Local Guide
7 Activities to enjoy the nature in Aso

The Aso area boasts one of the world's largest calderas, an active volcano, vast plains, farmlands and prairies, and other natural features that give you a sense of scale. There are an abundance of special activities that allow you to experience this magnificent nature with your whole body. Here are some of the attractive programs that can be enjoyed by various accompanying groups, ranging from sports, horseback riding, rides, food experiences, and more.

Hot Air Balloon Experience" to enjoy the magnificent scenery of Aso below

Enjoy a premium view during the 5-minute ride. In winter, if you are lucky, you may even be able to see the sea of clouds over the Aso plains.
Enjoy a premium view during the 5-minute ride. In winter, if you are lucky, you may even be able to see the sea of clouds over the Aso plains.

Outdoor Pro Shop offers a variety of activities that make the most of Aso's natural beauty. One of the most popular and premier activities is the "Hot Air Balloon Experience," which takes place early in the morning.

A hot-air balloon moored to a rope rises to a height of about 40 meters, and visitors can enjoy the magnificent view of Aso in the morning sun. If you ask the pilot, you can also experience how to light a fire with a burner. This is a valuable experience that both children and adults will remember for a long time. The tour is available only on calm days, and the minimum number of participants is 15. Please confirm the meeting time and place when you make a reservation.

Riding through the grasslands of Aso in the new sports gear "Pokkar!

Pokkar
Pokkar" can be enjoyed by everyone from elementary school students (120 cm or taller) to adults. Striders are also available for small children.

Pokkar, a German-born sports sled with three wheels in a row, was originally designed for mountaineering. A popular activity is to ride the pokkaar on the slopes of the Aso prairie.

Experience this activity after receiving a lecture, and there is no need to worry about physical fitness. You can control the speed with your feet, so you can go down slowly or go fast and enjoy the exhilaration. The sensation of running at full speed from a low vantage point while feeling close to nature is addictive. Wearing comfortable clothes and sneakers is recommended for this experience.

Local Guide Comment
Other interesting activities include paragliding, motor mountain boarding, and yoga in the Aso sky on a secret hill. Nearby is Natureland's sister property, Clamp, a bouldering property.
Aso Nature Land
  • Address 1092-1 Uchimaki, Aso, Kumamoto MAP
  • Direction 10 minutes drive from JR Uchimaki Station
  • Business Hours Mar-Oct 9:00-18:00, Nov-Feb 9:00-17:00
  • Closed Thursdays *Open on national holidays
  • Admission Fee ［Hot air balloon experience] 2,200 yen for junior high school students and older, 1,100 yen for elementary school students, 550 yen for infants (3 years old and younger free, accompanied by a parent or guardian)
    Reservations required at least one day in advance. Reservations are required at least one day in advance.
    ［Pokkar Experience] 1,500 yen per person (from 6 years old, from 120 cm in height and up to 85 kg in weight).
    Reservations required at least one day in advance. Morning session: 9:00 a.m., Afternoon session: 1:30 p.m.
  • TEL 0967-32-4196
  • Parking Free of charge
  • Memo For the Pokkar Experience, participants will meet at Aso Nature Land, and Staff/staff members will lead the way to the venue in their own vehicles. Please note that after the Experience, you will be dismissed at the site.

Horseback riding in the vast prairie at an altitude of about 900 meters and an area of about 300,000 tsubo (about 1.2 square kilometers).

Perhaps it is because of the high altitude, but the sky feels very close to the grassland. It is also exciting to be able to control a horse under the guidance of a Staff/staff member!
Perhaps it is because of the high altitude, but the sky feels very close to the grassland. It is also exciting to be able to control a horse under the guidance of a Staff/staff member!

The horseback riding ranch is located in the northern part of the Aso Outer Rim Mountains, at an altitude of about 900 meters above sea level, and boasts an area of about 300,000 tsubo. Here, visitors can experience horseback riding as if they were in a foreign country's prairie. Visitors can enjoy the feeling of oneness with the horses, as they are not pulled but ridden by themselves.

Above all, you will be thrilled by the exhilaration of riding a horse through a landscape where all you can see is grasslands and the sky. The attraction is that there are eight courses and difficulty levels to choose from, ranging from 1 km to 6 km, including the "Indian Course," which is about 1 km and takes 20 minutes, to the "Apache Course," which is about 3 km and takes 40 minutes, taking visitors on a full-scale ride through grasslands.

Dine at an American diner-like Restaurant and feel like you are in a Western movie.

Bacon Burger Plate (1,650 yen). Crush it in a bun and enjoy it with gusto!
Bacon Burger Plate (1,650 yen). Crush it in a bun and enjoy it with gusto!

The ranch also has an American diner-style Restaurant. Visitors can enjoy hearty Australian steaks and hamburgers. The American-sized "Bacon Burger Set" with homemade thick-cut bacon and cheddar cheese is highly recommended.

In addition, you can enjoy Aso's famous "red beef" menu, such as the "Red Beef Cut Steak Set," and barbecue on the private terrace. It is a wonderful way to enjoy the meat menu as if you are traveling abroad. Of course, the Restaurant can also be used as a stand-alone restaurant.

Local Guide Comment
Special courses are also available for first-time runners. Riding a horse across the prairie sounds like a great feeling!
El Patio Farm
  • Address 2305-1 Mino, Ichinomiya-cho, Aso City, Kumamoto Prefecture MAP
  • Direction Approx. 15 min. by car from JR Miyachi Station
  • Business Hours Pasture 9:00-16:30 (last admission), Restaurant 10:00-16:00
  • Closed None
  • Admission Fee Indian course (1 km, 20 min.) 4,400 yen
    Western Course (1.5 km, 25 min.) 5,500 yen
    Wild West Course (2km, 30 minutes) 6,600 yen
    Apache Course (3km, 40 minutes) 8,800 yen
    Rocky Mountain Course (5km, 60 minutes) 14,300 yen
    8 other courses
  • TEL 0967-22-3861
  • Parking Free of charge
  • Memo There are height and weight restrictions for horseback riding experiences. Please contact the Property for details.

Horseback riding experience at a horse riding club near Daikanbong with a spectacular view

The Kuju mountain range and the five Aso peaks can be seen at eye level. The grassland feels as if it were floating in the sky.
The Kuju mountain range and the five Aso peaks can be seen at eye level. The grassland feels as if it were floating in the sky.

The horse riding club is located on the northern outer rim of Aso at an altitude of 850 meters, close to Daikanbo, one of the most scenic spots in Aso. The site is about 33 times the size of Tokyo Dome, and the panoramic view of the five Aso peaks and the Kuju mountain range, as well as the large meadows, are the attraction.

There are four horseback riding menus: "Pulling a horse" (safe for children and beginners), "Experience riding" (15 minutes), "Mini trekking" (30 minutes), and "Long trekking" (60 minutes) where you can enjoy undulations of grasslands, mountains, and valleys. The horses here are all therapy horses that heal people, so even beginners can enjoy the great nature of Aso on horseback.

Special courses are available, such as at sunset or under the moonlight

In the
In the "Sunset Outing Course," you will be guided to a special place where you can see the beautiful sunset.

Even more noteworthy is the "Special Outside Ride" (reservations are accepted from two people). The "Sunset Outside Riding Course" allows visitors to watch the sunset over the meadow from horseback, and enjoy the view of the meadow as it is enveloped in a mystical dusk to magic hour. The "Moonlight Trekking," available only on nights when the moon is out, is a romantic course that takes visitors on a horseback tour of the grasslands illuminated by moonlight.

There are also other outing plans that allow you to enjoy various situations, such as the "Long Outing Course," which allows you to ride for more than two hours on horseback within the grounds. Please inquire for details such as fees.

