On our 2 night/ 3 day tours of Kyushu, on the 2nd night we have the option of staying in Minamiaso (3 or 4 star) or Kurokawa Onsen (5 star). Most of my clients chosen Kurokawa Onsen because staying in a Ryokan enjoying Japanese Omotenashi (hospitality) and having an exquisite 8 course Kaiseki washoku (traditional Japanese food) dinner ticks all their boxes.
On this particular tour the Kurokawaso Onsen was chosen as their accommodation of course. This was a lucky omen for me as I stayed here before many years ago with my family when the kids were a lot smaller. It also gave me satisfaction as a guide knowing that the next day when I picked up the team there would be many smiling faces the next morning.
This is exactly what I got!! The atmosphere and the general outlook was so positive. The dinner course and the hot spring experiences (both public and private hot spring experiences are available) were still on everyones lips with many different stories from nights past being relived for everyones pleasure.
This is what a guide attains to achieve on every tour especially ones that are multiple days in succession. The joy, the stories and the experiences will forever be etched in the memory banks with months and years of enjoyment.
Please check out Kurokawa Onsen here on a map below:
Please click on these photos to enlarge:
Surrounded by nature
Private rooms
Dinner menu
Of course there is Wagyu
Party atmosphere
Sake please
Fabulous all year round
Highly recommended
Memories galore
Please click on these video below to see more about the Kurokawaso Ryokan in the Kurokawa region of Kumamoto Prefecture.
Mount Aso is an active volcanoin the center of Kyushu island which most recently erupted in 2021 and 2016. Aso's ancient caldera ranks among the world's largest, with a diameter of up to 25 kilometers and a circumference of over 100 kilometers. In the center of the caldera stand the mountain's active volcanic peaks, including Nakadake, whose spectacular crater is accessible to tourists.
However, that the crater area is often partially and sometimes fully closed to visitors due to poisonous volcanic gases, bad weather or the risk of volcanic activity. Even when the area around the summit is open, gases can be intense, and people with respiratory problems should refrain from approaching the crater.
Japan is basically a risk adverse country and many warnings and alerts are put in place as a result of its constant struggle to control to uncontrollable, AKA Mother Nature. As a single young male when I first came to Japan, this level of control frustrated me to the core, but now as a father and a business owner I fully understand and participate with all the rules and precautions that I face on a regular basis.
On this day, our party of 8 unfortunately missed out on the spectacular views from the Mount Aso lookout as a result of too many poisonous gases being emitted. Of course there was disappointment but the drive up to the peak and resulting drive on to the Hot Spring resort town of Kurokawa helped soften this blow.
Please check out the location of Mount Aso here on a map below:
Please click on these photos below to enlarge:
Wide open spaces
Warnings
Closed on this day
Countryside
Lots to see
Was a little smokey in places
Please click on these videos below to see more about the drive up to and from Mount Aso:
Yesterday when I checked the status of the Nakadake Volcano online it said it was closed so you should have seen the smile on my face when suddenly access opened up. I am sure the Shinto Gods heard my wishes and constant prayers to visit this incredible site.
Please check out these photos of one of the most active craters in the world.
Many warnings for people with cardiovascular issues
A shelter?
Alerts are everywhere
A shrine to say a little prayer
It was very windy!
Inside the crater
Incredible landscape
Check out these videos to see the real power of the Aso Nakadake Crater
Check out the videos below of the Kumamoto Ferry traveling across the Ariake Sea from the Shimabara Port, Nagasaki Prefecture to the Kumamoto Port, Kumamoto Prefecture.
Traveling onward to or from Nagasaki is an amazing way for you to extend your travels in Japan and to see more of Kyushu which without a doubt offers more interesting places and experiences than other parts of Japan. The problem here is that Nagasaki is located in the north west of Kyushu and sometimes there isa lot of backtracking in your travels which results in wasted time and of course wasted money on routes
that you don't need to take.
Recently, I received a request from a group that wanted to travel from Nagasaki City to Shimabara City on the Shimabara Peninsular where they would catch a ferry and cross the Ariake Sea in order to spend time in Kumamoto which absolutely is an amazing place to travel to and experience the unique sights, locations and speciality foods of the area. Not only was the group able to see Nagasaki City in their own time and under their own steam but were treated to a full day tour of the Shimabara Peninsular and then dropped off at the Shimabara Port where ferry tickets and bus transfers to downtown Kumamoto City were bought, giving them extra time and options to see all the wonderful places that this city has to offer.
I was extremely impressed by the groups attitude and attention to detail. They told me exactly what they wanted to do, where they wanted to go and in what time frame. It is this kind of research that I am sure provided a magical and unforgettable tour of Nagasaki and other areas of Kyushu. Nagasaki to Kumamoto travel by ferry is a great opportunity to have your cake and eat it too concept as it gives both the traveler precious time and value for money options not to mention fabulous scenery across the Ariake Sea.
Without a doubt, I would fully recommend this course of travel and this travel in reverse would work as well! I thank the members of this tour for providing me the information and idea to use this concept on Tour Nagasaki in the future. If you have any questions about traveling onward to or from Nagasaki please feel free to contact me.
This is the type of travel that lends itself to Private Tours from Kumamoto to Nagasaki or vice versa.
Please check out both of these ports on the map below:
