Located Takachiho Town is Takachiho Gorge. This gorge was created by nature and has had the Gokase River eroding away at the cliff for centuries. You can also rent a boat and enjoy the beautiful waterfall from the water. The best time of year to see this place is Autumn when it is beautifully coloured with autumn leaves.

Just a 5min. walk from Higashi-Karatsu Station, this beach is where more than a million old pine trees stretch along a 1 km wide and a 5 km long seaside road. This picturesque beach has swimming and camping grounds, a youth hostel, a people's lodge as well as several desirable hotels.

Located facing Kinko Bay, Hirakawa Zoo is home to over 1000 animals of nearly 200 different species, which roam freely within the 330,000 square metre natural enclosure. The main spectacle of the zoo however is the Koala House. This is the only place in Kyushu where these cuddly animals can be seen.

This beautiful park boasts many other features, including a diversity of plants, trees, and much natural vegetation, and a playground for children. There is also a separate petting zoo for the youngsters. During the springtime, many species of flowers can be seen, making for more than just "a day at the zoo".

Mt. Aso is a composite active volcano located in the northwest of Kumamoto Prefecture. In the middle, there are so called "Aso Gogaku" which are andesite central peaks and composed of Mts. Taka, Naka, Neko, Eboshi and Kishima. Mt. Naka has a great crater which is still active. The highest peak Mt. Naka is 1592m high and owns many rock-climbing grounds rare in Kyushu. You can walk up the path to the top from rope way station. At the top, a path leads you to the very rim of the main crater in the side of Nakadake, on the other side where you can see layers of ash and lava.