|
|
AsoThermal Springs |
to Japanese Version
| Yamaga city is located northeast part of Kumamoto Prefecture. It takes more than 1 hour ride by bus from Kumamoto. This region is famous for many decorated tombs as "Soshoku-kofun" and hot spring as "Onsen". They said that the Yamaga onsen has a history of 1200 years, it was discovered during the Heian Period (794 - 1192). |
entrance of Sakura-yu |
|
| "Onsen" and "yu" means hot springs in Japanese. There are three public baths in Yamaga city. I took the well-known historical bath "Sakura-yu". |
Fees : Adult 130yen Child 60yen
TEL : 0968-43-1802
| Yamaga is famous not only for hot springs and decorated tombs, but also for lanterns called "Yamaga Toro" that is made of paper. |
|
|
|
Yamaga Toro (Yamaga Lanterns) are made only of Japanese paper and paste. The structural components are tubular and not scaled down miniatures, This paper craft is said to have begun in the Muromachi period. The Yamaga Toros were later made in shapes of shrine, palace, house, doll and so on in addition to the original KANA TORO (golden lantern).
quote from "Yamaga Toro Museum" |
Fees : Adult 210yen Child 100yen
TEL : 092-845-5011
| This is only one "ryokan" (ryokan are Japanese style inns) named Yamaguchiya, located really in the southwest foothill of Mt.Aso. This hot spring is famous for open air bath beside the fall "Kinryu-no-taki". |
|
|
TEL : 09676-7-0006
| Jigoku onsen is placed 5 minutes runs by car from Tarutama onsen. Do you know the mean of "Jigoku"? It's Hell in Japanese. Seifuso is solitary ryokan at this hot spring either.There are 16 types baths in this ryokan area. |
"Suzume-no-yu" |
mixed bathing |
| One of the famous bath is open air mud bath.I don't know why this bath is called "Suzume-no-yu" (Suzume is sparrows in Japanese), but I'm sure this mineral mud bath is good for all illness. Anyway I got to like this artlessness bath. |
Fees : 400yen
TEL : 09676-7-0005
About two million years ago there was an eruption on central part of Kyusyu island, which then sank. At present there are five mountains in the center of caldera valley, and one of them is active.
Aso Volcano Museum |
| The distance across the outer rim is 128km. Aso Volcano Museum is located in the wide caldera valley, at the name of Kusasenri Meadow. |
Fees : Adult 840yen Child 420yen
TEL : 0967-34-2111
Kurokawa onsen is located in the north part of Mt. Aso. It took 2 hours ride by car from Aso Volcano Museum. There are 23 ryokans that (each ryokan) has special open air baths. You can enjoy each bath for 500yen without stay.
Tourist Infomation in Kurokawa onsen TEL : 0967-44-0076 |
| In the Kurokawa onsen erea there are two simply public baths build beside the river. One of them is "Jizo-no-yu" that is located central part of onsen town. You have to pay 100yen for open the primitive revolving door, and one more 100yen for taking bath. |
|
revolving door |
next to Aso |
return to Japan |
return to Home |