Kyushu: Aso Vocano, Grassland,Onsen and Aso shrine 1-Day Tour
Description
This tour offers a perfect blend of cultural immersion, natural wonders, and relaxation, making it ideal for adventure seekers and those looking to experience Japan's rich heritage and stunning landscapes. Discover the beauty and history of Aso shrine, followed by an exploration of the vast grasslands of Kusasenri near Mount Aso. You'll experience the awe-inspiring power of nature as you get close to the active Aso Volcano, one of the few in the world where visitors can view a live volcanic crater. End the day by unwinding in the serene hot springs of Kurokawa Onsen, a charming traditional village.
Tour Options
Itinerary
At 8:00 AM, meet your friendly guide at the Lawson Fukuoka Oriental Hotel, where your exciting day begins. Hop aboard your comfortable bus and get ready to explore the incredible landscapes of Kyushu—an island brimming with natural wonders. First Stop: Aso Volcano – Where Earth Comes Alive! Prepare to be amazed as you arrive at Aso Volcano, one of Japan’s most iconic active volcanoes. Nestled in the northeastern corner of Kumamoto Prefecture, this natural wonder boasts a rare caldera landscape that will leave you in awe. Get up close to the crater, where clouds of white smoke rise dramatically from the depths. Feel the power of nature like never before and snap unforgettable photos of this breathtaking scene!(When Aso Volcano issues a no-entry notice, the tour guide will adjust the itinerary on-site.) ***Notice: Mount Aso crater is currently closed due to a helicopter accident. Visitors can only view it from a distance. Reopening is subject to official updates.
Next: A Journey into the Aso Grassland Step into a postcard-perfect setting as you explore the vast Aso Grassland. Picture yourself surrounded by rolling green fields, with majestic volcanic peaks towering in the background. Watch as grazing cattle and sheep add a touch of charm to this serene landscape. It’s the perfect moment to breathe in the fresh air and soak up the tranquil beauty of Kyushu. Then, explore the geological wonders of Mount Aso at the Aso Volcano Museum. Discover the region's volcanic heritage and the impact of its colossal caldera on the landscape.(ticket excluded) Have the chance to horseback ride across the grasslands ( fee not included). Feel the rhythmic connection with nature in this breathtaking setting.
Afterward, visit the Historic Aso Shrine Step into history at Aso Shrine, a revered site with a legacy stretching back 2,500 years. Nestled on the northern side of Mount Aso in Aso City, this Shinto treasure is the head shrine of over 450 Aso Shrines across Japan. Dedicated to 12 deities, including Takeiwatatsu-no-Mikoto—the grandson of Japan’s legendary Emperor Jimmu—the shrine is a symbol of spiritual heritage and cultural importance. Marvel at its traditional architecture and imagine the generations of worshippers who’ve visited this sacred place
End your day in tranquility at Kurokawa Onsen (entry fee not included). As the day winds down, treat yourself to pure relaxation at Kurokawa Onsen (entry fee not included). Tucked away in the mountains, this enchanting hot spring village is famous for its charming ryokans, open-air baths, and vintage black timber designs. Stroll along its peaceful streets, surrounded by lush greenery, a scenic river, and the soothing steam of the springs. It’s no wonder Kurokawa Onsen has earned accolades, including a two-star rating in the Michelin Guide to Japan and the top spot in the “Atmosphere” category of Japan’s best hot springs! Return to Fukuoka After a day filled with natural wonders, cultural treasures, and pure relaxation, your bus will take you back to Fukuoka. Sit back, reflect on your amazing adventure, and dream about your next visit to Kyushu!
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- 1.From August 5th to September 30th, due to the current hot weather, to enhance your experience, we will be replacing Kurokawa Onsen with Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine on this itinerary
- 2.Notice: Mount Aso crater is currently closed due to a helicopter accident. Visitors can only view it from a distance. Reopening is subject to official updates.
- 3.if your tattoo is smallish, like less than the size of a palm, you can cover it with adhesive plasters of skin color to enter into Onsen
- 4.The tour guide will hold a yellow flag with the 'Gogoday' logo at the meeting point. Simply tell the tour guide the name you used when booking, and you'll be able to join,Please arrive 15 minutes early. No refunds for late arrivals or no-shows.
- 5.Notice: The crater of Mount Aso is currently closed due to a helicopter accident. Visitors can only view it from a distance and are not allowed to go up. The reopening time will be subject to official announcements.
- 6.Please avoid scheduling other activities immediately after the tour, as return times may vary.
- 7.This is a shared group tour with participants from various countries. The guide will offer explanations in multiple languages.
- 8.You will receive an email the evening before the tour with important details, including the guide and driver’s contact information.
Reviews(27)
We enjoyed the day trip very much. We didn’t get the chance to go closer to the crater due to its closure for inspection. Jyo was very nice and helpful. We loved hearing her beautiful voice and cheerful manner. The onsen in Kurokawa was so epic. We enjoyed the onsen ritual thoroughly. It was my first onsen experience and now it will not be the last one.
