Despite suffering damage in the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, the region was quick to rebound and continues to welcome tourism. Surrounded by mountains, the landscape is shaped by volcanic activity. Aso is known for its huge caldera containing villages and farms. Kumamoto Castle is one of the country's most imposing, and Kurokawa Onsen retains a quaint, traditional feel.

There are direct flights to Kumamoto Airport from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport and Osaka’s Itami Airport. There are also direct flights from Narita, Nagoya (both Chubu and Komaki), and Shizuoka. If traveling from elsewhere in Japan, the best way to get to the area is by catching a plane to nearby Fukuoka Airport and then getting to Kumamoto by train or bus. If you’d rather travel by land, catch the shinkansen from Tokyo and points west. There are some through trains originating from Shin-Osaka Station, while others require an easy transfer at Hakata Station in Fukuoka.