SCENERY OF THE KUJU PLATEAU / Taketa City

The Kuju Plateau is a magnificent highland region in the Aso–Kuju National Park. Sitting at an elevation of 600–1,100 m, the plateau stretches endlessly with grasslands set against the background of the Kuju mountain range. On this plateau, stunning scenery unfolds with the changing seasons: in spring and summer, the area flourishes with vibrant greens, in autumn, silver grasses dance in golden hues, and in winter, the trees are blanketed in snow. On clear nights, the stars shine also brightly without any interference from artificial light. In order to preserve the beautiful landscape of the plateau, human–led ‘field burning’ has become essential, a traditional way of harmonising with nature that is still widely practiced today.

Simply driving through the vast landscape of nature is enough for most to forget the chaos of everyday life. Kuju Flower Park and Gandhi Farm are also in the vicinity and popular among visitors on holiday. The Kuju mountain range has several trailheads and is popular with mountaineering enthusiasts nationwide, partly because climbers can relax in a natural hot spring afterwards.