【九州の旅’25③】高千穂峡ボートで絶景 → ミルクロード天空ドライブ → 別府で赤牛丼・とり天・辛麺を満喫！

【九州の旅’25③】高千穂峡ボートで絶景 → ミルクロード天空ドライブ → 別府で赤牛丼・とり天・辛麺を満喫！

cLeYon’s Journey Touring Japan in a camper van Bringing moments that touch the heart to you #Vanlife #TravelLog Gorge Boat & Sky-high Milk Road Adventure coming up… This time we’ll roam from the gorge to the skies while savoring Kyushu’s best eats. We kick off with the breathtaking beauty of Takachiho Gorge, then enjoy an all-Akaushi beef lunch at Yamayasu, take in Aso from the sky at Kabuto-iwa Lookout, and finish with dinner in Beppu to taste more of Kyushu. It’s a 200 km trip packed with stunning views and great food! I set an alarm and got up a little early this day. We head out for Takachiho Gorge just after 7:30 a.m. A shower passed in the early morning, leaving it a bit chilly. Thick clouds still blanket the sky, but the forecast says it will clear up soon, so we shouldn’t get rained on at Takachiho Gorge. The road to the gorge crosses steep mountains, offering wonderful views of peaks and valleys. We pass Takachiho Shrine and descend this steep slope to arrive. I can see the boat dock. Takachiho Gorge 〒882-1103 Miyazaki-ken Nishiusuki-gun Takachiho-chō Mukaiyama We arrive a little after 8 a.m. and park in the closest lot. Parking cost ¥500. Online reservations were fully booked, so we line up for the walk-up tickets. I actually first got in the “reservation” line by mistake and hurried to switch lines, lol. Our turn at the counter comes up. At this point the wait is 1 h 30 m–2 h. We pay ¥5,100 and receive our boarding pass. The boat dock is just below here. We’ll wait in the van until our time slot. Glad we got same-day tickets without a hitch! Time passes 🕊 When it’s time, we walk down to the dock descending a pretty steep slope! There’s an impressive waterfall along the way. Once at the dock, we put on life jackets and wait for our turn. Watching the staff prep boats so smoothly, we wait our turn, our number is called, and boarding begins! Hop in quickly while they hold the boat steady. It’s my first rowboat in decades, but it moves along better than I expected(?). The view looking up from below is simply stunning. Boats cluster chaotically right in front of the falls, lol. The falls, sheer columnar cliffs, and sun combine into an awe-inspiring natural spectacle! You can feel the waterfall’s power this close. Thirty minutes fly by and we’re back at the dock. Rowing is fun and the views are amazing— it was an awesome time. Leaving Takachiho Gorge, we head for “Akaushi Cuisine Yamayasu.” The roadside is lined with blooming rapeseed, a vivid stretch of yellow. Akaushi Cuisine Yamayasu 〒869-1602 Kumamoto-ken Aso-gun Takamori-machi Takamori 3191 Lunch is the ever-popular Aso specialty “Akaushi” beef! We go right in to check the wait. It’s a 60-minute wait—glad we came early 👍 We relax while we wait to be called. For some reason there’s a drum set inside, haha. The walls are covered with autographs. We’re called and shown to our seats. I order the “Chef’s-choice Akaushi Bowl” (¥2,200) and the “Sirloin Steak 110 g” (¥2,100). While grabbing the self-serve pickles and waiting, the bowl arrives. Looks so good 🤤 Next, the sirloin steak appears! Another picture-perfect dish! And that sizzling sound is irresistible!! Let’s dig in!! Yum! The meat is so tender, still beautifully pink. The miso sauce is fantastic! Let’s try the steak too. Also delicious! One bite and savory juices flood out. Great as is, but let’s dip it in the sauce— soooo good! The light sauce brings out even more flavor. There’s also kkakdugi among the pickle choices. The tasty meat disappears in no time, all done—thanks for the meal. The bill was a satisfying ¥4,300. Even more people are waiting now! No wonder it’s such a popular spot. Outside, most of the clouds have cleared away. A wide blue sky stretches overhead. A little train is running alongside us. The bright red cars are adorable. We reach a grade crossing just in time to watch that cute train pass. The outer rim mountains of Aso draw near. We hop onto Milk Road and enjoy the scenery. Stunning views appear in no time! Kabuto-iwa Lookout 〒869-2303 Kumamoto-ken Aso-shi Nishikozono The view from here is said to be amazing too. Apparently some quake damage from 2016 still remains. Let’s check it out right away. Whoaーーー!! An even more fantastic view than I’d imagined!! So glad we came!! That section looks like a helmet, hence “Kabuto-iwa.” Bat! 