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Aso travel
I had the chance to visit the mystical shrine in Aso, reminiscent of the famous anime 'Firefly Forest' that once touched the hearts of anime fans. (Photos from the official poster of the film and my own snaps at the shrine) - Aso travelDuring my visit to the Aso volcano, I explored two fascinating towns, Takamori and Minami-Aso, known for their extraordinary and mysterious landmarks, the Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu shrine and the legendary Shirakawa underground stream. The Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu shrine served as the inspiration for the tear-jerking anime film 'Firefly Forest' (Hotarubi no Mori e) and the renowned mythological anime 'Humanity Has Declined'. These areas in Aso also boast the longest place names in Japan. Join me in discovering this legendary shrine and other unique spots in Aso.
The Shrine of Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu
The Shrine of Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu is perhaps Japan's longest-named shrine, located in the town of Takamori, about a 10-minute drive from the town center up the sacred Usugi mountain. Nestled halfway up the mountain, the shrine is marked only by a very small sign by the roadside, with a small local post office across from it. The entire journey is flanked by beautifully preserved ancient forests, exuding an unusual mystical atmosphere. You must pay close attention to spot the small post office and the entrance to the shrine.
The entrance to the shrine can be hard to identify if you're not observant - Aso travelMeans of Transportation
Visitors eager to explore this site may find transportation challenging as the shrine is located far from the city center, with only a few local bus routes available, mostly during limited midday hours. For individual travelers, renting a self-driving car is advisable if feasible, or bicycle rental is an option at Takamori station. For self-driving cars, there is a free parking lot about 20 meters from the shrine entrance, where you can park and walk to the entrance. If you opt for bicycle rental, expect a 45-minute ride uphill, which may be steep and suitable mainly for solo travelers or adventurous pairs. The scenic route offers a refreshing atmosphere, with lush green pine trees and wildflowers lining the path.
The path leading to the Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu shrine, with its lush green grassy fields stretching into the distance, is framed by towering hills resembling picturesque snow-capped peaks - Aso travelAlternatively, the most popular and convenient option for travelers of all ages is to purchase a day tour to Aso. Mytour offers tours departing from Fukuoka to the Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu shrine and Takachiho waterfall, one of Kyushu's most famous natural wonders. This tour is highly recommended for its cost-effectiveness and convenience, as the journey from Fukuoka to Takachiho waterfall passes through Takamori, making it ideal to stop and visit this shrine, experiencing a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle.
This moment feels as if I've completely wandered into the 'Firefly Forest', amidst the beautiful yet melancholic summer ballad between a mountain god and mystical creatures saving lives but forbidden to touch humans, and an innocent dreamy girl. (Photos excerpted from the film and my own captures at the shrine) - Aso travelThe shrine is gaining increasing popularity not only among locals but also among international visitors, as it has been featured extensively on platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, especially among anime fans. During my visit, I heard many people discussing how the shrine became famous thanks to anime fans. For anime enthusiasts like us, stepping foot into real-life locations from our favorite films or manga feels like fulfilling a dream. Despite the inconvenient journey, tourists from the US, Europe, Asia, and even Vietnam flock here, all eager to visit Japan's most mystical shrine.
Lost in the mystical Firefly Forest of Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu
Starting from the path leading up to the shrine, you'll encounter a moss-covered stone torii gate. As you ascend the stone steps, you'll notice the entrance nestled amidst ancient towering cedar trees, flanked by two stone lion guardians at the gate. The pathway beneath the shady canopy of large pine trees creates a cool, serene, and strangely tranquil atmosphere. Approximately 260 stone steps lead to the main hall of the shrine nestled within the mountain, with winding paths evoking a sense of mystery, leaving you wondering where the main hall lies, adding to the solemn mystery. Two rows of 100 stone lanterns extend along the path, and the further you venture, the more you sense the mysterious and sacred atmosphere, as if stepping into the realm of gods. While the path is lengthy, it's not overly steep; however, if you're not confident in your stamina, complimentary bamboo walking sticks are available for visitors at the entrance. This activity is not suitable for those with foot pain or wearing high heels, so it's essential to dress appropriately.
The two stone lion guardians at the shrine's entrance exude solemnity and mystery - Aso travel
Along the mountain ascent, about 4 moss-covered torii gates stand, each step through them prompting the question: are we nearing the destination? As you delve deeper into the mountain, the silent atmosphere punctuated only by the occasional footstep amplifies the mysterious aura. It's truly challenging to articulate the sacred atmosphere, as if escaping from the mundane realm - Aso travel
Though no one is appointed to tend to the shrine daily, every detail remains pristine and exudes absolute purity - Aso travel
Somehow, this specially adorned stone outcrop leaves me deeply impressed and energized - Aso travelThe shrine consists of a single modest main hall nestled halfway up the mountain, simple yet profoundly solemn. Remarkably, there's no designated individual or organization overseeing it, evoking a genuine sense of being a shrine of tangible gods beyond ordinary perception. The main hall of Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine worships three deities: Izanagi no Mikoto, Izanami no Mikoto, and General Ishikun, believed to have created Mount Aso, safeguarding and bestowing blessings upon agriculture and commerce.
