A drive for adults to distant places! The Aso roadside station in Kumamoto and Aso is interesting

During the January holiday, let's visit an extraordinary place! We enjoyed driving from Kumamoto to Aso, stopping at the Aso roadside station to experience the joys of driving, stopping, and bringing things back.

A recommended driving destination for a relaxed trip! What can you find at the "Roadside Station Aso"?

In January, after the hustle and bustle of the New Year settles down, you start to feel like taking a drive to a place with a different atmosphere. With that feeling in mind, I took the wheel towards Aso in Kumamoto Prefecture. As I drove away from Kumamoto city, the scenery slowly opened up, and the mountain ridgelines began to enter my view.

In that flow, I naturally stopped by “Roadside Station Aso.”

Located along National Route 57, adjacent to JR Aso Station, the Roadside Station Aso is actually quite accessible by train as well. It has the achievement of being awarded 1st place in Kumamoto Prefecture for nine consecutive years in the "JAF Members' Choice! Recommended Roadside Station Grand Prix."

I parked my car in the parking lot, taking a break from the time spent driving. From here on, it’s time for a stroll. Within the premises, there is also a statue of Kumamon, which eases the feeling of travel.

A long line forms for the statue of Usopp from ONE PIECE.

At the Aso Station rotary, what caught my eye was a crowd larger than I had imagined. The object of their attention was a statue of Usopp, one of the Straw Hat Pirates from the manga "ONE PIECE."

This statue was installed as part of a project in collaboration between the Kumamoto Prefectural Government and Eiichiro Oda, a manga artist from Kumamoto Prefecture, to serve as a driving force for recovery from the Kumamoto earthquake that occurred in 2016. There are a total of 10 statues of the Straw Hat Pirates scattered throughout the prefecture.

As I watched the people waiting in line for commemorative photos, it felt like a tourist spot, or rather, the destination for those who come here.

What is the number one popular souvenir according to the store staff?

Inside the store, local vegetables and processed products were lined up, and I was interested in all of them. After looking around, I thought I would like to take home something that could remind me of my trip. So I asked the store staff, "Which souvenirs are often chosen for home use?" and they suggested this.

"Aka beef mixed rice base" (1080 yen). Since it's a mixed rice base, I decided to try it at home.

Enjoying the lingering taste of "Aka beef mixed rice base" at home

After returning home, I just mixed it into 2 cups of rice once it was cooked. The moment I opened the bag, I noticed the presence of beef. As I mixed it, the larger cuts of Aka beef were quite noticeable.

The first thing I felt when eating was the sweetness. While it's well-seasoned, it's not too heavy, and it brings back memories of having bought it in the "scenery of Aso."

If you're staying in Kumamoto, why not take a run over to Aso?

If you're planning a one-night trip to Kumamoto, a fun idea is to extend your journey just a bit and head towards Aso the next day. The driving time, the scenery, the stops along the way, and the flavors you bring back—all of these contribute to an overall satisfying travel experience.

Among them, the Aso roadside station has many reasons to make you want to get out of the car. It is a recommended stop that adds value to a trip that doesn’t just end with driving.

Aso Roadside Station
Location: 1440-1 Kurokawa, Aso City, Kumamoto Prefecture
TEL: 0967-35-5088

Interview and text by SYURI

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