View from the Observatory
Mt. Nekodake (1,408 m) and Mt. Takadake (1,592 m) can be seen from the wood deck of the Minami Aso Visitor Center. The view is over lush grasslands and wooded areas against a backdrop of rolling green hills and mountains.
Visitors can trek the 2 km Yoohoo! Course, which is recommended for those who wish to enjoy a short hike to take in both views of the park and the rich natural environment here. About halfway along the course, the Tomizuka View Point, in the National Park Resort Village (Kyukamura) area, offers views of the Aso grassland. To the south, visitors can see Mt. Rakudayama (Camel Mountain), so called for its tabular volcanic rock structure that resembles a camel’s humps.
Along this course, visitors can expect to see a diverse range of plants and animals, butterflies and insects, wild birds, and amphibian species which make this area their home. Please respect your surroundings and do not take any living creature, plant, or animal from the park, as many of the local species are rare or endangered.