The small main hall nestled amidst the mountain slope beneath towering straight cedar trees - Aso travelFrom the main hall ascending to the mountaintop, you'll encounter the Ugato-Iwa rock, believed to be formed by the deity creating Mount Aso by throwing rocks, forming a hole that created a cave with an incredibly scenic viewpoint. Legend has it that reaching this spot signifies overcoming life's challenges and achieving success, thus people come here to seek luck in business and academic endeavors.
This was the most fulfilling destination on my summer trip to Kyushu last year because I fully immersed myself in the extraordinary space and energy here. With every step, I couldn't help but look back, mesmerized by the indescribable beauty of the scenery - Aso travelThe Shrine of Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu
Address: 2619 Kamishikimi, Takamori, Aso District, Kumamoto 869-1601, Japan
Admission Fee: Free
Shirakawa Spring Natural Water Stream
The Shirakawa Natural Spring Stream, located in Minami-Aso town, is one of the top 100 highest-quality water sources in Japan. For me, it's a perfect healing spot, thanks to its wonderful spring water, evoking a sense of mystery and gratitude for nature's giving.
Getting to Shirakawa Spring
Shirakawa Spring is located in a rural area, so the most convenient way to get here is still by personal vehicles like cars or bicycles. However, you can also reach here by train. Your stop will be at Minami-Aso Shirakawa Suigen train station. It takes about 15 minutes to walk from the train station to the entrance of Shirakawa Spring, where there are a few small shops and a stone torii gate. From the entrance, it's about a 5-minute walk along the Shirakawa River bank to reach the source stream, where there's a shrine called Shirakawa Yoshimi. Here, you can enjoy the fresh, cool air along with the sound of flowing water.
The tranquil space feels as if cleansed by the sacred Shirakawa water - Aso travelShirakawa Spring water is known as the water of the divine, believed that drinking this pure and naturally sweet water can bring luck, health, longevity, success, and beauty. I was extremely surprised and amazed when witnessing firsthand at the spring where water gushes from the ground seemingly containing hundreds of thousands of sparkling diamond-like crystals in that crystal-clear water flow, stunningly beautiful.
The spring water here is so clear that without the bubbles, you might not even believe it's water. What's even more amazing are the sparkling blue crystal-like particles scattered throughout the water flow - Aso travelThe water here gushes from the ground but feels cool and maintains a temperature of around 14 degrees Celsius, completely contrary to the hot underground water streams from volcanoes used for onsens. The taste of the water is truly exquisite, slightly sweet with a hint of fizziness. It's hard to imagine a natural water with such a distinctive flavor.
Everyone who visits Shirakawa enjoys the water here and takes some with them because the spring water is simply fantastic - Aso travelWhen you visit Shirakawa Spring, you can bring along plastic bottles to collect water for drinking or to take home as much as you want. You can either bring empty plastic bottles yourself or buy plastic bottles outside for around 100 yen per 1-liter bottle (18,000 VND). The largest bottle size I saw being sold outside was probably 20 liters. Many tourists come here to take water home and mix it with the water at home to have a higher quality water source, which is also how the city of Kumamoto improves the quality of its local water source.
I bought an empty 1-liter bottle for 100 yen (18,000 VND) outside to collect water. There are buckets available in the water collection area for scooping water, and people will take turns to collect water - Aso travel
At first, I only took half a bottle to taste, but the water was surprisingly good, so I took another full bottle to drink more. When I turned around, I saw a local resident had bought a 2-liter bottle outside and filled it up. I felt a bit regretful that if I had known a little earlier, maybe I would have bought a larger bottle - Aso travelIn addition to sightseeing, hiking, enjoying the mystical freshwater full of magical legends, you can also soak your feet and play in the cool water in the lower basin of the stream, which is very good for health and praying for luck at the Shirakawa Yoshimi shrine or enjoying local dishes at the shops outside. If you have the opportunity to visit Aso travel, don't miss this attractive destination, I guarantee you will have a perfect and wonderful time here.
The area of the Shirakawa Yoshimi shrine - Aso travelShirakawa Water Spring
Address: 2040 Shirakawa, Minamiaso, Aso District, Kumamoto 869-1502, Japan
Entrance fee: 100 Yen (18,000 VND), this amount is collected as a donation to improve water sources in Kumamoto
Besides exploring the vibrant and luxurious cities in Japan, try experiencing the wonderful spaces in small rural areas that bring you a completely new and amazing feeling of healing. If you plan to visit the sacred land of Aso, don't miss out on these two destinations!
Author: Nguyen My Linh
*Article participating in the Mytour Goglobal program
Mytour Goglobal is a blog writing program introducing beautiful destinations worldwide, within the framework of the Mytour Go & Share program. This is a great opportunity to promote new travel destinations around the world to everyone. For each qualifying article, you will receive 1,200,000 VND and the chance to become a collaborator with Mytour. For detailed information about the program, visit: https://trv.lk/goglobal
