Fukuoka - Kumamoto, Aso

Steve and Kaori hired a car today, and we went for a drive in the country. We left Fukuoka about 9:30, and went first to Kumamoto, where there is a big castle.


The upper section is not original, but has been rebuilt to the original design. We climbed up inside with hundreds of others,




then went off to Restaurant Joyfull for some hamburger lunch.
Then we went to Mt Aso, which is an active volcano complex within a huge caldera, the biggest in the world.

It has exploded several times in the last 30yrs, killing tourists. It was just smoking today, but that was very impressive for the foreign tourists.



We drove the 2hrs back to Fukuoka (at least Kaori drove - all day because Steve doesn't), returned the car, and had tea in another of Steve's favourite fast food restaurants.