Kumamoto, Gateway To Mt. Aso Volcano National Park

Above, commuters waiting to board a train at Kumamoto Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in April 2007, I visited Kyushu, Japan to see several locations used in Japanese science-fiction and fantasy movies.  Next to Tokyo, Kyushu has the highest concentration of locations and landmarks featured in the movies.

In Rodan (1956), Fukuoka, Sasebo and Mt. Aso were prominently featured.  In Gamera: Guardian of the Universe (1995), Fukuoka was featured (Hakata Bay and Fukuoka Yahoo! Dome).  In Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla (1994) the area surrounding Fukuoka Tower was the battlefield.   These are covered in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan (hard copy through ComiXpress.com and ebook at Amazon.com Kindle Store).

It was pretty much an all-day trip to Kyushu from Tokyo aboard the bullet train (with a change of trains at Shin-Osaka) and then a ride between Fukuoka's Hakata Station and Kumamoto Station aboard a local commuter train (Hohi Line) of the Kyushu Railway Company.  Thankfully, all these train rides were covered by my JR Rail Pass.

Above, Kumamoto Station.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In 2007, I stayed at a ryokan (Japanese inn) in Kumamoto, as Kumamoto is "the gateway to Mt. Aso Volcano National Park."  The ryokan I chose was the family-run Kumamoto Kajita Ryokan.  My room cost was only ¥4,000 (a room for two cost ¥7,200).  They also serve excellent meals.

The trip to Kumamoto was for visiting Mt. Aso Volcano National Park.

It was springtime in Kyushu, but someone forgot to tell Mt. Aso Volcano National Park as it was in blizzard conditions when I visited it.  I couldn't really see much.  At least the park's museum had excellent exhibits. Still, it was a fun adventure taking the snowy bus ride (photo above) to and from the park.  Mt. Aso was the location used for Rodan.

Above, the view outside of the Mt. Aso ropeway station.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Besides Mt. Aso, there's also the Ultraman Land park near Kumamoto.  I didn't visit it on the trip, but to see their website (in Japanese), go here.

Above, yours truly inside of the Mt. Aso ropeway station.

Kumamoto is a nice city to visit.  They have their own webpage of attractions and other tourist information.  To view it, go here.