Local Guide Comment
Recently introduced is the "Wedding Photo Course" (early booking required), where a professional photographer photographs couples with their horses in a grassy field. It is popular among honeymooners and other visitors to Aso.
Aso Horse Riding Club Yume-Dachi Green Valley
  • Address 1674-18 Yura, Aso City, Kumamoto Prefecture MAP
  • Direction 25 min. by car from JR Uchimaki Sta.
  • Business Hours 9:00 - sunset
  • Closed Open irregularly (as a rule, when traveling on business)
  • Admission Fee Horseback riding: 1,100 yen, Experience riding: 3,300 yen, Mini trekking: 5,500 yen, Long trekking: 11,000 yen, Other special outing courses: please inquire.
  • TEL Please call 090-1773-3366
  • Parking Free of charge
  • Memo Priority is given to those who make reservations by phone.

Special Experience at an animal theme park

Helicopters can accommodate two to three passengers. (Helicopter service may be suspended due to poor weather conditions, aircraft maintenance, or equipment changes.)
Helicopters can accommodate two to three passengers. (Helicopter service may be suspended due to poor weather conditions, aircraft maintenance, or equipment changes.)

In this animal theme park, 600 animals of about 80 species welcome you in a vast site where you can feel the great nature of Aso. Visitors can enjoy interacting with, feeding, and viewing a variety of animals at this spot, including an Experience with Koguma, and the "Miyazawa Theater" featuring Puddin-chan, the daughter of chimpanzee Pan-kun.

A special Activity that can be experienced here is the "Helicopter Flight," which allows visitors to enjoy the great nature of Aso from the sky. No advance reservations are required, and visitors can simply register at the helicopter station after entering the park on the day of the flight (minimum of two people).

Enjoy the great nature of Aso from a higher position than any observation deck

There is also a course where you can see the crater of Nakadake, one of the five Aso peaks, from close up!
There is also a course where you can see the crater of Nakadake, one of the five Aso peaks, from close up!

The "Mini Flight Course" takes about 2 minutes to enjoy the northern outer rim, the "Aso Foothills Course" (about 4 minutes) to enjoy Yonezuka, the "Crater Viewing Course*" (about 7 minutes) to see the crater from above, and the "Mount Aso Special Course*" (about 10 minutes) that covers about half of the five Aso peaks, from Yonezuka to Kusasenri and Nakadake craters. (*The course may be changed or cancelled due to volcanic ash or wind conditions caused by the eruption.)

) The flight menu varies (*Courses are subject to change or cancelled due to volcanic ash, winds, and other factors resulting from the eruption).

Local Guide Comment
It is a rare opportunity to view the crater of an active volcano from the sky. The rising plumes of smoke and the rugged mountain surface are a must-see.
Aso Cuddly Dominion
  • Address 2163 Kurokawa, Aso City, Kumamoto Prefecture MAP
  • Direction 18 min. walk from JR Aso Station
  • Business Hours Summer (March 14-October 10) 9:30-17:00 (Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays: ~17:30)
    Winter (October 11 - March 13) 10:00 - 16:30
  • Closed Wednesdays from December to February (except winter vacation and national holidays)
  • Admission Fee Adults (high school students and older) 2,400 yen
    Elementary/junior high school students: 1,300 yen
    Infants (3 years old and up) 700 yen
  • TEL 0967-34-2020
  • Parking Free of charge
  • Memo ［Helicopter tour] Mini-flight course (2 min.) Adults 3,000 yen, 3-12 years old 2,500 yen, Aso foot course (4 min.) Adults 5,000 yen, 3-12 years old 4,500 yen, Crater course (7 min.) Adults 7,500 yen, 3-12 years old 7,000 yen, Aso special course (10 min.) Aso Special Course (10 min.): Adults 13,000 yen, 3-12 years old 12,500 yen

Cycling "just downhill" from the top of Mt. Aso with a height difference of 700m

You can also enjoy a relaxing bicycle tour of Yonezuka, a cute little mountain silhouette.
You can also enjoy a relaxing bicycle tour of Yonezuka, a cute little mountain silhouette.

