driver and guide service fee (Sea Lion (with driver and guide) within 10 people, Coaster with 17 people or more, minibus or bus with 17 people or more, the actual fee will be adjusted according to the number of people in the group on that day)

5) Reference models: 9-14-seater cars: Toyota HAICE equivalent; 18-22-seater cars: small buses; 22-seater cars and above: large buses. The above vehicles are for reference only. The actual number will be adjusted according to the number of people traveling on the day.

6)Children under 3 years old are free without occupying a seat; children over 3 years old are free with adults

Cost not included

1) Accommodation expenses, meals, attraction tickets, local self-funded projects and other personal consumption expenses

2) It is not recommended to carry luggage on a one-day tour. If you need to carry luggage, please make a note when registering.

3) Other items not mentioned in the above [fee included]

Precautions:

• After the order is confirmed, the date cannot be changed arbitrarily, and you will be responsible for any losses incurred.
• Be sure to provide complete information (name + number of people + phone number + WeChat ID + pick-up location) when making a reservation to avoid errors that may affect the itinerary.

(3) During the trip, please carry your passport and valuables with you and keep them safe. If there is any loss, theft, damage, etc., you will be responsible for it yourself.

(4) Elderly people, patients with cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, and pregnant women are advised to be accompanied by relatives.

(5) This trip does not accept solo registration from customers under the age of 18. If you want to register, please ask your guardian to sign up for this trip together.

(6) This itinerary is a fixed itinerary for carpooling. Customers who are also participating in this itinerary must abide by the stay time at each attraction and follow the driver's arrangements.

If you want to flexibly adjust your itinerary, please refer to our chartered tour service.

(6) Please note that if you fail to participate or cancel the trip due to personal problems, lateness, etc., no fees will be refunded.

(7) If a person leaves the group on his own during the trip, the transaction will be deemed invalid and no fees will be refunded. And if this results in personal or property safety, you must bear the consequences yourself.

(8) The arrival time of each trip may change due to traffic conditions, weather, festivals, and crowds on the day. If the trip is delayed or canceled due to the aforementioned or other force majeure factors, please forgive me and you will not be able to request a refund on this basis. cost.

(9) Please wear light, suitable travel clothing and shoes to participate in this trip.

(10) Please be sure to abide by local laws and regulations in Japan, and do not carry items prohibited by Japanese law to avoid violating the law and affecting your own rights and interests.

(11) When moving freely, you should pay attention to your own personal and property safety. If you fail to listen to advice and an accident occurs or causes losses, you will be responsible for the consequences.

【Crowd Description】

1. Seniors aged 70 years and above (inclusive) must be in good health and suitable to travel, and must be accompanied by family members or friends over 22 years old throughout the trip.
2. Minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by at least one adult passenger throughout the trip.
3. The elderly need a health certificate. To check the health certificate, please fill it out and submit it to the registration office before traveling (electronic version is available).
4. Pregnant women, people with heart disease, fear of heights and other special groups are not suitable to participate in this tour. There is a risk of being rejected. Please book with caution.
5. This product can be booked by non-mainland guests, but it does not provide language services other than Chinese and Japanese. Please understand.

【Cancellation and Change Rules】

3 days before departure (not included), 100% of the fee will be refunded.

2 to 3 days (inclusive) before departure, 50% of the fee will be refunded.

No refund will be made 1 day (inclusive) before departure.

【Travel Instructions】

1. Pick-up/Gathering

Please be sure to gather at the designated pick-up location at the designated time and do not be late. This product cannot be returned, changed, transferred to other flights, or participated in mid-trip. If you are unable to participate in this itinerary due to your own reasons, you will be responsible for the corresponding losses. Please understand.

2. Things to know when traveling

1) During the group itinerary, you are not allowed to leave the group in advance or leave the group midway. If you choose to leave the group midway, the unfinished part will be deemed to have been abandoned by you, and no fees will be refunded. Any consequences that may occur after the tourists leave the group or leave the group Please bear with your own responsibility for any accidents.

2) During peak tourist seasons or other special circumstances, the departure time of the itinerary may be advanced or slightly delayed (the specific departure time is subject to the tour guide's notification), so please be prepared in advance.

3) The transportation, sightseeing and stay time involved in the itinerary are subject to the actual situation on the day. In the event of special circumstances (such as traffic jams, weather conditions, etc.), without reducing the number of attractions in the itinerary, the tour guide may reasonably adjust the order of attractions in the itinerary based on the actual situation and with the consent of the guest.

1) This itinerary does not include meals, breakfast, lunch and dinner are at your own expense. Please note that some restaurants do not allow outside food to be brought into the restaurant or they only occupy seats without ordering.

3. Local customs/regulations

Please respect local cultural customs when traveling.

4. Weather

1) This product may be adjusted according to weather and other factors. For your safety, the staff has the right to ask guests to suspend outdoor activities and communicate with you to make other arrangements. The specific situation will be subject to the actual situation on the day.

2) In the event of severe weather or other force majeure factors, the park may delay or change the operation time of amusement facilities or program performance times without prior notice, and may even cancel some project operations and performances.

2) The quality of the flowering period is mainly affected by weather conditions. If the best viewing period is not reached, the tour will be dispatched according to the normal schedule. Tourists who are concerned about this please choose to place an order carefully.

5. Meal

1) This product does not include meals, please take care of it yourself.

6. Shopping

1) During the travel itinerary, there are shopping malls and other shopping places in certain scenic spots, restaurants, rest areas and other areas. The above places are not designated shopping places arranged by travel agencies. Please consume rationally according to your own needs and ask for necessary receipts. If a consumer dispute occurs, you must bear the relevant responsibilities and obligations yourself. sorry for the inconveniences caused!

2) There may be privately operated entertainment and consumption venues in the destination. Most of these venues do not have legal business qualifications and have various hidden dangers. For your safety and health, please consider consumption carefully.

Kind tips

1. Passengers please keep your mobile phone open during the tour so that the relevant reception staff can contact you.
2. If you have a history of motion sickness or seasickness, it is recommended that you make preparations to prevent and treat motion sickness or seasickness, so as not to affect your pleasant journey.
3. Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes to participate in the activity, and prepare sunscreen, insect repellent lotion, windproof jacket, camera and other items.
4. Please keep your belongings safe and try not to carry valuables. If they are lost or damaged during the trip, you will be responsible for the loss yourself.

Safety warning

Activities such as swimming, rafting, diving, skiing, skating, playing in the snow, etc. all involve certain risks. Before participating, please act according to your own conditions and fully refer to relevant announcements and suggestions from relevant local departments and other professional institutions.