Overview

On this tour, you’ll actively enjoy the wonderful natural scenery of Kyushu through hiking and cycling. Local people take advantage of nature’s blessings, and you’ll experience their lives by cooking a local dish and touring a site where mushrooms are grown.
The setting for your trip is Mount Aso, which is one of the world’s largest volcanoes and a dominating peak in central Kyushu. A large eruption in ancient times created a caldera 18 km east to west and 25 km north to south, and its lava reached Takachiho Gorge at the foot of the central Kyushu mountain range. A deep valley was also created. Remaining active even today, the volcano makes us keenly aware of the earth’s power and presence.
You can compare the lives of the people of Aso, who make use of grasslands and Satoyama, and the lives of people in Takachiho, who live in harmony with deep mountains and valleys.

Itinerary

Highlights

■ Outdoor activities in Takachiho, where you can see how people live in a deep valley carved out by water
■ Hiking along Kiritachigoe, an ancient path in the central mountains of Kyushu that served as a lifeline to villages deep in the mountains
■ The Minamioguni Satoyama(*) Journey, where you can see how people live off of the mountain’s bounty
■ Aso adventure cycling, where you’ll sense nature’s daunting power and impressive bounty at Mount Aso, an active volcano

(*) A “satoyama” is an ecosystem maintained by human agricultural practices in harmony with mountains and woodlands. In other words, “satoyama” refers to the traditional rural landscape that once typified most of Japan

Location

The Takachiho region is located at the northernmost tip of Miyazaki Prefecture, almost in the center of Kyushu’s mountains. The Gokase River runs the center of the Town of Takachiho from the northwest to the southeast, naturally creating the magical and magnificent Takachiho Gorge, which is a national scenic site and national monument.
The Aso region is located in northeastern Kumamoto Prefecture. The peaks of Mount Aso form one of the world’s largest calderas, and Aso has vast grasslands. The Aso Valley has a lot of relatively flat land but is surrounded by the rim of Mount Aso.

Route map

Day-by-day Itinerary

Day 1

Group meets in Kumamoto & transfer to Takachiho – Introduction

We will meet at Kumamoto Airport at around 1:00 PM and drive 63 km (39 miles) to Takachiho by minibus. The drive takes about an hour and a half.
In the car, we will provide an overview of the Aso and Takachiho area and explain the itinerary.
During the drive, we will stop at a spot overlooking Mount Aso so you can see the majestic natural scenery. If you need outdoor gear, you can buy or rent it at specialty stores.
In addition to the beauty of the deep gorge created by lava from Mount Aso, Takachiho is also famous as a mythological place. It is where the ancestors of the Japanese emperor supposedly descended from heaven, and Takachiho is often mentioned in many surviving Japanese myths.
You’ll check-in to the hotel early in the evening, so you’re free to visit the mythological sites if you wish. Dinner will be served in the hotel restaurant. We’ll dismiss everyone early to prepare for the next day’s activities.

Day 2

Guided walking & outdoor cooking at Takachiho

On this day, you’ll see the deep Takachiho Gorge and how people live there. You’ll walk about 8 km (4.9 miles) with a local guide.
Your trip will start with view of the beautiful columnar jointing throughout Takachiho Gorge. Have a light breakfast here as you observe the majestic scenery. Afterwards, you’ll walk along a nature trail in the deep valley and then enjoy outdoor cooking.
You’ll be making “chicken cooked in green bamboo,” a Takachiho specialty. This wonderful meal is made by filling bamboo with chicken and vegetables and then placing it over a fire. Bamboo’s flavor enhances the taste of the ingredients. Let’s put those ingredients and sake in the bamboo and place it over the fire.
After lunch, head for the goal while looking at the terraced rice paddies and tea fields that efficiently use the land of shrines and narrow valleys, which are the heart and soul of local residents.
Once the tour ends, it’s a 35-km (21.7 mile) drive, which takes about 45 minutes, to the hotel where you will set off from for tomorrow’s hike. Dinner is Japanese-style country cuisine around an open hearth. You’ll see the Yokagura, a song and dance passed down from antiquity.

