The fifth day of our Kyushu with kids road trip was nature at Mt. Aso, Takachiho Gorge & Yufuin. Central Kyushu is stunning and fertile with amazing natural resources which ranches and farmers continue to benefit. Traveling through central Kyushu was the longest drive segment of our trip but well worth it. Before you go on your Kyushu road trip, download and printout this Kyushu Tourism map PDF and Kyushu driving map PDF. Also, check out our packing recommendations for your Family Road Trip.
Before you go on your Kyushu road trip, download and printout this Kyushu Tourism map PDF and Kyushu driving map PDF. Also, check out our packing recommendations for your Family Road Trip.
Kyushu with Kids Road Trip
Day 5: Mt. Aso, Takachicho Gorge and Yufuin With Kids
More coming……..
Things to do in Mt. Aso, Takachiho Gorge and Yufuin With Kids
- Takamori Yusui Tunnel Park
- Takachiho Gorge
- Nagashi Somen Lunch at Takachiho Gorge
- Takamori Tree House
- Sutten Kororin Crane Park
- Kuju Wetlands & Nature Conservation Center
- Yufuin & Yufuin Floral Village
One Day Itinerary for Mt. Aso, Takachiho Gorge and Yufuin With Kids – Kyushu One Week Road Trip
Takamori Yusui Tunnel Park
* 10 minutes on foot from Takamori Station on the Minami Aso Line
Takamori Yusui Tunnel Park (高森湧水トンネル公園) is a two-kilometer tunnel with seasonal decorations that change throughout the year (e.g., Tanabata lanterns during summer and Christmas decorations in winter). The former Japan National Railway Company planned to run a railroad from Kumamoto into Miyazaki, and while digging the tunnel hit an underground river which killed the plan. While drilling the tunnel, the company hit an underground river and had to cease operations. The temperature inside the tunnel is a constant 17 degrees celsius, and there is a free water pump in front of the cafe to collect fresh spring water.
Address: 1057-14 Takamori, Aso District, Kumamoto 869-1602 (Google Maps)
Hours: April – October 9:00 – 18:00; November to March 9:00 – 17:00 *Last entry 30 minutes before closing.
Fees: Adult 300 JPY; Kids 100 JPY
Website: http://www.town.takamori.kumamoto.jp/kanko/kankomap/kanko/yusui.html
Takachiho Gorge & Manai Falls
* 46 min drive from the from the Takamori Yusui Tunnel Park
The Takachiho Gorge is one of Japan’s natural monuments. It was formed by 4 volcanic eruptions from Mount Aso, the first dating back 270,000 years. The successive lava flows which over time eroded to create the volcanic cliffs and mesmerizing turquoise water. Inside the gorge is Manai Falls, designated as one of Japan’s 100 Most Beautiful Waterfalls. It is beautiful and we highly recommend you take the one hour drive south from Mt. Aso into Miyazaki-ken. You can rent boats for 3,000 yen for 30 mins and then a per person riding fee of 500 – 1,000 yen depending on age. Life vests are provided.
Address: Mukoyama, Takachiho, Nishiusuki District, Miyazaki 882-1103 (Google Maps)
Hours: 8: 30-17: 00 (Last reception 16:30) * Closed when water level rises
Fee: Boat fee 3,000 yen for 30 mins
Boarding fee: Adult (elementary school students and older) 1,000 yen per person
Preschool child (0-6 years old) 500 yen per 1 person
* Extension fee: 10 minutes / 300 yen (* Cash only when disembarking)
Website: https://www.town-takachiho.jp/ (in Japanese)
Nagashi Somen
A super fun lunch or dinner spot at Takachiho Gorge is the Nagashi-somen (flowing noodles) restaurant. Nagashi-somen is somen that you catch using chopsticks as it flows past you on a bamboo water slide. After you catch them, dip them in the dipping sauce then eat them. Kids will love eating somen like this in Japan.
Address: 62-1 Mukoyama, Takachiho, Nishiusuki District, Miyazaki 882-1103 (Google Maps)
Hours: 10:00 – 16:00 daily
Website: https://chihonoie.jp/soumen.html
Takamori Tree House
* 40 minute drive from the Takachiho Gorge
We stumbled across the enormous Takamori Tree House on our drive to Yufuin. The Giant 400+ year old Cedar Tree was damaged in a typhoon. In order to preserve it the owner built a magnificent tree house around it.
Address: 2138 Kawahara, Takamoricho, Aso-gun, Kumamoto (Google Maps)
Sutten Kororin Park
* about 1.2 hours drive from Takachiho Gorge as you are heading to Beppu
On Yamanami Highway from Aso to Beppu, you’ll see hundreds of topiary cranes and animals lined up and down the ravine. There is also a fruit and vegetable stand and a sweet corn shop. A great spot to grab a healthy snack. The man who runs the sweet corn shop pruned all the shrubs in the area – an impressive collection.
Address: Tajiri, Aso District, Kumamoto 869-2704 (Google Maps)
MT ASO, TAKACHIHO GORGE & YUFUIN WITH KIDS – KYUSHU ONE WEEK ROAD TRIP
Image from ANATadeware Marshland, Kuju Mountain Drive & Chojabaru Visitor Center
* half way between Mt. Aso and Beppu on the Yamanami Highway
Unfortunately we arrived to the Tadeware Marshland at the base of Kuju Mountain range in the pouring rain so we were unable to enjoy the views and walking on all the wooden boardwalks. The Tadewara Marshland was created by the volcanic activity in the area of Mt. Aso and Mt. Kuju over 15,000 years ago. The local communities burn the wetlands once a year to keep the vegetation controlled and fertile.
The Chojabaru Visitor Center has a network of walkways behind the building. One can walk on the elevated wooden walkways through the wetlands a 2.5 kilometer course that loops back to the center. Free tour Jan – Feb 2nd and 4th Sunday and Holidays (10:00-12:00). Mar – Nov Every Sunday and holidays, Dec 1st and 3rd Sundays
Address: 255-33 Oaza-tano, Kokonoe-machi, Kusu-gun, Oita-ken (Google map)
Website: http://kyushu.env.go.jp/nature/tyojyabaru/
Hours: 9:00 – 17:00 Daily
Website: https://kujufanclub.com/
Yufuin & Yufuin Floral Village
We stopped in Yufuin hearing it was a cute onsen town. It is an onsen town and has many Airbnbs and Ryokan to stay but it quite touristy with plenty of sweet shops, bubble tea and souvenir stores. Park for a few hours, walk around late Kinrin (金鱗湖) and the shrine at the far end of the lack, grab some lunch and some quick souvenir shopping and move on to Beppu for the night. Beppu is about a 20-30 min drive away.
Along the main shopping street in Yufuin you will find the Yufuin Floral Village which is a mini-theme park inspired by the Cotswold region of England (the location for filming the “Harry Potter” movie series). Inside, you’ll find Alice in Wonderland goods, a Christmas shop, Peter Rabbit goods, Owl Forest, an award winning Butter Croissant bakery, Vintage British Cars, mini-squirrel park and more. Relax your feet at the Yufuin Floral Village’s footbath facility at the end of your day.
Address: 1160 Yufuincho Kawakami, Yufu, Oita 879-5102 (Google Maps)
Hours: 9:30 – 17:30
Website: http://floral-village.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floralvillage/
If you are looking for a place to stay in Miyazaki-ken try the lovely Airbnb run by Brit Victoria Yoshimura who is a long-term resident of Takechiho town and runs a lodge at her family’s Buddhist temple.
One Day Itinerary for Mt. Aso, Takachiho Gorge and Yufuin With Kids – Kyushu One Week Road Trip
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