3D2N road trip in Aso, Takachiho Gorge and Kumamoto

This quick 3D2N getaway to Aso, Takachiho Gorge and Kumamoto was an epic chunk of our 12-day Kyushu road trip—seriously, so much beauty packed into so little time! Here’s how it went down: Day 1 We hit the road from Beppu and rolled into Aso, Kyushu’s volcanic hotspot. First stop: Daikanbo lookout 🌄 (Yamada, Aso, Kumamoto 869-2313, open 24 hours). The view? Absolutely mind-blowing—think endless mountain panoramas and cloud-surfing vibes! After soaking it in, we checked in to our cozy homebase for the night: Aso Hakuun Sanso (Kurokawa, Aso, Kumamoto 869-2225). The onsens here are sooo good and the whole place just screams “relax mode on.” Day 2 Adventure mode: ON. We set off for the Insta-famous Takachiho Gorge (Mitarai, Takachiho, Nishiusuki District, Miyazaki 882-1101, open daily 8:30am–5pm, boat rental available). The drive took about an hour—hello, road trip playlists!—and wow, this spot is unreal. Think steep cliffs, crystal-clear rivers, and rowboats gliding under waterfalls. After our nature fix, we headed back to Aso and stopped at Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine (Shirakawa, Takamori, Aso, Kumamoto 869-1602, open 24/7). This mystical hillside shrine is pure Studio Ghibli vibes, with mossy stone lanterns and a magical forest setting—seriously, don’t miss it! Day 3 For our last morning in Aso, we explored Kusasenrigahama (Kusasenri, Aso, Kumamoto), epic grasslands with insane views of Mt. Aso’s massive caldera. Such a chill spot—totally felt like we were in a fantasy movie. Coffee break? Yes please! We recharged at Kusasenri Coffee Roastery (808-5 Kurokawa, Aso, Kumamoto 869-2225), which serves up dreamy brews and killer volcano views. Back on the road, but before heading to Kumamoto city, we HAD to snap pics at the One Piece Nico Robin statue and check out the Kumamoto Earthquake Museum KIOKU (2-3 Koyaimamachi, Chuo Ward, Kumamoto 862-0956, open Tue–Sun 9am–5pm). Learning more about the city’s resilience was super inspiring. When we finally reached Kumamoto, we couldn’t leave without meeting the One Piece Luffy statue (52-1 Honmaru, Chuo Ward, Kumamoto 860-0002)—because #otakulife . Stay tuned for our next kyushu adventures—this Kyushu trip just keeps getting better! 😍