〒869-2303 Kumamoto-ken Aso-shi Nishikozono 1031 Despite the quirky name, it’s basically a café that sells sundries. Loads of super cute goods everywhere! Tons of Kumamon merch too. Along with some trinkets that caught my eye, I buy a tasty-looking soft-serve and coffee. Let’s sample them and take a little break. Here we go. Yum!! The rich milk flavor fills my mouth. You can really taste that delicious Aso milk in the soft-serve. The coffee alongside is tasty too♪ Its clean bitterness pairs perfectly with the sweet ice cream. Great views and a yummy snack—Kabuto-iwa was a win. From here it’s a longer drive: further along Milk Road, past the Yamanami Highway, enjoying the scenery of Aso and Kuju as we go. We pass an area lined with tree sculptures— lots more works in the back; looks fun to explore. I’ll stop by next time. After soaking up the epic Milk Road & Yamanami Highway, we head for Beppu. Beppu Bay comes into view. The smoke rising over town is probably hot-spring steam. Restaurant Toyoken 〒874-0919 Ōita-ken Beppu-shi Ishigaki-higashi 7-8-22 At Toyoken we’ll try one of Ōita’s specialties. No wait; we’re shown up to the 2nd floor. We order Banbanji (half size) and the much-anticipated Toriten Set! What a huge serving!! Time to eat and it’s awesome!! The coating is crispy, the inside tender. They skin the thigh, so for a fry it’s surprisingly light. Dipping it in that vinegar-soy sauce is another level. How’s the banbanji? Sesame dressing 👍 The spicy sesame sauce is crazy good. It looked like a lot, but it was lighter than expected and disappeared fast. All done. Both chicken dishes were totally satisfying. As expected from a famous chicken spot in Ōita. Thanks for the meal. I notice take-out options by the register— frozen toriten would be great as a snack at home. Glad I could try toriten at the original restaurant! Shibai-no-Yu (Beppu Community Center) 〒874-0905 Ōita-ken Beppu-shi Uenoguchi-machi 29-13 After Toyoken we hit the bath first— a super reasonable price, nice! Refreshed and laundry done, we head to this Kyushu-born chain. Karamen-ya Masumoto Ooita-Beppu Branch 〒874-0840 Ōita-ken Beppu-shi Tsurumi aza-Sunahara 109-7 I’ve been curious about a menu item at Masumoto, so we came to try it. Seated quickly at the counter after entering. Original Spicy Noodles, spice level 3, regular garlic, and the intriguing “konjac noodles.” Plus extra chashu topping, gyoza, and half fried rice a yummy snack—Kabuto-iwa was a win.(This is where the hint of why Toyoken had few orders comes into play.). The dishes arrive soon after. They all look delicious. The noodles really look like konjac (though they’re not)! Spicy-delish!! The chewy texture is great too. Next, the fried rice— also tasty! Bold flavor that stands up to the spicy noodles. Nice fluffy grain separation. Dive straight into the gyoza after that— crispy skins, juicy filling—yum! At first the noodles felt odd, but the more you eat, the more addictive that chew becomes. The spice keeps you coming back for more. Wow—so good! Thanks for the meal. Those addictive “konjac” noodles were amazing. Seems they have branches in Kanto too, so I’ll be back! So that’s it for today. Once again, it was an exciting trip that stirred our hearts, allowing us to fully enjoy the charm of Japan. We look forward to seeing what scenery we’ll encounter next, our hearts filled with anticipation, as the journey continues on and on.

もっと日本を楽しみたくて旅にでました。一緒に楽しんでいただけたら嬉しいです。I embarked on a journey to enjoy more of Japan. I’d be happy if you could enjoy it with me.#キャンピングカー#旅行#ドライブ#日本#日本旅#キャンピング#美食巡り#絶景探し#秘境訪問#旅好き#文化体験#自然満喫#冒険心#グルメ旅#ドローン#空撮#九州#阿蘇#熊本県#宮崎県#大分県#高千穂峡#峡谷#ミルクロード#かぶと岩#やまなみハイウェイ#別府#あか牛#やま康#かぶと岩展望所#かぶと岩展望所ばっ！#とり天#東洋軒#辛麺屋桝元#JapanRoadTrip#CampervanJapan#JapaneseFoodTour#ScenicJapan#HiddenGemsJapan#TravelJapan#JapanCulture#OutdoorJapan#JapanAdventure#JapanEats#travel#japan#drone#Wondershare Filmoraで作成