Day 3

Guided hiking along the Kiritachigoe long trail

On this day, you’ll walk an ancient path that kept people living deep in the mountains alive and ponder their lives. With a legendary local guide, you’ll walk about 16 km (9.9 miles) on the mountain path for 8 hours.
You’ll leave the hotel before dawn and see the headwaters of the river that carved the Takachiho Gorge, which you saw yesterday, and head to the starting point.
On a sunny day, you can see many high peaks in Kyushu in the distance from the starting point.
Kiritachigoe is an ancient path that follows the ridges of 4 mountains in the central Kyushu mountains that stretch from north to south. As you see a natural forest thick with massive beech trees and rare plants particular to this limestone area, you’ll hear anecdotes regarding this “pack horse” path on which goods were transported on horseback long ago. A highlight is Mount Ogi at a height of 1,661 m (5,450 feet) above sea level, which you’ll see near the end of the hike. Looking back, you can see where you’ve walked before.
After descending the mountain and leaving Takachiho, you’ll finally enter the caldera. It is a 3-hour drive of 97 km (60 miles) to Mount Aso. Relieve your fatigue in the hot springs and rest. You will be staying for 3 nights, starting today.

Activity: Hiking Difficulty level: 3

Elevation Profile:
Guided hiking along the Kiritachigoe long trail
Distance – 16 km/9.9 miles | Time – 8 hours | Elevation – 331 m/1,085 ft

Highest Point: 1,660 m | Lowest Point: 850 m

Day 4

Minamioguni Satoyama Journey

On this day, you will experience how people live in the exceptional back hills created by Mount Aso’s caldera.
Our starting point is a high plateau at a height of 900 m (2,952 feet) above sea level atop the outer rim of Mount Aso overlooking the mountain. From here, Mount Aso looks like the sleeping Buddha, which is why it is known as “Sleeping Buddha.”
Enjoy today’s cycling since it is downhill. Watch the cows graze as you enjoy traveling through the grasslands and back hills. It will take about an hour to reach our first activity site.
In a place the owner carved out from the back hills himself, you’ll enjoy the blessings of nature by harvesting fresh vegetables with locals and cooking on a kitchen furnace.
Afterwards, we’ll cycle through the quiet town, leave our bicycles, and visit a shiitake farmer who uses nature’s bounty to cultivate shiitake mushrooms on logs. After you hear about unique, traditional methods of production from an enthusiastic young businessowner, you’ll harvest and sample flavorful shiitake mushrooms.
For dinner after the tour, head out to a Japanese pub in town and enjoy the local cuisine.

Day 5

Aso adventure cycling (Main Activity)

This day will be an important day to experience the terrible power of Mount Aso, which continues to spew smoke.
Before the tour begins, we will enjoy a special breakfast at the summit of a small mountain near the hotel. From there, we’ll look over the route for today’s adventure.
We will start at Aso Station, which is at height of 523 m (1,715 feet) above sea level and which is the gateway to Mount Aso. We will take e-bikes all the way up to Nakadake Crater at a height of 1,258 m (4,127 feet) above sea level. Cycling the grassland trail is a special cycling experience since it is normally closed. Still spewing smoke, Nakadake Crater is a sight to behold.
Cycling will continue after lunch. Near Komekura, a small volcanic cone, we will explore the lava tunnels that were naturally formed when lava flowed long ago while looking out over verdant grasslands.
We will conclude our tour with an adventure cycle of 32 km (19.9 miles) in 7 hours, reaching a height of 780 m (2,559 feet), before returning to our goal at the hotel.
The final dinner will be a barbecue in the hotel garden, which is a famed site of spiritual energy.
Please think back on the adventures you’ve had so far as you talk with your newfound friends.

Elevation Profile:
Aso adventure cycling (Main Activity)
Highest Point: 1,780 m | Lowest Point: 1,370 m

Highest Point: 1,260 m | Lowest Point: 480 m

Day 6

Farewell Breakfast & Transfer to Hokkaido for new adventure travel

A small train station is reserved for the final breakfast. Trains are currently out of service due to the effects of a massive earthquake in 2016. We have created a special outdoor breakfast site on the railway platform. We have prepared dishes made with locally grown ingredients. A main dish is porridge made from rice harvested from the rice fields right in front of you. We have arranged for a car to take you to Kumamoto Airport. From Kumamoto Airport, head to New Chitose Airport via Tokyo Haneda Airport. From New Chitose Airport, take the JR Rapid Airport Express to Sapporo.
You should arrive in Sapporo at 6:00 PM.

