Explore Kumamoto

07/12/2024

Today's volcano, super gassy and super cold. It was around 2C on the top today but colder with the wind chill. So if you're heading to A*o wrap up warm. 🥶

06/12/2024

This week autumn came to Takachiho gorge

25/11/2024

Taking a couple of days off touring to enjoy the autumn sights. Yesterday took me to the Taketa area in Oita, my first stop was Fukoji temple, home to an impressive magaibutsu - a huge cliff carving of a very benevolent looking Fudo myo (they often have a menacing and fierce demeanor)
This is a place with a special atmosphere and there was hardly anyone around (for me it was a better experience than visiting the Usuki stone Buddhas which felt a bit too touristy)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/G8jJpzJpD142QtoN8

23/11/2024

Another mission accomplished

18/11/2024

If you fancy a beautiful beginner level hike with a great ratio of magnificent views to minimal effort then this is the one for you, even on a cloudy day, it was well worth heading to Ichinomine and Ninomine in Nishihara, Kumamoto.
You need a car to access the beginning of the path and there's parking for 5 or 6 cars. The path through the grasslands is not too steep and straightaway you are rewarded with views of Kumamoto city and Kinpozan and on a clear day you would see the Ariake sea and Unzen mountains. It takes around 50 minutes walk to Ichinomine and a further 20 minutes to Ninomine peak, coming back you can circumvent the peaks and take a lower path.
Here's a map link to the entrance to the hike:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/h6rTJc4eEpEus4bU8

13/11/2024

Over the next month Suizenji gardens is holding this light up event, details at the link

水前寺成趣園の夜間イベント「Lux Night KUMAMOTO 2024 ( ルクスナイトくまもと 2024 ) - 細川ガラシャと400年の時を超えて -」の公式サイトです。

12/11/2024

Go Nature runs kayaking activities from March through November on Lake Ezu in Kumamoto city and the Midorikawa dam in Misato, the price is 6000 Yen for a single kayak and 5500 Yen pp for a double. We went to Midorikawa and had a very relaxing time and the whole lake to ourselves, with silky smooth water to paddle through and birdsong filling the air.
If you fancy more of an action packed day you could also head to Forest Adventure on the shores of the dam or zoom across by zipline.

https://go-nature.club/kayak/

05/11/2024

Chojabaru to Bogatsuru hike, Kuju mountains, A*o Kuju national park

05/11/2024

Still hunting for signs of autumn, and still not finding many! Spent yesterday in the Kuju mountains which is usually the first place to see autumn colours in Kyushu. It was perfect weather for a hike from Chojabaru to Bogatsuru, the highest marshland in Kyushu.
This hike takes around 4 hours, is well signposted and not too strenuous. It takes you through woodlands then past a rain water pond with a boardwalk called Amegaike and then another 30 minutes of trail to Bogatsuru which is a beautiful grassland surrounded by mountain peaks. Many people camp here and then climb one of the peaks the following day. There is also a lodge with the highest onsen in Kyushu called Hokkien Onsen Sansou
https://maps.app.goo.gl/xksSfhEvtRmNAqYx5
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26/10/2024

Now the weather is a little cooler I'm on a mission to go hiking before it gets too cold! Yesterday I headed into the clouds to the top of Takadake, A*o's highest peak. The 1592m summit was completely fog bound and blowing a gale but on the way down the skies cleared a little.
This is a hike you can do from A*o Sanjo (you can get there by bus from A*o station). If you have a car you can drive up to the Sunasenri carpark and start from there. (There is a 1000 Yen fee and you should be out of the carpark by 4pm.)
I'm more if a dawdler than a hiker so it took me around 3.5 hours. If you don't have time for that you could go to the Nakadake peak which is a little lower and probably takes around 2 hours 40 round trip. On a clear day you get amazing views of the volcano below.
The trail is well marked with lots of arrows but be careful as the clouds can come down quickly on A*o and it can get chilly so be prepared for the weather. There's also a steep rocky section once you've crossed the Sunasenri ash plateau. But once you've scaled that the trail becomes much easier.
The visitor center in the ground floor of the volcano museum has information about the various trails.

24/10/2024

on the way home

23/10/2024

23/10/2024

https://www.mapleventurous.com/2024-fall-foliage-forecast-for-kyushu-region/?fbclid=IwY2xjawGFyQRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHdiFjwwd3XbvWgtFdS-Oii4-M49Uvn6F1JjuzVz3we9TiLtLGQyJBjYfRA_aem_dx6P-aZ0ch4O3IGqOChsJg&sfnsn=mo

The Japan Meteorological Corporation (JMC) has just released its official 2024 Fall Foliage Forecast for Kyushu Region

20/10/2024

the magic of a spider's web

19/10/2024

A*o's autumn leaves map
Still a little early to see any fall colours but the susuki grass is in seed and looking beautiful

阿蘇市内にある紅葉のおすすめスポットをご紹介！紅葉の見頃や現在の色づき状況、阿蘇市民から愛される紅葉をご紹介します！

19/10/2024

leaf me alone

17/10/2024

Now I understand why these lights were cordoned off last weekend, the official autumn castle light up event starts from tonight until November 4th ...maybe I need to go back 😄