Creating a slow life in Aso

Current conditions in Aso tourism and challenges for the future

The Aso area includes the Aso Kuju National Park, and 75,000 people living on about 1,200 square kilometers of land. It is rich in nature, history, and culture. Aso is blessed with the beauty of nature. In addition to the five Aso peaks, there is one of the world's largest calderas, with a circumference of roughly 130 kilometers; the outer ring of mountains; and broad plains and forests. The area also has an abundance of spring water and hot springs. Kumamoto tourism statistics for 2004 show that 19 million tourists visited the area during the year, making it the most popular tourist destination in the prefecture. In conjunction with changes in the modes of travel, there has been an increase in the number of tourists driving to the area. We think that the Aso area now faces the following four challenges for tourism and local development.

1. Regional excursions

The current approach to tourism, in which tourist facilities and locations are treated as individual sites, makes it difficult to generate a positive effect on the agricultural villages and shopping districts in the area. If we create a system allowing excursions throughout the entire Aso area, including sightseeing districts, we think this will expand the economic impact on the region.

2. Tourist needs

In the past, tourists have visited such well-known locations as the Aso caldera, Kusanosenri, leisure facilities, hot springs, shops selling local products, and restaurants. We think this tendency will continue, but the people who visit Aso are diversifying. There is a growing need to experience life in agricultural villages, unfamiliar to people living in the city, and to interact with the local people. We in the Aso area must reconfirm our awareness of the local resources that answer these needs, and enhance the appeal of our agricultural villages and shopping districts.

3. Trunk road congestion

National Highway #57 is so congested on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays that we created a special map showing drivers how to avoid the congestion. The Mt. Tawara Tunnel was opened in October 2003 from Nishihara-mura to Kugino-mura in Minami Aso, which partially relieved the congestion, but this is still a problem at peak traffic times.

4. Deficiencies in efforts to present Aso as a single region

In February 2005 there was a merger of 12 municipalities in the Aso area that resulted in the creation of one city and seven other smaller municipalities, including the Yamato-machi Soyo district. The Aso area is large and has a wealth of tourism resources, but efforts were lacking to create a unified program expressing the appeal of the entire area and disseminating this information. If all the new municipalities in the Aso area forge connections, however, it should create a strong cohesive force in this large, attractive area.

2005: Creating a Slow Life in Aso / Aso Caldera Tourism

Starting in 2005, we began efforts to achieve year-round loop bus operation in transportation trials with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, Kumamoto Prefecture, and eight municipalities in the Aso area. At the same time, we've been enhancing our Aso Caldera Tourism program that was instituted in 2002, and includes walks through agricultural villages, shopping districts, and natural and historic locations.

(1) Aso caldera tourism

Aso Caldera Tourism is the term that incorporates green tourism with visits to agricultural villages in the Aso area, town tourism with strolls in the shopping district, and eco-tourism with visits to Aso's magnificent natural and historic sites.

The Aso residents' hospitality (Green tourism and town tourism)

Take your time and relax in Aso by enjoying the meals and the company of the local people. You can take part in a tea ceremony, sample tsukemono, tofu, or sake, have special meals featuring local cuisine, visit sample shops, tourist farms, and farmhouse restaurants, or buy local products.

Nature guides invite you on eco-tours (Eco-tourism)

Guides well-versed in Aso's natural assets will take you on an eco-tour to show you the unknown Aso as it really is. You'll get to see the volcano, the Buna natural forest, grassy plains, and the natural gorge.

Enjoying cycling or walks

Enjoy meeting and talking to the people of Aso as you cycle through the area or walk through agricultural villages, fields, and the shopping district. It's a great experience to have the grass under your feet, feel the fresh breeze, and see the farmhouses, five Aso peaks, and outer ring of mountains.

Rental cycles are available at Aso Station on the JR Hohi Line (Aso-machi). These are called "rakuchari", and are equipped with motors for easy pedaling. Rental cycles are also available in Kugino-mura at the Shiki-no-Mori Center and the Ofukuro-kan.

(2) Using public transportation to take part in the slow life of Aso

Promoting the year-round operation of the loop bus, including the reorganization of route buses in FY 2005

Park and ride by rail

Visitors can park their car at the Ozu Station on the JR Hohi Line in a park and ride scheme, either taking the train or a bus that stops at all the major facilities in the Aso area. We've begun efforts to institute year-round operation of this program, by selling Aso Caldera passes that enable riders to board and get off the trains freely on the JR Hohi Line and the Minami Aso Railway.

Bike trains

JR Kyushu's Hohi Line runs from Kumamoto Station to Miyachi Station. Also, efforts are underway to institute year-round operation of the bike train on the Minami Aso Railway. Riders would be able to bring their bicycles on board the trains to ride from Tateno Station to Takamori Station.

Regional loop bus

The Aso valley of the Aso caldera (Aso: The former Ichinomiya-machi and Aso-machi) and Oguni-go at the northern outer ring of mountains (Oguni-machi and Minami Oguni-machi) are working for the year-round operation of the loop bus between the station, agricultural villages, and shops.

(3) Internet broadcast station Aso Television distribution

Aso Television, an Internet broadcaster, was launched to distribute videos of the overall mechanism for creating a Slow Life in Aso and of the main locations for Aso caldera tourism. Viewers can enjoy videos showing the best way to enjoy local trips and interaction with local people.

Adding new programs starting July 1, 2004
Aso television 　http://www.aso-tv.com

(4) FM Kumamoto presenting the program, "Yukkuri, Nonbiri Aso Tairiku"

Area guides and event information to facilitate a relaxed and casual life in Aso are provided by telephone and on-the-spot coverage

FM Kumamoto "Yukkuri, Nonbiri Aso Tairiku", every Saturday from 12:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
HP :　http://www.fmk.fm/aso/