Kurokawa Onsen- Kumamoto Prefecture

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:

Please click on these video below to see more about the Kurokawaso Ryokan in the Kurokawa region of Kumamoto Prefecture.

Mount Aso- Kumamoto Prefecture

Mount Aso is an active volcano in 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: