Kumamoto is located almost right in the center of the island of Kyushu. Although it accounts for less than 2% of Japan’s total area, it holds innumerable places of interest. This article presents some landscapes and spectacular views that are the pride of Kumamoto.

For example, the world-renowned Aso region is home to many spectacular views in its own right. The “Milk Road” through its meadows is a highly recommended driving and touring course. Looking at the Aso Caldera, one of the world’s largest, which measures 18 km east to west and 25 km north to south, you can see the plumes of smoke from Mt. Nakadake, a volcano that is still active today. Also, when conditions are right, you can glimpse the mystical sight of the sea of clouds. Inside the caldera itself, about 50,000 people go about their daily lives.

Did you ever wonder, “What’s going on with that crater?”  The Aso Nakadake Crater is a rare active volcano whose crater visitors can actually tour. The white plumes rising from the huge crater, 4 kilometers in circumference, are a powerful sight! There are restrictions on visits due to gas outbreaks and weather conditions, so be sure to check beforehand.

When you visit Kumamoto, the land of abundant water, don’t forget to take in its spectacular scenery. Nabegataki Park in Aso has a waterfall with a drop of about 10 meters and a width of about 20 meters, where visitors can watch the water cascade like a massive curtain. Known as “Urami no Taki,” this waterfall can also be observed from the rear side. Please note that tours are currently available only by online advance reservation.

Among Kumamoto’s many waterfalls, the most impressive is Goroga Falls, located in Yamato. With a drop of about 50 meters, the waterfall offers powerful and beautiful views in any season.

Have you ever heard of terraced rice paddies? This refers to rice paddies built in a stepped pattern, utilizing the slopes of mountains and valleys. In Kumamoto, where forests cover about 62% of the land area, rice cultivation has long made use of such sloping terrain. Among these, the Matsutani terraced rice fields in the villages of Hitoyoshi and Kuma, which consist of 105 rice paddies in 43 tiers, have been designated as among the best terraced rice fields in Japan. The landscape changes with the seasons: lotus flowers and rape blossoms in spring, fireflies in summer, and rippling golden ears of rice in autumn. Truly, this is Japan’s original rural landscape.

Alongside the Matsutani terraced rice paddies, the most renowned water views in Hitoyoshi and Kuma belong to the Kuma River. Rushing through the Hitoyoshi Basin, this wild river is also known as one of Japan’s three most rapid rivers. There are many way to enjoy it—driving along the river, drifting downstream, and rafting.

There are many spots of religious significance too. At the Kamishikimi Kumanoza Shrine in Takamori, in Aso, the moss-covered approach leading to the Shrine has become a hit on social media for its otherworldly views. The shrine is said to bring blessings for victory and success in entrance examinations.

Two shrines that people often find surprising are Kuratake Shrine in Amakusa and Einoo　Tsurugi Shrine.

Kuratake Shrine stands on the summit of Mt. Kuratake, 682 meters above sea level, overlooking the sea. Its view of a torii gate standing amid the sea in the background is a magical experience, as if is floating in the sky.

The torii gate in the sea is located at Einoo Tsurugi Shrine in Uki. At low tide, visitors can pass through the torii gate and enjoy spectacular views, as well as the mirage-like phenomenon called shiranui (ghostly lights that appear offshore) in summer.

One of three major ports built in the Meiji era, Misumi West Port must not be missed. Designed by a Dutch hydraulic engineer and built by skilled Japanese stonemasons, the port is registered as a World Cultural Heritage site as part of the “Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution.” Gaze at the calm waters of the inland sea, and you might be lucky enough to spot migrating dolphins in the bay.

Some spectacular views in Kumamoto can only be found at certain times of the year, and Okoshiki-kaigan Beach in the city of Uto is just such a place. The curved lines of sand that appear on the mud flats as the tide recedes, a characteristic of the Ariake Sea with its large tidal range, create beautiful scenes of orange, purple, silver, and gold, depending on the time of year and the time of day. Particularly from January to April, this combination of the setting sun and the mud flats attracts numerous photographers, and the small observation deck is usually filled with people.

Japan, with its four seasons, and the Kumamoto region are fascinating because they offers diverse scenes and spectacular views depending on the season. These are once-in-a-lifetime encounters: there is no guarantee that you will ever see the same scenery again. A day or two is simply not enough to fully enjoy Kumamoto—even living there, you’d never get tired of it.