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You can hire equipment from the Goshoura cretaceous museum and go fossil hunting around the island. At the museum itself, the information at the museum is only in Japanese, but the resident paleontologists both speak English - and are happy to explain the local finds on display. You can also hike up the road to Karasutouge - which has great views of mainland Kyushu and Amakusa Directions: Goshoura is only reachable by ferry. It takes 1 hour from Hondo or Minamata and 15 minutes from Ryugatake or Kuratake. Ferries from Yatsushiro and Misumi also run. You can rent a bike from the community center (0969673714) which is located in front of Goshoura port. Kyusendo Caving This is the 3rd longest cave in Japan. You can take either a basic tour (500m) through the caves, or an adventure tour (40m) which allows you to climb down into the pit. Directions: The caves are located in OoseKuma-mura in Kuma-gun. They are along Route 219. Some of the rafting courses from Hitoyoshi finish here. Horse Riding Aso Kusasenri Horse Riding Club Horse riding is possible from early March until mid December (8:00 - 18:00) Riding takes place on prairie ground at the foot of Mt. Eboshidake (Kusasenri). This area overlooks the volcano. There are 3 courses of varying distance. 0967-34-1765 El Patio Ranch Open 9:00-17:00. Open from March to November. El Patio Ranch has a huge 100,000 square meter site. The facility has been designed to resemble a mid-western American ranch. There are great views of the Aso mountains. There are different courses available depending on your skill. It is located in the middle of Yamanami Highway. 0967-22-3861 Ubuyama Ranch Yamaga 2100-3 Ubuyama-mura, Aso-gun. Phone 0967-25-2900 There is horse riding, and mountain-biking possible at Ubuyama Ranch. You can also try milking a cow, and making your own ice-cream. It is open from 9:00-17:00 (until 18:00 in the summer). Paragliding Hinotori SS School Tawarayama, Nishihara Village. Phone 096 279 3903. Open 9:00-18:00 everyday A one day course costs 8,000\. If you have some more time (and money) you might consider the two day course for 15,000\ -this includes accommodation for the night. You can also do a 6-jump course for 30,000\ which provides you with an A-license - and the opportunity to do some much bigger descents. The one day course started off with a two hour morning training session. All instruction was in Japanese and the instructors spoke very little English. However the instructors found our "wakarimasens" more a source of amusement than cause for concern. There really isn't much too it - you just run as fast as you can down the slope until you become airborne. After lunch you will first warm up with a couple of 45 feet descents down the hillside. With these accomplished you will be ready for the big-one - a 150ft descent down the valley. It's pretty breath taking stuff - and on a clear day the views are amazing. Warm clothes are a must - as you will spend most of the day outside. Bring a pair or trainers and a packed lunch (as you can't buy food at the center). Check the weather forecasts before you set off - if it is too windy or wet then you won't jump. Directions: Take a train to Higo Otsu Station. You can arrange for the instructors to pick you up and drive for 20 minutes to the center. Aso Paraglider School Phone 0967341853 Paraglider School Oshaberi Tonbi Phone 0967351633. Aso area. Motor sports HSR Kyushu Ozu Town. Phone 096 293 1370 You can go off-road motor biking at this facility. You get 3 hours of biking for your money. You have a choice of bikes - the Honda CRM80 and the Honda XR100. Instruction is available but in Japanese only. Gloves, coats, trousers etc. can all be rented. Non-members fork out an initial 3,000\ course fee, and a further 7,000\ for bike and all equipment hire Directions: Take a train to Higo Otsu Station. From here you can take a taxi for the remaining 5km. 9am - 4.30pm on weekends and public holidays (reservations are required). Exciting Sports Land Yatsushiro The course has an 800m lap and has steep inclines. Phone 0965460174 Liberal Kamabuta This is in Seiwa village. Course usage is 1,500\ a day. Phone 0967822207 Fukkakematsu Campground off-road Course This is in Soyo town. It costs 1,000\ per day to use the course. Cycling The Kumamoto-Yamaga Cycle Path The tarmac cycle track stretches 34 km from Yamaga to Kumamoto - and follows the path of an old railroad. The