Getting to Aso

By train
  • 70-100 min
  • ¥1130 - 2000
Covered by: Japan Rail Pass

The journey between Kumamoto and Aso stations can be done by local trains (100 minutes, 1130 yen one way, almost every hour) or limited express trains (70 minutes, around 2000 yen one way, every three hours) along the JR Hohi Line. All trains are covered by the Japan Rail Pass and the Kyushu Rail Pass (All Kyushu and Northern Kyushu versions).

By bus
  • 120 min
  • ¥1530

Two types of buses ("Yamabiko" services and "Kyushu Odan" services) travel from Kumamoto (stopping at Kumamoto Station, the Sakuramachi Bus Terminal and the airport) to Aso Station before continuing on across Kyushu to Oita and Beppu respectively. The one way trip between Kumamoto Station and Aso Station takes around two hours, costs 1530 yen and is covered by the Sun Q Pass. "Yamabiko" buses operate once every 2-3 hours, while "Kyushu Odan" buses operate only three times per day. Reservations for the "Kyushu Odan" buses can be made online.

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Above fees and schedules are subject to change. Be sure to check current yen exchange rates.

Getting around

A rental car is the recommended means of transportation in the Aso area. Although most tourist sites are served by public transportation, the trains and buses are not very frequent, and a rental car provides more flexibility and comfort. Many rental car outlets are located in Kumamoto City and at Kumamoto Airport, but only a few can be found in the Aso area.

The transportation hub in Aso is Aso Station on the JR Hohi Line, which runs across Kyushu between Kumamoto and Oita. Buses run between Aso Station and the peak of Mount Aso. The Minami Aso Railway is for the most part only useful for travelers who plan on continuing to Takachiho, as there is a bus connection to Takachiho from around Takamori Station.

