Yamanami Highway — Aso to Beppu VolcanicCrossing.
Distance
130 km
Duration
1 day
Climb
1,300 m
Yamanami Highway — Aso to Beppu Volcanic Crossing.
The Yamanami Highway (Prefectural Route 11) is a 58km mountain road connecting two of Kyushu's great volcanic regions — Mt Aso's caldera in Kumamoto and Beppu's steam-belching onsen valley in Oita. Listed among Japan's 100 Famous Roads, the route climbs through the Senomoto highlands, crests Makinoto Pass (1,330m) on the shoulder of the Kuju mountains, then descends through the artistic onsen village of Yufuin to the geothermal city of Beppu. Pure volcanic Kyushu — open grassland plateau, smoking craters, and 8 distinct hot spring towns en route.
Quick facts
SurfacePaved
Distance130 km
Days1
Total climb1,300 m
DifficultyModerate
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The route.
Aso townStart · Start in Aso town inside the world's largest active caldera (25km wide). Fuel up — long stretches without stations on the Yamanami. Mt Naka-dake actively steams to the south.
Senomoto Plateau PassScenic Point · Vast grassland plateau between the Aso and Kuju ranges. Cattle and Mongolian-style burnt grass. Restaurants serve aka-ushi (red wagyu) raised on these slopes.
Makinoto Pass (1,330m)Mountain Pass · Highest point on the Yamanami Highway. 360° views over the Kuju Mountain volcanic group — Kyushu's roof. Often windy and 10°C cooler than the lowlands.
Kuju Flower ParkPhoto Spot · Seasonal flower meadows below Mt Kuju. Pink moss in late April, lavender in July, cosmos in autumn. 500 yen entry. Café with Kuju views.
Yufu-dake (Mt Yufu)Scenic Point · Twin-peaked sacred mountain rising 1,584m above the Yufuin basin. The volcanic cone dominates every approach to Yufuin.
YufuinRestaurant · Hot spring resort and arts village at the foot of Yufu-dake. Excellent café culture, craft galleries, and the morning-mist-on-the-pond Lake Kinrin. Famous for Bungo beef sukiyaki lunch.
Beppu OnsenEnd · End at Beppu, Japan's onsen capital — produces more hot spring water than any city on Earth. The 8 'Hells of Beppu' (Jigoku) are a must: blood-red pool, cobalt-blue pond, and a geyser that erupts every 30 minutes.
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