A drive to Tawarayama Pass Lookout Step out at the end of the old road and take in Aso’s mountains and villages

Driving the old road to Tawarayama Pass in summer, I kept my hands on the wheel and watched the bend ahead. My friend and I had agreed to stop at the lookout, so we pulled into the car park. When I stepped out, the sky looked so clear I thought we’d be able to see for miles.

A short walk up the hillside brought me to the lookout, where I could see fields and houses stretching across the valley between the mountains. I’d planned to look toward the distant ridgeline, but couldn’t pull my eyes away from the shapes of the nearer fields. I caught myself tracing the roads, wondering which one would take me over there.

The breeze slipped through the sleeves of my white blouse, and I readjusted the straw hat I was holding at my waist. I forgot to put it back on and kept watching the far end of the valley. It was fascinating to watch the view shift from the village below to the mountains beyond with the slightest lift of my gaze.

“The houses look so tiny from here,” I said to my friend. We stood in silence, taking it all in together for a while. From this lookout, you can see the Aso Five Peaks and Nango Valley. Before I could even start putting names to the view, I wanted to take it all in one more time.

On the way back, we talked about heading down into the valley next time. The thought of driving among the villages we’d just seen from afar made it fun to plan a detour. Before getting back in the car, I tucked away my hat and picked a song for the drive back.

In Minami-Aso, you can enjoy a meal of local Akaushi beef at Akaushi no Yakata in Aso Bō no Sato Kugino. I made time on my trip to savor the beef. With the mountain view still fresh in my mind, I couldn’t wait to get back on the road that afternoon.