A prairie located in the remains of a caldera at the foot of Mt. Eboshi, one of the five peaks of Mt. Aso. The location is known for its picturesque and idyllic scenery—horses and cows freely graze in the area against the backdrop of the mountain’s smoking middle peak. Considered one of the most representative sights in the Aso area, many people come here to enjoy the atmosphere.

"This shopping mall is located five minutes from the Mifune Interchange on the Kyushu Expressway. Designed around the concept of the ""creation of a community overflowing with kindness,"" the mall is occupied by some 200 establishments. Combining wide selection with comfort, this regional shopping center boasts some of the largest grounds of any such facility in Kyushu, resulting in a friendly, stress-free shopping space. The mall was designed to be both environmentally and people friendly and, as a trendsetting destination, is a gathering space for large numbers of local residents no matter the time of day or day of the week."

This is a one-hour drive course that connects Yufuin in the north and Kumamoto Prefecture’s Aso-gun Minami Oguni-machi Town in the south, selected as one of Japan’s greatest 100 mountain range roads. There are spots where one can enjoy views of the Kuju Mountain Range, hot springs, and Kogen gourmet food. There are many spots where one can feel close to the mountains such as the Tadewara Wetlands which formed from springs at the base of mountains in the Kyushu volcanic group and Yamanami Farm. Coming from the direction of Fukuoka/Oita, get off the Oita Expressway at “Yufuin IC” and take National Road 210, then enter the Yamanami Highway.

This hot spring spa located about a 3-minute walk from JR Heisei Station is open 24 hours a day. It's calcium - sodium chloride spring wells up from 1,000 meters underground. Besides warming you up nicely, it's said to help improve blood circulation. The natural hot spring water is used for not only bathtubs but also showers. It has a large public bath, an open-air bath, and a sauna. You'll want to stay and relax all day.

This tourist spot is in Minamioguni Town, Aso County. Located half-way along the Yamanami Highway connecting Oita Prefecture and Kumamoto Prefecture, it is the largest drive-in facility on the road. Facilities include a restaurant, a shop, a gas station, and a drive-in campground. Their toilet is available 24 hours a day. It's a great spot to stop in for a break while driving.

This event hall is in Mashiki Town, Kamimashiki County, Kumamoto Prefecture. The first floor consists of a roughly 8,000 square meter exhibition hall, and the second floor has a convention hall, conference rooms, and a restaurant. Their ample parking facilities can accommodate 2,200 vehicles, so it's often the venue for large prefectural events, seminars, and training sessions.

This shrine is located in Takamori Town, Aso County. There's a large rock formation on the grounds with a gaping hole passing through it called the Ugeto Iwa. Legend says a Shinto deity kicked the cavity open. As making a hole in rock isn't so easy, it's thought worshiping there brings success and victory. The shrine's sacred Nagi trees are said to bring blessings too. As the leaves are tough to pull off, it's thought they will give spousal relationships longevity. The approach to the shine is lined with nearly 100 lanterns.

This is a large-scale stone arch aqueduct built in 1854 by Yasunosuke Futa, the village chief of Yabe, in order to send water to the dry Shiraitodai area, and is designated as an important cultural asset. At present, access to some areas is limited due to the effects of the Kumamoto earthquake and water discharge has been stopped.

This popular eatery boasting over one hundred years of history is frequently featured in magazines and television shows. In the famous Aka beef bowl, chewy, rare-cooked lean fresh meat is packed onto a voluminous bowl of rice, a wonderful dish where umami flavor flows over the palette after just one mouthful. On holidays and in sightseeing seasons, visitors form a long line even before opening.

This strolling garden has been noted as one of Japan's Places of Scenic Beauty as well as a Historic Site. Construction of the garden was started by Lord Hosokawa Tadatoshii, who was the first Hosokawa lord of the Higo province and Kumamoto, and would continue for three generations. The large 10,000 square meter lake in the garden is filled with water from the Aso spring. The park opens at 7:30 AM from March to October and at 8:30 AM from November to February and a morning stroll is highly recommended. Horseback archery events are held in the spring and fall and during the summer Noh theater performances are held by fire light. Entrance to the park is a three-minute walk from the Suizenji Park stop on the Kumamoto streetcar.

Located on a sprawling plot of land at the foot of Mt. Aso, this zoo boasts nearly 500 specimens from approximately 100 species, including about 200 bears. It is famous for the chimpanzee Pan-kun, his daughter Purin-chan, and the dog James (currently James II), all of whom have appeared on television programs. It offers visitors many opportunities to get close and personal with the animals, including an exhibit where they can experience feeding the bears as well as a dog and cat petting facility.

This three-story museum in Aso City is dedicated to Mt. Aso, an active volcano. The second floor's permanent exhibit features panel displays of the area's geology and the current conditions of the volcano. The third floor has video facilities showcasing Aso's natural environment and the area's folk culture. The museum lets visitors view the craters in real time, helpful when access is restricted due to bad weather or volcanic activity. Head to the first floor for the gift shop and a restaurant serving light fare.

