Kumamoto Prefecture boasts the world-class natural beauty of Aso. Although it may seem a bit challenging to visit the spectacular scenery, e-bikes allow a wide range of people to enjoy cycling, not only advanced cyclists.
Here we introduce a 27-km scenic cycling tour in Takamori Town, Kumamoto Prefecture, which is making efforts to be cyclist-friendly by installing cycle garages and other facilities.

About Takamori Town

Takamori Town is located in the southeastern part of Aso Gogaku (Aso Five Peaks). The town borders Oita Prefecture to the northeast and Miyazaki Prefecture to the southeast, with the interior of the Aso Caldera to the west and the outer rim of the mountain to the east. It is a scenic town that is a member of the “Union of Beautiful Villages in Japan” because of its beautiful grassland landscape, water sources that create a rich environment, and a group of shrines where mysterious time flows.

The start is at  Cotton Club Cottage  Cycle Garage

The start is Cotton Club Cottage Cycle Garage which has a cycle garage and e-bike rental.

Cycle Garages have been installed in 9 accommodations so that cyclists can easily store and maintain their bicycles, as Takamori Town aims to be a “cyclist-friendly town.”

Get ready at  Cycle Garage and start cycling.

Kujukumagari Photo Spot

First, drive about 6 km from the Cotton Club to Kujukumagari Takamori Nature Park.

From here, climb a 1.4km hill (average gradient 5.4%) to the Kujukumagari photo spot.

There is a spectacular view of Mt. Aso and the Takamori townscape spreading out over the caldera.
This Kujukumagari area is also known as a cherry blossom viewing spot, and in spring, visitors can look down on a spectacular view of a row of cherry trees in full bloom. While cars have to worry about parking, bicyclists can stop and take pictures under the rows of cherry trees, which is an attractive feature of this area.

▲Cherry blossom scenery along Kujukumagari (photo by Takamori Town)

Aso Marukichi Soy Sauce and Takamori Town

Riding down the hill we climbed, we reached Takamori Town.
Aso Marukichi Soy Sauce, established in 1870, sells not only traditional miso and soy sauce nurtured by the blessings of Aso’s natural spring water, but also collaborative products, such as a soy sauce collaborating with “Hokuto-no-Ken (Fist of the North Star)”, a Japanese famous manga.

“Soy sauce  monaka ice cream” is a popular one. The soy sauce ice cream is sandwiched between two pieces of monaka so that it can be eaten with one hand, and soy sauce jelly is added to enhance the flavor of the soy sauce ice cream so that the aroma of  the soy sauce ice cream is not overpowered by the flavor of the monaka.

Takamori Station

About 650m from Aso Marukichi Soy Sauce in the town center is Takamori Station, the terminal station of Minami Aso Railway.

The station building at Takamori Station is scheduled to be renovated in March 2023, and Minami Aso Railway is also scheduled to reopen its entire line in 2023.
The train will be connected to JR Houhi Main Line at Tateno Station, the starting point of the line, making access from JR Kumamoto Station more convenient.

“Trolley Train,” which runs for a limited time only, is a popular sightseeing train.

Takamoridon Cedars

From Takamori Station, a 2.3-km ride through the natural beauty of Aso will take you to the power spot Takamoridon Cedars.

The pair of male and female cedars are more than 400 years old. The female cedar’s trunk is straight toward a point, while the male cedar has several branches extending from the trunk in all directions.
The male cedar, which stretches its trunk in all directions as if protecting the female cedar in the midst of nature, is so powerful that it is said to be a “match-making spot.”
Please visit and feel the dignified atmosphere that cannot be conveyed in pictures.

Tsukimawari Park

Tsukimawari Park, about 2.5km from Takamoridon Cedars, along Route 265, is a spot where you can take pictures with your bicycle against the backdrop of a magnificent view of Aso Gogaku.

“Mt.Aso” is not a single mountain but a collective name for Mt.Neko, Mt.Taka, Mt.Naka, Mt.Eboshi, and Mt.Kishima.

▲Mt.Neko as seen from Tsukimawari Park (photo by Takamori Town)

Yamayasu

Gourmet food is one of the pleasures of traveling. About 1.2km from Tsukimawari Park, you can enjoy “Aka-ushi” beef (red beef) from Aso at “Yamakasu.”
Registered as Wagyu beef in 1944, “Aka-ushi” is lean and contains a moderate amount of fat, and has a combination of umami, softness, and healthiness.

“Aka-ushi bowl regular” is large enough, but the popular “Aka-ushi bowl mega” is even larger.

Takamori Tenku Observation Center

After recharging your energy with a bowl of aka-ushi, climb a 5km slope to Takamori Tenku Observation Center (Sky Observation Center). Unlike Kujukumagari, the slope with an average gradient of about 6.3% can be easily climbed using an e-bike.

Takamori Tenku Observation Center is reached after climbing a mountain path lined with silver grass. Open the fence at the entrance and head for the observatory.

The view of Aso is different from that of Kujukumagari Observatory. Looking down on the road you have just climbed up, you will feel a sense of accomplishment from the spectacular view.

It is about 5.5km down the hill to return to Cotton Club Cottage.

It is not certain if the view from here was used as a model, but Mt. Neko, viewed from near the Cotton Club, looks very similar to the natural mineral water plastic bottle package.

The cycling is over after storing the bicycles in the cycle garage.

Kusakabe Yoshimi Shrine

For those who are confident in their legs or have more time to spare, we recommend visiting Kusakabe Yoshimi Shrine, about 12km from Kujukumagari Photo Spot, while enjoying the mountain scenery.

The shrine is one of  “Three Great Descending Shrines of Japan” with a shrine pavilion at the bottom of a flight of stairs, and the quiet precincts surrounded by trees create a mysterious atmosphere.

“Three Great Descending Shrines of Japan” are Kusakabe Yoshimi Shrine (Kumamoto Prefecture), Ichinomiya Nukisaki Shrine (Gunma Prefecture), and Udo Jingu Shrine (Miyazaki Prefecture).

Accommodations in Takamori Town

Takamori Town has nine inns with bike garages, as well as a wide variety of hotels and pensions.
Enjoy Takamori Town local gourmet food at a restaurant, go to bed early at night at a quiet lodge on the plateau, and enjoy a delicious cup of coffee in the morning. You can enjoy such a trip.

Course Introduction

Distance: approx. 27km Elevation gain: 567 m (If you extend the route to Kusakabe Yoshimi Shrine, the distance is approx. 51km Elevation gain: 1,017m)

Access to Takamori Town
From Kumamoto Airport to Takamori Station, approx. 31 km (approx. 40 min. by car).
Once Minamiaso Railway reopens all lines, you can take Houhi Main Line (via Tateno Station) Minami-aso Railway from JR Kumamoto Station.

▼ Aso Cycle Garage
https://asotakamori-kanko.com/cyclegarage/

▼Takamori Town Tourism
https://asotakamori-kanko.com/

▼Minami-aso Railway
https://www.mt-torokko.com/

Summary

The view of the town spreading out on the caldera is very rare in the world. The scenery of  Aso Gogaku spread out, which we saw after climbing up the hill from the town was very impressive and different from the image we had had of Aso.
The mysterious shrine and the powerful cedar trees of Takamoridono also gave us a sense of power.
Takamori Town is easily accessible from Kumamoto Airport, making it possible to visit not only from Kyushu but also from central Tokyo or Kansai in two-day and one-night trip.
The scenery changes with the seasons, so you can enjoy the unique scenery of each season if you visit many times.
Renting an e-bike allows even beginners to climb the hills, so use your “bike” to experience the gourmet food and wonderful atmosphere unique to Aso with all your senses.

Written and photographed by HANADA

Advertiser: Executive Committee of the Project for Increasing Tourism and Creating a Lively Community along the Minami-aso Railway Line through the Creation of Cycle Tourism