Fukuoka: Mt.Aso, Miyazaki, Takachiho Gorge with Beef Lunch Tour
Description
Explore the natural wonders and rich culture of Kyushu on this full-day adventure from Fukuoka. Glide through Takachiho Gorge on a traditional boat, surrounded by towering cliffs and waterfalls, immersing yourself in Japan’s myth and legend. Savor a premium Takachiho Wagyu lunch, grilling tender, flavorful beef at your table while enjoying seasonal Japanese sides. Continue to Mt. Aso and Kusasenri Grassland, where vast meadows, grazing horses, and volcanic landscapes create breathtaking scenery. Optional horseback riding and a visit to the Aso Volcano Museum make this experience even more memorable. Perfect for families, friends, couples, and adventure seekers, this tour blends authentic Japanese culture, local cuisine, and stunning nature, offering a unique and unforgettable Kyushu experience.
Tour Options
Itinerary
8:00AM, Meet your guide at the meeting point and head to the Takachiho Gorge. Formed from ancient eruptions of Mt. Aso, Takachiho Gorge features towering cliffs, the 17-meter Manai Waterfall, and three picturesque arched bridges spanning the canyon. Glide along the crystal-clear river in a traditional wooden boat, surrounded by dramatic cliffs and cascading waterfalls. Take in seasonal beauty—fresh spring greenery, cool summer foliage, fiery autumn leaves, or tranquil winter snow—while soaking up the mystical atmosphere of Japanese mythology.
Next, savor a Japanese set meal featuring the region’s specialty Takachiho Wagyu. Tender and flavorful, the beef is cooked on a preheated ceramic grill at your table. The meal includes appetizers, fried items, side dishes, mixed rice, clear soup, and Japanese dessert (seasonal variations apply). Enjoy a leisurely lunch surrounded by the stunning scenery of Takachiho Gorge—a perfect start to your day.
Then, head to the Aso Volcano. From a safe viewpoint, look down into the crater and watch the rising plumes of smoke, experiencing the awe-inspiring power of nature. If access to the crater is restricted, the itinerary will be adjusted on-site.（Currently, access to the crater is temporarily closed due to a helicopter accident, pending official reopening announcements.）
Nestled at the northern foot of Mt. Eboshi, Kusasenri offers vast open grasslands with a central pond and grazing cows and horses. Choose to enjoy a horseback riding experience across the meadow(self-paid) or take a leisurely stroll while breathing in the crisp mountain air, feeling a sense of freedom and tranquility. After a day full of natural wonders, myth, and local cuisine, begin the journey back to Fukuoka, carrying unforgettable memories of Kyushu’s breathtaking landscapes.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Access to Aso Volcano crater may be restricted due to the weather and itinerary will be adjusted on-site.（Currently, access to the crater is temporarily closed due to a helicopter accident, pending official reopening announcements.）
- Takachiho boat rides are shared by 2–3 people per boat and may include other tour participants. The ride lasts about 30 minutes. Please follow safety instructions and avoid getting too close to the waterfalls.
- This tour involves long drives and walking; comfortable shoes are recommended.
- Mountain weather can change quickly. Please bring a raincoat or light jacket to stay comfortable.
- We will email you the guide, driver, and meeting point details the night before your trip.
- Please arrival at meeting point 15min in advance， and look for the guide holding a yellow flag（Gogoday travel) and give your name to join the group.
- Bring some cash for personal expenses.
- This is a shared group tour with international participants. The guide will provide explanations in multiple languages.
Reviews(21)
What a beautiful itinerary! Our guide Ella was very helpful and responsive to our needs. This made our time in Miyazaki memorable. Thank you!
Bus trip provides an easy way to see the Beautiful scenery of the gorge and majestic Mount Aso from Fukuoka. Thomas our Tour guide provided helpful explanations of the tour and interesting commentary on the history and features of the area. We did this tour in June when there is a lot of rain in Kyushu. Unfortunately the heavy rain meant flooding in gorge and boat trip was cancelled. It also rained heavily on Mt ASO which severely restricted activities. Good tour but probably not recommend in June wet season.
Our tour guide Thomas was energetic and very informative. The sites were beautiful, we had a wonderful time.
Great trip! Our guide, Helen, was extremely knowledgeable & spoke at least 3 languages—impressive. I would recommend that if you’re eating breakfast, maybe sign up for this trip without the lunch option. Lunch was at 1130 so we were not too hungry. Wish we had more time to look around on our own instead of lunch.
Mt. Aso was the main attraction for this day tour. But we only found out on the day of the tour that Mt. Aso has been shut down for a few months ever since the accident back in Jan 2026. We were taken only to the foot of the mountain gift shop. It would be nice if we were informed sooner before the trip or the trip should not have been sold as Mt. Aso for the attraction. However Mr. Sun was a great guide and very helpful.
Excellent day outing! Our guide Thomas was very knowledgeable and friendly. The takachiho gorge and mount aso are gorgeous!
This by far is the worst tour I have been to. It took us almost 4 hours on the bus to get there. It was rushed. The bus dropped us off by the gorge area. Before everyone got off, the tour guide disappeared. No one knew where she was. We were standing by the bus drop off for 15 minutes wondering. We were all hungry as we did not have lunch till 2pm. Rushed to get meal and then boat ride and then another 3 hour bus ride home. No time to enjoy the scenery and take pictures. The whole time we could not understand or hear what the guide said. It is really not worth the money we paid. The scenery is beautiful but we did not get to enjoy much.
It should be known that this is catered to a Chinese audience as most of the passengers are Chinese and so is the tour guide. The itinerary is well thought out and the meet-up point is convenient being right at the station. The issue is they don't tell you before hand the path to the volcano is closed so the bus only stopped at the entrance and for only 10-15 minutes. Felt like a washroom break. The gorge was beautiful but the big criticism that isn't mentioned is that this tour bus is still a guest of the folks running the gorge paddle and they prefer to do it in groups of 3 to maximize capacity and keep the flow going so the tour will split pairs up indiscriminantly to join another pair and make 3s.
Our guide Thomas was excellent in explaining the sights to us and keeping the group informed from one step to the next. He communicated effectively in English and Mandarin and went over and above sharing useful information and tips. The sights were truly beautiful and the boat ride fun and hilarious for all participants! I highly recommend this tour and Thomas as your guide!
Our tour guide, Sun-nan （孙楠), was attentive, polite, informative, and well-organized, making everything easy to follow. The tour was thoughtfully paced, with well-timed rest stops throughout the day. The Wagyu beef lunch was a standout, especially impressive for a group tour. For me, the highlight was rowing a boat through Takachiho Gorge. It was a shame that the crater lake at Mount Aso was temporarily closed, but overall, I had a wonderful experience.
