Easy to over look this little patch of delightful things. French – Japanese fusion artisan bread store in a middle of no where. Lucky for me, I found it LOL. Honestly did not expect to find bread in a clearly rice dominate farm area. It was a good break to non-stop rice dishes. This store only used local Kumamoto flour 😀 support local farms.

Konokayu 木の香湯, also known as Kugino Onsen 久木野温泉 was located in the southern Aso village. Quick 5min walk from where I stayed Little Asia guesthouse (previous post). It was such a great stop for the evening after hikes or a long day of walking around. This was not a mixed bath (men & women bath naked together; konyu 混湯 Konyoyu).  There will be a separate post on the infamous mix bath Sukayu 酸ヶ湯,…

As some of you already know, I often don’t spend much money on accommodation. I enjoy the pricier establishments of course, but many of my fondest memories were produced in much humbler places. Little Asia guest house, Minami-Aso, was one of those. The guesthouse was run by this super mom and her dad (no English at all) + 2 kids lol. They’re so friendly and willing to help / chat. Homely…

Photo gallery post…

It arrived!!! I love it that they send out emails to tell subscribers when they’ve been dispatched. Now now, let’s unbox and snack!

This was a seriously thrifty trip. Hubby and I stayed at a guesthouse (more like a local home). The key expense was transport LOL. Surrounded by beautiful rice paddy and various farms. So shopping / convenient store was nowhere to be seen. Just sheer natural beauty. This was 1 hour train away from the bustling Kumamoto. Surreal how the scenery changed completely. The region was called Minami-Aso (South Aso); the…