For lunch, we recommend the local specialty “Kawara Soba”! We recommend “Shiki Sokuzeku”, a delicious hidden gem of a restaurant in Nishihara Village in Aso that serves Kawara Soba! The specialty Kawara Soba was born from the anecdote that during the Seinan War in 1877, the Satsuma army surrounding Kumamoto Castle grilled and ate vegetables and meat on roof tiles. It originated in Shimonoseki City in Yamaguchi Prefecture, but here you can enjoy authentic Kawara Soba, arranged in the Kumamoto style. The soba noodles, which are grilled on the hot roof tiles, have a crispy texture and a delicious aroma.

You can see the whole of the great panorama of Aso spread out before you! Next, we went to the Tawarayama Observation Point. From here, you can see a magnificent panoramic view of Aso. The view of the five majestic peaks of Aso and the vast grasslands is breathtakingly beautiful. With the help of the E-bike, the journey to this scenic spot will be a fun memory.

The perfect spot for a snack break The last stop on the tour is “Moe no Sato”, where you can try some delicious sweets made with sweet potatoes grown in the volcanic ash soil of Nishihara Village. The natural sweetness and moist texture of the sweet potatoes is exceptional. With the great outdoors as a backdrop, the moment you taste these delicious sweets will surely be an unforgettable memory. Nami Statue In addition, at Moe no Sato, you can take a commemorative photo with a statue of Nami, the heroine of the popular manga “One Piece”. This statue, which pays tribute to the author Eiichiro Oda, who is from Kumamoto, is a must-see spot for anime fans. Nami Statue In addition, at Moe no Sato, you can take a commemorative photo with a statue of Nami, the heroine of the popular manga “One Piece”. This statue, which pays tribute to the author Eiichiro Oda, who is from Kumamoto, is a must-see spot for anime fans.