One Week in Kyushu: Part One Kumamoto and Aso Mountain

Peach Airlines, our favourite LLC

We took Peach Airlines to Nagasaki leaving from KIX (Kansai International Airport) and I have to say, Peach are probably the best LCC I have ever flied with. Japanese level of service. Quick check in and leaving pretty much on time. Gotta love Japan! We arrived in Nagasaki and headed straight to the car rental pick up site. We had booked in advance and got a great deal of about 5000 yen a day. For those who are hesitant to rent a car in Japan, I would say that other than in a huge metropolis like Tokyo, Osaka or popular places like Kyoto, car is a great way to get around. 

From Nagasaki Airport we drove straight to a beautiful terraced rice field called Onikonotanada just 40mins drive north. This was a place of spectacular beauty and the weather was just perfect. After taking over a hundred pictures at the amazing rice fields we went to Kumamoto and checked into our hotel. We had a couple of big days ahead of us. 

The next day we checked out Kumamoto Castle and I have to say that it was a big highlight of our trip. They have put a lot of work into the preservation and although we have visited many castles in Japan this has to be one of the best. 

We were hungry so we searched out the best tonkatsu cutlets in Kumamoto and we managed to find the most highly recommended place was right by our hotel! The name of the place was Katsuretsu Tei and it was the best meal of the trip by far. A little more pricey than we usually pay for lunch at around 1500yen per person but well worth it. We had a lazy afternoon and did a little shopping and took a rest at the hotel then went out that night for a drink or two. We met some friendly locals and expats and went to a couple random bars and ended up meeting some friendly expats at Jeff's World Bar. Fun times!

The next day was a big travel day. We drove from Kumamoto to Aso Mountain and back. On the way we stopped to take a nature walk at a place called Kikuchi Glen. You can choose to do a thirty minute walk or a one hour one and the trail is well marked and easy to do even in flip flops. After that we took a soak at the famous onsen town called Kurokawa Onsen and on to see the smoking active volcano of Aso Mountain. That day the ropeway which brings you right up to the crater was out of commission due to high levels of gas in the air but would definitely give it a try next time. 

The drive was one of the most beautiful drives I have ever made in Japan and the landscape was incredible. I was reminded of Hawaii with the volcanic valleys and lushness and also a little bit of Ireland with the green of the grass. We got back to Kumamoto late that evening so all in all a long day but well worth it. Have you been to Kumamoto or plan to go someday? Tell us what you did or ask us any questions in the comments below!