After reluctantly leaving Kusasenri Beach, we checked into Aso Resort Grandvrio Hotel. This hot spring hotel is located on a quiet mountain, with beautiful, pleasant scenery. The moment we arrived, we fully switched into vacation mode.
A large, smiling Kumamon sign welcomed us in the lobby. Instead of lavish, elaborate decor, it has a clean, simple style. The scenery outside the hotel is beautiful and lush, perfect for a walk or hike. The on-site golf course is also great for guests who enjoy golf.
Opening the floor-to-ceiling window in our room revealed a picturesque view. There are large public baths in both the main building and annex, and all guests can enjoy the natural Komezuka Onsen. Weary travelers can temporarily forget their fatigue and worries and immerse themselves in nature. It was truly relaxing!
Dinner was a seafood buffet with fresh sashimi and plenty of snow crab legs. Seafood lovers will definitely eat to their heart's content! At night, the chirping of insects lulls you to sleep. Such a blissful feeling!
Aso Resort Grandvrio Hotel | Review by 周黛西
Other Reviews by 周黛西
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Komezuka
Komezuka, a cone-shaped volcano, is located at the base of Kishimadake, one of the central peaks of Mount Aso's five peaks. This small mountain stands about 80 meters high and is believed to have been formed by an eruption around 3,300 years ago. The slopes are covered with grasslands, turning a vibrant green from spring to summer. In autumn, the slopes glow golden with susuki (Japanese pampas grass), and in winter, they are beautifully blanketed in snow.
On the way back, among the many hills, we looked for a small mountain shaped like an upside-down bowl called “Komezuka.” Komezuka has a cute conical shape and is covered in lush green, making it look like matcha pudding. It also resembles Taiwan’s “Matcha Mountain.”
You can’t just park along the road, so we could only admire it from afar, but its distinctive appearance has left a deep impression on me. -
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Kusasenri
Mount Eboshi is one of the 5 peaks found in the center of Mount Aso. Here you’ll find Kusasenri, the breathtakingly vast, emerald green grasslands that expand northwards. Many textbook writings, as well as classical poets and song writers have immortalized its beauty in their works, making Kusasenri one of the most iconic images that people know when thinking of Mount Aso.
Leaving Kumamoto and heading toward Aso, as the car slowly left the city, the view gradually opened up. The winding mountain road climbed upward, with rolling hills and endless emerald-green grasslands as far as the eye could see.
After arriving at Kusasenri, I couldn't wait to run onto the grassland as soon as the car was parked. The sky seemed so distant and high, and the grassland stretched endlessly. Visitors looked like tiny dots scattered everywhere, or strings of little dumplings, and I was one of them. The vast sky, the boundless wilderness, and cattle and horses appearing as the wind bent the grass—Kusasenri truly lives up to its name as a magnificent grassland. Walking across the grassland, the breeze was cool against my face. From a high vantage point, I could gaze at Mount Aso on one side and the vast grassland on the other. I couldn't help but marvel at the wonders of nature. Deep and light greens—dark green, yellow-green, emerald green, blue-green—all kinds of green shifted in the sunlight. So beautiful!
Back at the parking lot, there's no need to rush off. You can have a cup of coffee at Kusasenri Coffee Roastery and settle your thoughts, or browse the shop next door and stock up for your journey. -
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Sakuranobaba Josaien
This multipurpose culture and tourism facility serves as an outdoor recreation of a Kumamoto Castle hill at the foot the mountain. Here you’ll find Kumamoto’s local gourmet, plenty of shopping and a chance to dive into the history of Kumamoto’s history.
On the way up to Kato Shrine, you'll pass through a lively place—Sakuranobaba Josaien. This area is bustling with people. Many restaurants are scattered throughout, including famous local Kumamoto cuisine and branches of long-established traditional shops, allowing visitors to sample authentic horse sashimi, mustard-stuffed lotus root, and all kinds of local specialties in one place. The “Jindaiko Ice Cream” is made by Kumamoto's well-known confectionery shop Okashi no Kobai, combining the local specialty “Homare no Jindaiko” with rich milk to create soft-serve ice cream. I watched the staff skillfully cut the Jindaiko into small pieces and put them into the machine. Before long, a cold soft-serve cone appeared, blending a milky aroma with smooth red bean paste and soft, chewy mochi. It was sweet and smooth, perfect for a hot summer day.
In the center of Josaien is a covered outdoor stage. From time to time, several performers dressed as samurai, known as the “Kumamoto Castle Hospitality Warlords,” weave through the crowd and kindly pose for photos with visitors. What left a strong impression on me was a charming “town girl” who spoke fluent Chinese and had a delightful conversation with some travelers who were also from Taiwan. At the Kumamoto Castle Museum Wakuwakuza, visitors can explore the history of Kumamoto Castle through virtual reality tours and projection mapping experiences, take part in activities depicting everyday life during the Edo period and the lives of high-ranking officials and nobles, and uncover the secrets behind the castle's construction.
Sakuranobaba Josaien has a fantastical feeling where past and present intersect, along with a nostalgic sense of traveling through time. It's a great place for the whole family to come and join the fun. -
