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Kyushu 08/2004
Kumamoto
Kumamoto Castle

Kumamoto prefecture is situated in the middle of Kyushu Island. Kumamoto city, the administrative and economic capital of the prefecture, is a large, energetic and modern city.  From the early 17th century to the end of the 19th century, it was prosperous as a castle town. Shira-kawa River and its branches run through the downtown area around the Kumamoto Castle. Therefore the city is called "City of Woods and Fresh Water".

The magnificent Kumamoto Castle is noted for its stonewalls with “Musha-gaeshi”, a special defence feature designed to

prevent enemy attacks. The most part of the castle, which is designated

The castle looks over Mt. Aso's five peaks

as a National Historical Site and ranked as one of three best reconstructed castles in Japan,  was burned down in a war in the late 19th century. Its castle tower was rebuilt about 40 years ago. Personal belongings of its lords in

different generations, armaments of old days, etc. are displayed inside the castle tower.
Aso National Park
Kusa-senri Meadow

Kumamoto prefecture has two natural national parks, namely the Aso and Unzen-Amakusa, and two quasi-national parks. The total area of these parks occupies 20 percent of the prefecture.
The Aso district has an active composite volcano, Mount Aso, which is the world's largest caldera and also said to be the most beautiful one. Aligned on an east-west axis within the caldera there are the so-called five peaks of Aso: Kishima-dake, Eboshi-dake, Naka-dake, Taka-dake, and Neko-dake. Naka-dake is still active, regularly emitting volcanic smoke and, occasionally, ash.

Except for these peaks, however, the inside of the caldera is a green and gently rolling landscape of broad green plains that are grazed by cows and horses. Particularly famous are the plains known as Kusa-senri (= thousand miles of grass filed), on the northern foothills of Eboshi-dake, where the mountains, the greenery, and the ponds made by rainfall form a beautiful landscape. There is also a small dead volcano called Komezuka Hill, shaped just like a mound of rice (its name means "rice mound") with some scooped out of the top. Its cute round appearence covered with beautiful green grass is worth to see...!

Apart from hiking, cycling, climbing mountains, playing golf etc., you can also visit some interesting places around Aso National Park. For example, many natural water springs such as Shirakawa Headwaters, where more than sixty tons of water spurt up from the earth every minute. Many people come here to buy one of 100 best mineral water in Japan bottled on the spot. If you like sacred places, perhaps you would like to pop in one of many Shinto shrines such as Aso-jinja. Thanks to the volcano, there are, of course, many hot springs, too.
Aso-jinja Shrine Golf course at Aso Prince Hotel, where we stayed
Takachiho

No wonder Japan's Shinto myths say the gods alighted here from heaven. The Takachiho gorge is a magical creation of sheer, 80m-high volcanic rock dripping with cool waterfalls and green leaves, with a crystal-clear stream bubbling far below. Walk along the mountain path that follows the gorge zig-zagging through the forested mountains; or take a gentle boat ride on the river below. If you are staying over night in the Takachiho area during summer, then it is highly recommended to visit the gorge at night, when it would be lit up decently. Its mysterious appearence would lead you to the world of fantasy...

...even more mystic at night

Takachiho is a spot associated with the myths and legends of the foundation of the nation. There are many interesting sightseeing spots in connection with the myths dotted here and there, including:

Takachiho-jinja Shrine,   Kunimi-ga-oka Hill, and   Amano-iwato-jinja Shrine.
Kyushu II
Kyushu III
Information
Takachiho-jinja Shrine

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