[Feelings Reset] A recommendation for a drive to a high place! Reset at Daikanbo in Aso, Kumamoto Prefecture.

Visiting Daikanbo, a representative viewing spot of Aso, and spending drive time without a fixed plan. A few minutes spent stopping at a location with an elevation of 935 meters accessible by car helped shift my feelings from the busy everyday life.

We headed to a place with a wide view, Aso Daikanbou

I visited Aso in Kumamoto Prefecture not for a special event or purpose. To put it simply, I was in the mood to "go to a place with a slightly wider view."

If coming from the Kanto area, you might imagine going to places like Nasu or Naeba; it feels similar to casually driving to a plateau at an altitude of around 1000m.

Daikanbou is a well-known spot in Aso, and I have visited it several times before. On this day, I wanted to spend "time doing nothing" rather than doing anything in particular.

Located to the northeast of the Umakubo Onsen on the north side of the Aso valley, Daikanbou stands at an altitude of about 935m. There is approximately a 400m elevation difference from the Aso city area, and you can drive up all at once.

No climbing gear is necessary. Just gripping the steering wheel and driving up changes the scenery and air for sure. The fun part about Daikanbou is that "you can get here by car."

What I expected from the drive was a "reset of my feelings."

On this day, what I was looking forward to at Daikanbo was not the obvious attractions like the sea of clouds or the spectacular views, but whether I could reset from the busyness of daily life.

・The air at the moment I got out of the car
・The sensation of having nothing obstructing my view
・Just standing still for a few minutes switches my feelings

I felt that with just this, I could refresh my inner self.

The great thing about Daikanbo is that you can have plenty of fun without staying long. Get out of the car, take a short walk, and open up your view. Just that alone gives you a noticeably different feeling than before you came.

On this day, I bought an ice cream at the shop and headed to the viewing platform. I wasn't set on doing anything specific; with an ice cream in one hand, I just stood there for a brief moment enjoying the scenery. Having a "stop along the way" without cramming in a schedule changed how I enjoyed the drive. Daikanbo was a place that made me realize this.

As I walked a little from the parking lot to the viewing space, the Aso valley suddenly came into view. With the five peaks of Aso in front, I could see the townscape and beyond that, the "Kujū mountain range."

The 360-degree panorama was overwhelming, and strangely, it didn't feel like there was too much information. There was almost no sound, and wherever I directed my gaze, it seemed to naturally organize my thoughts.

Just stopping for a moment with ice cream in hand to gaze at the scenery was enough. There are other kiosks and dining places, but on this day, I returned directly to the car. There was no need to cram the schedule; just expanding my view was sufficient.

Going to a slightly higher place by car changes your feelings.

An elevation of 935m may not seem very high, but driving up instantly elevates your perspective. The charm of low mountains that you visit by car lies in the feelings that become organized, including that "process." Daikanbo is a perfect place for that.

Just that alone was enough to properly switch my feelings. It's a place you can drive to, and it's fun even if you don't stay long. Daikanbo has that sense of distance. There was certainly a time that couldn’t be gained by just continuing to drive. For everyone, Daikanbo must also be close by.

Daikanbo
Location: Yamada, Aso City, Kumamoto Prefecture

Article and text by SYURI

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