fbpx
    • Spring
      • video

        Finding the Flow from Kansai to Kochi

        Shikoku’s many mountains, valleys and proximity to the ocean has made it a hidden gem for rafting, kayaking and canyoning enthusiasts willing to take a step or two further from the Golden Route of Kyoto and Osaka.

        Solace and Giant Salamanders in Akiota

        Just beyond Hiroshima City is a tranquil outdoor destination home to some of Japan's last remaining oosanshouo, the elusive giant salamander.
        Kyoto Oni Trail Outdoor Japanvideo

        The Oni Trail: Hiking Coastal Kyoto

        The mystical oni is prevalent in Japanese children’s stories, usually as a way to scare kids straight. Adventure Travel Kyoto is shedding a new light on this folklore and developing a new hiking route in the countryside of Kyoto.
    • Summer
      • the nomad pasche family

        The World is Our Playground

        The Pasche family has been cycling and living out of a tent in remote corners of the planet for the past 13 years on four continents spanning 50 countries.
        adventure travel world summit in hokkaido

        Adventure Travel World Summit in Hokkaido

        The ATTA will host their first Adventure Travel World Summit in Asia in Hokkaido, Japan. We caught up with ATTA Director Shannon Stowell to find out more about the adventure travel industry and how it continues to grow and evolve.
        mead brewing in japan

        The Sweet Secrets of Brewing Mead

        Wander into the world of mead brewing and find yourself immersed in a fascinating journey spanning centuries and continents.
        the knights in white lycra

        The Knights in White Lycra

        Each year a group of cyclists head to the deep north towards Tohoku’s vast rice fields and coastal trails to help transform the lives of neglected children.
        sea to table yamagata

        Sea to Table in Yamagata

        An unforgettable way to intimately explore the Shonai Region in Yamagata is a culinary experience bringing bounty of the sea straight to your table.
    • Autumn
    • Winter
    • Near Tokyo
      • getting dirty in japan

        Getting Dirty in Japan

        “Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
    • Near Kyoto
    • All Regions
    • Article Map
    • Ocean and Beach
      • getting dirty in japan

        Getting Dirty in Japan

        “Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
    • River and Lake
      • getting dirty in japan

        Getting Dirty in Japan

        “Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
    • Mountain and Land
    • Sky
      • getting dirty in japan

        Getting Dirty in Japan

        “Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
    • Snow and Ice
      • climbing mt. fuji off season

        Mt. Fuji: The Path Less Traveled

        Fuji-san is the most climbed mountain in the world. If you are in good shape, there is a way to avoid the traffic for a more peaceful Mt. Fuji experience during the off-season.
    • Travel
      • the nomad pasche family

        The World is Our Playground

        The Pasche family has been cycling and living out of a tent in remote corners of the planet for the past 13 years on four continents spanning 50 countries.
    • Food and Drinks
      • the nomad pasche family

        The World is Our Playground

        The Pasche family has been cycling and living out of a tent in remote corners of the planet for the past 13 years on four continents spanning 50 countries.
    • Races and Events
      • fuji rock japan

        2023 Summer Music Festivals

        Get into the groove this green season while enjoying the great outdoors with family and friends.
        Summer Events Fireworks Festivals in Japan

        2023 Fireworks Festivals in Japan

        Enjoy these fireworks festivals held throughout Japan this summer and autumn.

The Aso and Takachiho Swing: From a Volcanic Park to a Land of Myths

Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido is famous for amazing views, yet far south, the Aso area rivals its magnificence. From the vast grass fields of Kuju and Aso to the deep gorge in Takachiho, this route tours Oita, Kumamoto and Miyazaki prefectures and explores natural wonders and mythical places in eastern Kyushu.

Leaving behind numerous volcanic steam vents and a relaxing hot spring bath or two in Beppu, you are soon greeted with an 800-meter climb from sea level to Mizuwake Pass, before descending to the charming spa town of Yufuin. 

Against the backdrop of the Kuju Mountains overlapping each other, keep cranking on the Yamanami Highway that winds through meadowlands and over Makinoto Pass, the highest point on the route, to Daikanho. This peak is one of the somma (new caldera) ridges of the Aso Caldera.

The volcano has been active for approximately 300,000 years, and the upper part of the mountain collapsed after several large volcanic eruptions emptied its inside, forming the huge depression surrounded by these somma ridges that fill the caldera. 

In fact, Mount Aso is the collective name for these mountains in the area. The caldera, one of the largest in the world, contains Mt. Naka and other central cones, as well as fields and towns surrounding them and the railroad which runs through the basin. Aso is one of the few places where people live in the caldera, or on the active volcano.

The central cone group divides the caldera into meadowlands in the north and plough lands abundant with springs in the south. Pedaling across the caldera, you get to see a dramatic change in the scenery.

Go over the somma again, through a tunnel under Takamori Pass, onto the ridge and a mostly downward-sloping road leads to Takachiho, where many ancient myths about the country’s origin lie deep in a gorge. One myth tells how Amatarasu, the highest deity ruling the Higher Celestial Plain, sent down her grandsonNinigi-no-Mikoto to earth on Takachiho to pacify the war-ravaged country.

In contrast to the expansive fields in Aso, a narrow gorge almost 100 meters deep stretches along the Gokase River for 20 kilometers. As you go downstream, the V-shaped valley gradually opens toward Nobeoka before meeting the Hyuga-nada Sea and the end of the trip.

-Translated by Sakae Sugahara

[novo-map id=2 individual=”yes”]

Outdoor Japan logo tree

Related

Latest posts

Categories