A hot spring town in Aso City, Uchimaki, is a spot where visitors can rent bicycles and go bouldering. The "Panorama Cycle" is popular among those who are not confident in their physical strength, as it is a simple downhill ride. After gathering at the store, visitors drive to the top of Mt. Aso, which is 1,000 meters above sea level, and then descend the 700-meter elevation difference by bicycle. There is no need for a guide to accompany you, and you only need to be back by 5:00 p.m., so you can enjoy the freedom of a bicycle trip.

Along the way, there are scenic spots such as Kusa Senri and Yonezuka, and cycling in the grasslands is an exhilarating experience! There are also two gourmet tickets that can be used at affiliated restaurants, so you can recharge your energy along the way.

Enjoy the delicacies of Aso not by eating and walking, but by "eating and riding" on a bicycle!

The
The "TABEKOGI" plan offers a delicious combination of magnificent nature, cityscapes, delicacies, and bicycle tours!

Another popular option is the "Tabekogi," a rental bicycle plan that combines cycling and eating in one package. This plan includes a 4-hour bike rental and 7 gourmet tickets, which can be rented at "CLAMP" or in the Aso Station Building. The tickets can be used at the Aso Shrine or at any of the affiliated restaurants in Uchimaki hot spring resort area.

While enjoying the magnificent nature and retro townscape of Aso, you can also indulge in the gastronomic delights of Aso. You can eat your way around without feeling guilty because you are exercising. There are many roadside stations and souvenir stores along the way, so enjoy a slow bicycle trip while shopping as well.

Local Guide Comment
In addition to regular bike rentals, CLAMP also offers interesting seasonal plans, such as "firefly cycling" during the firefly season and "summer vegetable picking gourmet cycling" in which you can pick summer vegetables and enjoy them with tempura.
Aso Cycle & Climbing Base CLAMP
  • Address 48 Uchimaki, Aso, Kumamoto MAP
  • Direction 10 minutes drive from JR Uchimaki Station
  • Business Hours Mar-Oct 9:00-18:00, Nov-Feb 10:00-18:00
  • Closed Thursdays (except holidays)
  • Admission Fee ［Panorama Cycling] MTB 4,800 yen, electric bicycle 5,500 yen (per person when 2 or more people participate)
    MTB 5,500 yen, electric bicycle 6,000 yen, includes bicycle rental and 2 gourmet tickets for use at participating stores.
    ［MTB 3,500 yen, electric bicycle 4,000 yen
    Rental time: 4 hours, includes bike rental and 7 gourmet tickets that can be used at cooperating stores.
  • TEL 0967-32-0928
  • Parking Free of charge

Experience the luxury of milk from the dairy farm

The
The "Mysterious Cheese Making" workshop allows you to make vertically slicing cheese, and is held twice a day (check the website for times).

The dairy farm covers a vast area of about 330,000 square meters on a grassland at an altitude of about 450 meters above sea level. It is a spot where visitors can enjoy hands-on experiences that bring dairy farming close to home, as well as petting animals.

One of the must-do experiences here is the "mysterious cheese making" (for elementary school students and older), where you can make your own "cheese that shakes" (a type of cheese that can be melted). The cheese is made with milk from the five major varieties of cows raised on the premises, and visitors can enjoy making it while answering a cheese quiz. It takes about one hour to complete the process, and the delicious taste of the freshly made cheese is a real thrill! You can enjoy a special dish that you cannot taste on the market (you can also take it home).

Many Experience classes that make the most of the bounty of dairy farming

Butter Making
Butter Making" is fun for both children and adults, and is held twice a day (check the website for times).

Also, "making butter" by shaking a jar of fresh prefectural cream as hard as you can is a simple experience that can be experienced by visitors as young as 3 years old (must be accompanied by a parent or guardian). This experience is also beneficial for adults, as they can learn how milk is made into butter. Of course, you can take home the butter, so you can enjoy the taste of freshly made butter.

There are also other monthly Experience classes, so check the website for more information. Once the Corona disaster is over, sausage making and ranch bread making will resume. Reservations are required for both of these classes, but if space is available, you can register on the day of the class.