cycling is easy and there are some nice countryside stretches. The route takes about 3 hours at a leisurely pace. The trail takes you past Food Pal Kumamoto, Omiya Temple and spas at Miyahara, Ueki and Yamaga. The Yamaga Onsen is located in the Plaza 5 building in Yamaga town center, and costs 150\. At Yamaga cycle terminal both bike rental and accommodation is available. The terminal is a 15 minute ride north from the town center just off Route 443. A tatami room costs 3000\ per person. Coming from Kumamoto city take the first road (left) before Kami Kumamto Station/tram stop. The cycle path initially runs parallel to the railway line. Alternatively, start from the Yamaga cycle terminal in Yamaga town. Phone 0968 43 1136 (Yamaga cycle terminal) Oguni MTB Course Phone 0967-46-2111. Open 9:00-17:00. Closed Tuesday There are 4 different biking courses to choose from. There are single tracks, tunnels and arch bridges. Directions: Near Mokkonkan Oguni-machi, Aso-gun Outdoor Facility Aso Nature Land Phone 0967-32-4196 Open9:00-18:00. Closed Thursday Nature land is located along Route 212, 4.2km from Uchinomaki Staton. It is the most comprehensive outdoor sports center in the prefecture. Some notes, the hot air ballooning is cheap, but there is no flight as such - instead the balloon remains secured to the ground by 40m long ropes. canoeing is outrageously expensive - compare the 3,600\ per boat per hour to the Sakamoto boat price of 200\ per person per hour! Paragliding 5000\ for 2 hours, 9,000| for 4 hours Hot Air Ballooning 1,800\ Canoe 3600\ per boat per hour. Mountain Bike course 1: 1500\ (1 hour) Mountain Bike course 2 (mountain course): 3000\ (2 hours) Bike rental 1000\ per hour Mountain Boards 5000\ for 2 hours Sports Kite 1500\ per hour Golf 1500\ per hour Star Watching 1500\ 1 hour. Rock Climbing Boulder Tengoku Free climbing gym. 1-10-20 Kurokami, Kumamoto City. It costs non-members 1,000\ per day and members 3,000\ a month. It is open 10am-10pm everyday. The owner is a friendly chap who speaks a little English - he'll talk you through the climbs. The place itself is pretty small (50m square) and there is bouldering only (no climbs above 4m). There's not a great deal on offer for beginners, with most of the climbs geared towards intermediate and above. Climbing boots are provided free of charge. Ropes are not necessary. Phone number and fax - 096 345 8048 Directions: Take a number 5 or 9 bus from Kumamoto's Kotsu Centre (platform 16 or 17). Buses leave every few minutes and cost 160\. Get off at "SeiSeiKo mae" (by SeiSeiKo Senior High School). Walk back the way the bus has come for 10-15 meters, and at the crossroads turn right. It is 20 meters down this road. Ice Skating and Swimming ASPA Sunree Sports palace Open 1000 - 1900 (from the 1/1 to 7/1 10am-9pm) This sports center serves as an ice-skating rink in the winter and a swimming pool in the summer. It is on the 37 (which runs parallel to the 57 between Kumamoto and Higo Ozu. It is on your right driving from Kumamoto. Adults 1,100\ plus 500\ skate rental. Phone 0962320616. There is swimming possible at several of the campsites listed in the camping section, at Azelia 21 listed in the onsen section and at Mitsui Greenland listed in the other activities section. Astronomy Minami Aso Lunar Astronomical Observatory ShirakawaHakusui-mura, Aso-gun. Phone 09676-2-3006. The observatory is 600meters high in the south Aso Kogen Pension Village. It is 1.6km From the 325. It is closed on Wednesday and Thursday and costs 500\. Kyuka Mura Village Astronomical Observation Takamori-machi, Aso-gun. Phone 09676-2-2111 This is located in Kyuka Mura Village south Aso. It is on the 265 - open between 20:00 and 21:00. Admission is free. Sakamoto Hachiryu Astronomical Observatory Located on the top of Mt. Hachiryu - you can use the lens during the day to look at Unzen and the Yatsushiro sea. Directions: 4.8km from Route 219. It is open 18:00-22:00 in the weekdays and from 15:00-22:00 on Saturday and Sunday. (Entrance close at 21:30) It costs 300\. Phone 0965-45-3453. At night you can use an ED lens (the worlds' largest computerized lens) to look at the stars. Kumamoto Citizen's Astronomical Observatory It is in Tsukahara tomb park Jonan-machi, (Shimomashiki-gun). There is a 41centimeters telescope, run by volunteers. It is 2.1km From Route 266 and open 19:00-22:00 (closed on Mondays, in rainy weather and 50% cloudy weather). Admission is free. Phone 0964-28-6060. . |