A Day Trip to Kumanoza Shrine, Mount Aso, and Kurokawa Onsen

Start the morning at 📍Kumanoza Shrine in Kamishikimi, a hidden gem nestled deep in the mountains. To reach the shrine, you'll need to climb 206 steps⛩️. After reaching the top, I noticed a small path behind the shrine and decided to continue hiking. At the very top, I found the Torii Rock🪨, said to be the most powerful spot in the area. After descending, we headed to 📍Mount Aso🌋. We were lucky as the volcano had just reopened a few days before our visit, having been closed the previous month. As soon as we got out of the car, the strong smell of sulfur hit us, and the wind was so intense that wearing a hat🧢 was impossible—my hair ended up in knots! But the scenery was absolutely stunning and perfect for photos. Next, we visited 📍Kusasenri. The vast green landscape looked like something straight out of a Japanese anime. The sunlight acted as the perfect natural filter, making post-editing unnecessary. Don't miss trying the Aso milk ice cream🍨 here—it's huge, with a slightly icy texture but incredibly rich in milk flavor! Finally, we drove to 📍Kurokawa Onsen, a quaint and remote town with limited transportation options. However, its seclusion offers great privacy. The onsen street is short, but we found a delightful spot at 📍Shiratamago Sweet Tea House, where the food was excellent. If we had more time, we could have completed the volcano hiking trail and explored Kusasenri more deeply. The sunshine was truly a blessing—sometimes, good weather brings good fortune.