About
Feel the blessings of Aso, Sefuri, and the old and new volcanoes
Approximately 90,000 years ago, the largest volcanic eruption in Japanese history occurred in what is now Aso City, Kumamoto Prefecture. It was so powerful that pyroclastic flows from the eruption reached as far as Yamaguchi Prefecture, about 170 km away, and volcanic ash fell more than 10 cm deep in Hokkaido. This eruption, which created the world's largest caldera and greatly changed the topography of northern Kyushu, is the second largest eruption in the world's history.
Now, after ages, this great eruption is still bringing benefits to people. One of the biggest benefits is water. The bedrock formed from the hardened magma from the volcanic eruption and the ground made of volcanic ash clay act as natural water reservoirs, storing an abundance of water. People gathered around this abundant water that springs from Mount Aso, and before long cities were formed. This is what created the present-day cities of Kumamoto, Kurume, and Saga. Today, Aso's natural water is also distributed throughout Japan, quenching our thirst.
On the other hand, Saga Prefecture is home to the Sefuri Mountains, which run east to west through the center of the prefecture. This is an old volcano that erupted 20 to 30 million years ago, long before Mount Aso, and is currently inactive.
Granite, a rock formation, can be extracted from old volcanoes. This rock is nothing special, but depending on its composition, it can actually be used to make porcelain. The first porcelain in Japan was made from Saga granite in the 1600s. This was the beginning of modern-day Arita ware.
People from the cities who received the benefits of Aso spread to Arita, Ureshino, and Takeo, which received the benefits of the Sefuri mountain range, and gradually blended together, forming the Saga Prefecture we know today. This tour offers an experience where you can feel the charm of Saga Prefecture, which has received the benefits of mountains with two different origins.
- Experience the unique landscape of Aso, created by a major eruption 90,000 years ago
-Enjoy Yanagawa eel, which originates from Aso
- Experience the blessings of the Sefuri Mountains and traditional Arita ware pottery
-Tour of a sake brewery that produces high-quality sake using water from the Sefuri Mountains
- Two benefits of Saga: drinking Saga's fine sake in Arita ware
-Relax yourself at Takeo and Ureshino Onsen, famous hot springs in Saga that boast over 1,300 years of history
(You can also tour the sake brewery, which uses water from the source of Aso.)
Please contact us if you have any requests such as shortening or lengthening the itinerary, customizing it, etc. Please contact us at least one month before your trip.
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