Hotels around Aso

Top rated in Aso
Budget:
    • Fairfield by Marriott Kumamoto Aso
      Mid-range
      Situated in Aso, 33 km from Egao Kenko Stadium Kumamoto, Fairfield by Marriott Kumamoto Aso features accommodation with a shared lounge, free private parking and a terrace. With free WiFi, this 3-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk. The property is non-smoking and is set 42 km from Kumamoto Castle. The hotel will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms with a wardrobe, a kettle, a fridge, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a bidet. At Fairfield by Marriott Kumamoto Aso the rooms are fitted with bed linen and towels. Suizenji Park is 42 km from the accommodation, while Hosokawa Residence Gyobutei is 43 km from the property. The nearest airport is Kumamoto Airport, 28 km from Fairfield by Marriott Kumamoto Aso.
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    • Minshuku Asogen
      Budget-friendly
      Minshuku Asogen, a property with a garden, is situated in Aso, 29 km from Egao Kenko Stadium Kumamoto, 38 km from Kumamoto Castle, as well as 38 km from Suizenji Park. The property is around 39 km from Hosokawa Residence Gyobutei, 8.8 km from Mount Aso and 29 km from KK Wings. The ryokan features rooms with air conditioning, free private parking and free WiFi. A fridge and kettle are also offered. At the ryokan, units include a tatami and a flat-screen TV. Kuroishi Station is 32 km from the ryokan, while Former Residence of Natsume Soseki is 37 km from the property. The nearest airport is Kumamoto Airport, 24 km from Minshuku Asogen.
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    • Syukubo Aso
      Mid-range
      Situated in Aso, 42 km from Kumamoto Castle, Syukubo Aso features accommodation with a public bath. The air-conditioned accommodation is 33 km from Egao Kenko Stadium Kumamoto, and guests can benefit from private parking available on site and free WiFi. Mount Aso is 7.3 km from the ryokan and KK Wings is 33 km away. The ryokan has a flat-screen TV. Towels and bed linen are offered in the ryokan. At the ryokan, there is a dressing room for guests to change in. Guests can relax in the garden at the property. Suizenji Park is 42 km from Syukubo Aso, while Hosokawa Residence Gyobutei is 42 km from the property. The nearest airport is Kumamoto Airport, 28 km from the accommodation.
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    • Aso Base Backpackers
      Budget-friendly
      Only a 3-minute walk from JR Aso Train Station, Aso Base Backpackers offers affordable accommodation with free Wi-Fi. Guests can use the free parking on-site. Aso Shrine is a 10-minute drive away. Guests can stay in dormitory-style rooms with bunk beds or in private rooms. Bathrooms and toilets are shared. A coin-launderette is on-site. A free-use kitchen is available for guests to cook their own meals and travel stories can be shared with each other at the common living room. Luggage storage is provided. Backpackers Aso Base is a 20-minute drive from Daikanbo and a 3-minute drive from Cuddly Dominion. Kumamoto Airport is a 50-minute drive away. The craters of Mount Aso are a 30-minute drive away and guests can enjoy hiking on its trails. No meals are served.
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    • Aso Hakuun Sanso
      Mid-range
      AsoHakuunSanso quietly located in the vast Aso Caldera Basin at the foot of Mt.Aso is a natural hot spring resort hotel Enjoy the view of the majestic Aso mountains from the hotel, and relax in the hot spring of AkamizuOnsen, which is good for beautiful skin, and the delicious cuisine for which the hotel prides itself. All rooms in the hotel building have twin bedsroom and offer views of the five Aso peaks or the outer rim of Aso.JP Superior rooms have beds on tatami mat floors, allowing guests to take off their shoes. Dinner and breakfast is served buffet style with a variety of Japanese and Western dishes will be served at GOGAKU restaurant. The hotel is located 15 km from Aso Shrine and 18 km aroundf Mt.Aso. You can come here on foot in 10 minutes from the nearest station, JR Akamizu Station. A free shuttle bus to and from JR Akamizu Station is also available. and there are also 80 free parking spaces available.
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    • AsoTsuruya
      Mid-range
      38 km from Egao Kenko Stadium Kumamoto, AsoTsuruya is a recently renovated property set in Aso and offers air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi and private parking. Featuring a housekeeping service, this property also provides guests with a traditional restaurant. The ryokan features family rooms. All units come with a seating area, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels and a private bathroom with bathrobes, bidet, bath and shower. Some units feature a balcony and/or a patio with mountain or inner courtyard views. At the ryokan, the units come with bed linen and towels. Guests may chill out in the on-site bar or lounge. Kumamoto Castle is 47 km from the ryokan, while Suizenji Park is 47 km away. The nearest airport is Kumamoto Airport, 32 km from AsoTsuruya.
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    • Yumeoi-so
      Luxury
      Boasting various hot spring baths that can be reserved for private use, Yumeoi-so provides chic Japanese-style accommodation. Guests can enjoy karaoke and table tennis for free. Free Wi-Fi is provided in the lobby. Yumeoi-so offers large public hot spring baths and 12 private-use hot spring baths for guestsf relaxation. A game room with traditional Japanese games and a kidsf room are available on site. Female guests can choose their own yukata robe when checking in. Rooms at Yumeoi-so feature tatami (woven-straw) flooring and traditional futon bedding. A low table and seating cushions are provided, and rooms come with facilities like flat-screen TV, a fridge and an electric kettle. A Japanese and Western breakfast buffet is available. The property is a 15-minute walk from JR Aso Station. Mount Aso is a 30-minute drive, and Aso Farmland is a 25-minute drive away.
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    • KAMENOI HOTEL Aso
      Luxury
      Set in Aso, 37 km from Egao Kenko Stadium Kumamoto, KAMENOI HOTEL Aso offers accommodation with a garden, free private parking, a shared lounge and a restaurant. The property is around 45 km from Kumamoto Castle, 46 km from Suizenji Park and 46 km from Hosokawa Residence Gyobutei. The resort features mountain views, a sun terrace, a 24-hour front desk, and free WiFi is available throughout the property. All rooms in the resort are equipped with a kettle. The units will provide guests with air conditioning, a safety deposit box and a flat-screen TV. A buffet, Italian or American breakfast is available every morning at the property. KAMENOI HOTEL Aso offers 4-star accommodation with a hot spring bath. Mount Aso is 8.8 km from the accommodation, while KK Wings is 36 km away. The nearest airport is Kumamoto Airport, 31 km from KAMENOI HOTEL Aso.
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    • Guest House Asora
      Budget-friendly
      Guest House Asora offers free Wi-Fi and beds in Western and Japanese-style rooms. It also features a garden, a free-use kitchen and a coin-operated washing machine. JR Aso Station is a 10-minute walk away. Open since 2013, Asora is a non-smoking guest house. The common kitchen comes with a fridge, a stove and a microwave. A rice cooker and an electric kettle are also provided. Guests can socialise at the shared lounge. Japanese-style rooms are for mixed use, and feature traditional futon bedding on a tatami (woven-straw) floor. Toilets and bathroom facilities are shared, and towels are available for rent for an additional fee. Guest House Asora is a 20-minute drive from view spot Daikanbo, and a 30-minute drive from Mount Aso. The nearest hot spring bathhouse is located within a 10-minute walk, while Kurokawa Onsen Hot Springs can be visited a 50-minute drive away. No meals are served.
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    • Hotel Aso No Tsukasa
      Mid-range
      A 15-minute walk from JR Aso Train Station, Hotel Aso No Tsukasa features accommodations with a flat-screen TV. Guests can soak in the indoor and outdoor public hot-springs baths with mountain views, and also request some for private use. Free Wi-Fi is available in public areas. The air-conditioned rooms feature a fridge and green tea. Some rooms feature Western-style beds with wooden floors, while some have tatami (woven-straw) floors and Japanese futon bedding. The en suite bathroom includes a hairdryer and slippers. Guests can purchase local products at the souvenir shop. Luggage storage can be requested at the 24-hour front desk. Japanese and Western buffet is on offer at Papiyon. A breakfast buffet is served as well. Hotel Aso No Tsukasa is a 5-minute walk from Cuddly Dominion and a 30-minute drive from Nakadake Volcano. Aso Kumamoto Airport is a 45-minute drive away.
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