Trip was great. Although aso was closed due to a search and rescue we got to see the other places and a special place that had a man making bushes of all sorts of animals and met the person himself. And the tour guide helped me get some ice cream as well although time was short. Would recommend.
Our trip to Mt. Aso was unfortunately a letdown. While I understand that the volcano was closed due to a helicopter accident, the alternative was spending 20 minutes in a parking lot. This time could have been better spent elsewhere. The scheduling felt off—we were dropped for lunch at Kusasenrigahama at 11:00 AM, which is far too early. If the volcano was closed, the itinerary should have been swapped to allow for more meaningful sightseeing. To make matters worse, the Aso Shrine was closed when we arrived. While the weather at Kurokawa Onsen was out of the guide's control, the overall lack of a "Plan B" made the day feel like a waste of time and money.
We had a great day tour with Sun to Aso and Kurakowa! We have been mainly travelling by train and it was so relaxing to get to see these more rural sites without having to worry about public transport or driving. The price was very reasonable and Sun was friendly, enthusiastic and informative. I was so happy to have a stop in Kurakowa that was long enough to allow use of onsen too. My kids (10, 12 and 14) really enjoyed the tour as well. Thanks again for the great day!
Beautiful day with the final gem of the onsen Sun the friendly and welcoming guide , smiling and friendly
Very good guide, funny, professional sharing good anecdotes. We were even allowed discounts in the shop on the Plains of Aso
We all had a delightful time! Sun, our guide for the day, was quite energetic, funny, very kind, and easy to speak to. The tour was administered in both English and Mandarin, and his English was nore than acceptable to understand his information! The tour was quite extensive, and while the information on each atop was a little light, it was nothing for us to just do a quick look on Wikipedia and figure extra info out. Mt. Aso was super cool, and we were very lucky to get there when we did as the volcanic gaseous activity forced us to leave with about 5 minutes left to spend there. The Kusasenrigahama (Aso Grasslands) were stunning, and seeing the wild horses just mindind their business made for quite the visual treat. Also, the lunch restaurant was delicious, and if you get an opportunity, snag the ice cream, it is delightful. Then, the Aso Shrine was nice, little bit sparse on detail, but again, just looked up info on Wikipedia. The area was quite quiet and peaceful, and was a nice visit before the final visit, the coup de grace. Kurokawa Onsen town was AMAZING!!! We were all able to get private onsens with our respective partners, and the experience was simply divine. So relaxing, the fall foliage had started to show, and just made the experience that much more special. The water quality was amazing, staff were all super friendly and accommodating. All in all, we all had a great time, and again, Sun made it that much more enjoyable. If you go into this knowing that it is more of a brief overview of beautiful places, then you will have an amazing time!
This is a wonderful day trip, taking visitors to sites which would be difficult to reach by public transport. The grasslands and volcano of Aso are stunning! The onsen town is breathtaking. And our guide told us that Aso shrine was the first to be built in Japan. It's a wonderful tour. The meeting point outside Hakata station is a little chaotic, so arrive early. Also, Google maps mangles the street address. Use the location photos send the night before by the team. Fully recommend this tour on your trip to Kyushu!
This tour was great!! Our tour guide Ella was so efficient and did a great job making sure everyone knew where to be at what time without getting lost. She would switch between English, Chinese, and Japanese constantly which was incredible to hear. Our driver was very safe. We were lucky enough to see the volcano with no restrictions and were able to take some cool photos! If the volcano has restrictions due to weather or wind changes, the guide tells you alternate options and plans, but we were lucky to see everything. The volcano does release poisonous gas so that why there could be restrictions. The status is updated on the Aso Volcano website every 15 min. Safety first. The Grasslands were gorgeous and vast. We did not ride horses or eat at any of the restaurants, but the view is peaceful. The Onsen town is so cute! I would love to go back and stay in one of the hotels one day. You only have time to go to 1 Onsen in the town on this tour but there are several options. Bring cash and your own towel if you can. We ended up buying a towel at the Onsen. The Onsen soak was lovely and relaxing! Do some research on Onsen expectations and etiquette before arriving in Japan. It shocks me that people don’t understand most of these are shared and fully nude. Many of the Onsen also have foot baths if you don’t want a full bath. The cream puffs in the town are a must! Don’t leave without grabbing one post Onsen soak. I highly recommend this tour! It’s a great way to see some beautiful nature in Kyushu!
You cannot see the volcano and no one tells you it will be closed ahead of time. So if you expect to view, that may not occur if closed for danger. Also the onsen cannot be used if you want to wear a bathing suit. For an American that is something unusual - again no one advises ahead of time or that if it’s summertime (Kyushu is 90+ degrees in June) you wouldn’t want to be in the onsen/hot springs anyway - locals told us at 100+ degrees in the onsen.