Accommodations

What’s included

• 5 nights accommodation
• 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 5 dinners
• All activity fees as described in the itinerary
• All transport as described in the itinerary
• Snacks and refreshments
• English speaking guides with smile

Not included

• All transport as not described in the itinerary
• Alcoholic drinks with included meals
• Personal expenses

Travel to the Meeting Point

We will meet at Kumamoto Airport between 12:00 and 13:00 on the first day.
If you are coming from Tokyo, please board the plane departing Haneda Airport by 11:00.
It is a 2-hour flight from Haneda Airport to Kumamoto Airport.
If you are coming from Osaka, please board the plane departing Osaka International (Itami) Airport by 11:30. It is a 1 hour and 20 minute flight from Itami Airport to Kumamoto Airport.
The bus ride from Kumamoto City to Kumamoto Airport takes about 1 hour, and buses depart every 15 to 30 minutes.
We will ask you about how you plan to reach the meeting place in advance, so please feel free to discuss your travel plans with us.

We provide & What to bring

We provide

• First-aid kit
• Safety equipment and maps
• A helmet and gloves when cycling

What to bring

Essentials
• Waterproof jacket and pants
• Mid- to high-cut hiking boots
• Base layers top & bottom
• Spare pairs of socks
• Gloves, beanie, and other items to keep you warm
• Sun hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses
• Water bottle
• Quick-dry hand towel
• Toiletries
• Personal medications
• Rain cover for backpack
• Backpack with enough capacity to carry all the above
• Travel insurance
• Passport
• Cash in Japanese yen. Small restaurants and shops in rural parts of Japan do not accept credit cards. You can withdraw cash from an ATM at the post office.

Recommended items
• Walking poles
• Cellphone power bank
• Dry bags
• Extra snacks which you’re used to eating while hiking
• Swim suit for river activity and bathing in onsen
• Camera

Guide

Max Wall
from SMO Minamioguni

Max was born in Sweden but lives and works as a certified interpreter/guide in Japan.
He is a versatile person who, in addition to guiding, also manages relations with providers, develops new content, writes articles, and works with the local community.
Apart from having passed the highest level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, he is certified as a social worker and in basic first aid. Max’s goal is to revitalize the area and preserve local culture through responsible tourism.


Yoshifumi Usui (Aso adventure cycling)
from Aso-be Tai

A former member of Kumamoto Prefecture’s Air Rescue team and an initial member of the Aso Fire Department’s Mountain Rescue Team, Usui retired early in 2015 and started a business.
Based on approaches to crisis management fostered and employed at rescue sites, Usui has devised and conducted numerous activities such as grassland trekking and headwater trekking.

Information and Requirements

Dietary Restrictions
We believe that eating like the locals is the best way of experiencing Kyushu’s unique culture. However, we understand that it’s not possible for everyone to do this and we’re more than happy to cater for food allergies, dietary restrictions and special requirements.
If you have any diet restrictions or preferences, please tell us in the Registration Form at the time of booking, and we will do our best to accommodate your dietary needs.
We may not be able to fully comply with your requests, but we will try our best to close that gap by closely communicating with you beforehand.

Emergency Response Plan
The organizators have created a Travel Safety Committee chaired by a safety supervisor (the Head of the Independent Operator Division) appointed by the Group’s President. Based on Travel Safety Management, the safety supervisor follows the PDCA cycle to better assure safety and security.
We also have a contact system with the police department, fire department, and hospitals via the local tourism association. In the tours we conduct, your safety is our highest priority.

Weather Conditions
The average air temperature in the Aso and Takachiho area in September ranges from a high of 25ºC to a low of 18ºC, so September is one of the most comfortable times of the year. It will be a little cool in the morning and evening, so please bring appropriate clothing like a thin hoodie.
Typhoons also strike at that time of year, so please bring rain gear as well.