Kumamoto Day Trips

Just beyond the borders of the city, the prefecture of Kumamoto is filled with natural beauty. Explore the mountains and forests, with shrines scattered in between, by visiting some of the national parks. Aso-Kuju National Park Spanning Kumamoto and Oita prefectures is Aso-Kuju National Park. It is named for Mount Aso, which is the largest active volcano in the country and one of the largest caldera volcanoes in the world. If possible, you should visit during different seasons to see how the landscape changes. Depending on the activity of the volcano at any given time, you may be able to approach the rim, but it is often inaccessible due to the volcanic gases. Even when you can’t get close to the volcano, exploring the hills and taking in the panoramic views make this park worthwhile. Kikuchi Gorge A top attraction in Kumamoto is Kikuchi Gorge. The accessible paths along the riverbank make it suitable for people of all levels of mobility. Those who want to walk the entire length of the trail will find it takes no more than about an hour. This will take you past numerous waterfalls through a tranquil forest. Although it’s beautiful all year round, fall…