This park is divided into the three zones of animal petting zone, seasonal flowers vegetation zone, and amusement park zone. Now, due to reconstruction work following the Kumamoto earthquake, the flower bed around the botanical garden, animal petting area, part of animal museum exhibition area (elephants, giraffes) and part of the amusement park have been opened free to the public. It is around a 10-minute walk from the Kumamoto tram’s Doshokubutsuen Irigiuchi Station.

This is a first-class river (a specified waterway of special importance protected by the government) which flows through the centre of Kumamoto City. It is classic example of Minami Aso spring water, and it was also selected as one of the 100 best waters in Japan by the Environmental Agency. The normal temperature of this spring water is 14°C and 60 tons per minute gushes out into the Shirakawa River, and it is possible to take spring water from the source home. Heat treated water is also for sale.

This is an observatory on the prefectural road Route 28. Take the short mountain road from the roadside car park, and one can see all from Mt. Kuju to Komezuka, the five peaks of Mt. Aso, and other Aso scenery. In addition, the southern outer crater rim promenade facing the summit of Mt. Tawarayama begins from here. It also features convenient shopping and toilet facilities.

Near the beginning of the Edo period, Shiro Amakusa led a popular uprising fueled by faith that would become known as the “Shimabara Rebellion.” The “Amakusa Shiro Memorial Hall” introduces the conflict’s background and historical context in an easy-to-understand manner using powerful video footage and other materials. Come trace the origins of this epic struggle for freedom and peace.

This pass is situated along National Route 265 on the way from Ichinomiya Town to Takamori Town. Here visitors can enjoy a variety-rich winding road while taking in views of the grassy plains of Aso on either side. The sight of the dynamic road passing in front of Mt. Neko, one of the five peaks of Mt. Aso, is reminiscent of the Great Wall of China. The scenery which sprawls away into the distance at the top of the winding pass is famous amongst motorcycle riders and amateur photographers. The pass was awarded a Special Prize by the Kumamoto Kando Project, a project which seeks to discover new Kumamoto sightseeing destinations for a new age.

It is located approximately 50 minutes away from the Ueki Interchange on the Kyushu Expressway. This gorge stretches within the Aso-Kuju National Park, and is a scenic area that has been selected as one of the Top 100 Forested Valleys in Japan, the 100 elections of the waterfall in Japan and the Top 100 Famous Water. Also known as Kikuchi Suigen, the underground water of Mt. Asogairin, which flows between a broadleaf forest, creates various lakes and waterfalls of various sizes, creating a landscape filled with variety. The average water temperature in the summer is 13 degrees Celsius, so it is called a natural cooler and is popular as a summer resort area. You can enjoy fresh greenery in the spring, colorful leaves in the autumn and frosty flowers that bloom over the whole mountain in the winter.

"Ichifusa Dam was built in 1960 in Mizukami Village, Kuma County, Kumamoto Prefecture. Yoshino cherries were planted around the dam lake when the dam was built, and today the lakeshore is a renowned destination for viewing cherry blossoms in spring. The area's ""10 thousand"" cherries sprawl along the shore for 14 kilometers, and visitors can appreciate their beautiful blossoms. A cherry blossom festival is also held here during the season, and a portion of the trees are lit up at night to delight visitors."

This is a waterfall which is said to have been made by an eruption which occurred about 90,000 years ago, which also created Aso’s caldera lake. This is a small waterfall with a height of about 10 meters and a width of about 20 meters, but the appearance of sunlight shining through the curtain-like broadly cascading water is extremely beautiful. “Urami no taki” which is enjoying the waterfall by going around to the other side of the fall is also popular. An event is also held in the springtime in which the far side of the waterfall is illuminated.

"A Gothic style church reconstructed in 1934. The composed and dignified building has a spire with a crucifix on top. The chapel's floor is covered with tatami mats, which is rare in Japan. The ""hidden Christians"" from the hamlet of Sakitsu on Yokaku Bay maintained their faith for nearly 240 years in the face of intense persecution that started with the complete ban of the religion in 1638. Also known as the ""Church of the Sea,"" the whole fishing port area where it stands was selected as an Important National Cultural Landscape in 2011."

Yachioyaza, one of Japan’s Important Cultural Properties, is a playhouse built in 1910. Since opening they have put on a variety of shows, but with the changing era the number of visitors fell and the place closed. However, thanks to the ardent fund-raising activities of groups both old and young, restoration took place over 30 years and it is now a working playhouse again. It is also possible to take a look behind the scenes of the theater, from the revolving stage to the theater basement.

A hot spring district boasting a 1,800 year long history. Bifurcated by the Tsuetate River, steam rises from the ground throughout this hot spring town known as the retreat of the Kyushu region. In the early Heian period, the great monk Kobo Daishi conveyed his impression of the efficacy of the waters found here through a poem, stating, Entering the hot water/praying for disease to be healed/many return home leaving behind their canes. This hot spring district remains beloved by many today. Tsuetate means standing cane, and according to legend this name is derived from people leaving their bamboo canes standing here, which then grew leaves and branches. The town is dotted with 26 source springs, and the waters gushing forth from colorless mildly saline common salt springs forms part of the town's lovely scenery. The Michikusa Annainin-kai society provides local guides with which visitors can talk and explore the area, and one fun activity is to stroll amidst the area's old fashioned townscape and many bathhouses. Advance reservation is required to use this local tour guide service.