Local Guide Comment
At the Restaurant "Mother's Kitchen," you can enjoy a buffet of dishes made with homemade milk and meat. The rich flavor of milk coffee poured from a milk can is also excellent! Cheese and frozen pizzas available at the store are also delicious souvenirs.
Raraguno Mothers Aso Milk Ranch
  • Address 3944-1 Kawahara, Nishihara-mura, Aso-gun, Kumamoto MAP
  • Direction Approx. 20 min. by car from Aso Kumamoto Airport
  • Business hours Open 10:00-17:00
  • Closed Varies according to season (check the business calendar on the website)
  • Admission Fee Admission 400 yen (3 years old and up)
  • TEL 096-292-2100
  • Parking Free of charge

Picking fruits grown almost without using any pesticides in the great nature of Aso

Strawberry picking with varieties such as Oi-C Berry, Sachinoka, Koiminori, and Amaotome. Check the website for opening and closing times.
Strawberry picking with varieties such as Oi-C Berry, Sachinoka, Koiminori, and Amaotome. Check the website for opening and closing times.

This sightseeing farm opened in 1988 as "Aso Kanko Ringo-en" (Aso Tourist Apple Orchard) and took on its current name in 1999. On its large site on the Aso plain, visitors can enjoy fruit picking almost all year round: apples (August to November), strawberries (winter to spring), grapes (September), and cherries (mid-June).

The farm is engaged in almost pesticide-free cultivation, and has a reputation for being safe and tasty even with children. Strawberry picking is characterized by the fact that strawberries are grown on a raised platform so that visitors can pick and eat them right away while standing. Visitors can choose from two courses, all-you-can-eat or take-home, and enjoy about five varieties of strawberries, including vitamin C-rich Oi-C berries, depending on the time of year.

Apples cultivated for over 30 years. Apple pie as a souvenir is also a popular item

Apple pie (whole 2,340 yen, 1/6 cut 390 yen). Reservations must be made by the day before.
Apple pie (whole 2,340 yen, 1/6 cut 390 yen). Reservations must be made by the day before.

The climate of Aso, with its extreme temperature differences and cold mornings, is ideal for apple cultivation, and the farm has been growing apples for more than 30 years. During the summer, four varieties of apples can be picked, including Tsugaru, Akiei, Fuji, and Gunma Meigetsu, depending on the time of year. The apples are so delicious that many local customers are regulars.

Another specialty is the "apple pie," which is made on the farm from the pie crust. The simple sweetness of the apples that fill the pie is so appealing that many customers come just for the pie itself. This is a spot where visitors can experience and enjoy the fruits of nature nurtured by the great nature of Aso.

Local Guide Comment
In an area a short distance from National Route 57, there is a vast expanse of farmland with a view of the Five Aso Mountains. At the store, visitors can enjoy "strawberry soft serve ice cream" (500 yen) filled with the pulp of strawberries picked in the garden all year round.
Fruit Country Couples
  • Address 1003-3 Nishimachi, Aso City, Kumamoto Prefecture MAP
  • Direction 2 min. drive from JR Ikoino-mura Station, 45 min. drive from Kumamoto IC.
  • Business Hours ［Weekdays 11:00-15:00, Saturdays 10:30-16:30, Sundays and national holidays 10:00-16:30
    ［Weekdays 10:00-16:00, Saturdays 10:00-16:30, Sundays and national holidays 10:00-16:30
  • Closed Closed on weekends and holidays
  • Admission Fee ［All-you-can-eat strawberry picking course (50 minutes): Adults 1,500-2,000 yen, elementary school students 1,200-1,500 yen, children 3 years old to preschoolers 800-1,000 yen, children 1 year old to under 3 years old 500-600 yen (prices vary depending on the season)
    Picking course (with tasting): Entrance fee (over 3 years old) 200 yen, strawberries 240-280 yen per 100g.
    ［Apple picking: 1,300 yen and up per 1 kg (pesticide-free)
    ［Grape picking: 1,300 yen per 1 kg.
  • TEL 0967-34-0100／090-2509-6682
  • Parking Free of charge
The information in this article is current as of the date of the update. Please check before visiting as they are subject to change.