November 11: World largest volcano Aso　　by Mie
	As the weather was too beautiful to stay indoors, we got up very early in the morning for driving out toward Kujyu highland. The eastern sky has gradually became brighter and when we arrived at the foot of the mountain, the sun set dying the mountain clouds rose.
Kujyu mountain range is shining in a red glow in the morning sky with its majestic peaks. The plateau has already turned brown; waiting for winter already crept nearby.
	Looking south, Aso mountains run west and east clearly outlined against the blue sky. A rocky peak on the left is Mt. Neko and a gentle peak on the right is Mt. Takatake. Today, we will drive to the back of those mountains.
We drive down Kujyu plateau by crossing borders of Kumamoto and Oita prefecture alternately. The slopes of the hills are dyed with autumnal tint in red and yellow.
We stopped at an overlook on the rim of the world largest Aso caldera. Morning mist fills the caldera like a flow of milk. I lost myself for a while by the unexpected beautiful scene. The time is still before nine in the morning.
	I overlook the scene by from Ohgidani viewpoint, feeling just as if I were on the bows of a ship sailing on the sea of milk.
We then drove down into the milk to turn around the valley to south Aso. I found an unexpected beauty of autumnal tint in Chouyou village.
	We visited Hell spa on the southern slope of Mt. Aso. There was a large old wooden inn, just like a traditional hot-spring cure.
	Although it is still ten in the morning, we decided to take an open bath. White muddy hot water fills the bath tabs. The lukewarm spa heats my body from inside while I sat quietly in the tab. The spa is good for healing many kinds of diseases with its strong acidity of 1.7. Jigoku spa, Seifuu-so Inn: 2327 Kawabi Chouyou village Kumamoto prefecture: phone 09676-7-0005
	Warmed from inside, I walked around the spa. Kinryuu (golden dragon) fall features its beautiful contrast of autumnal tint against the falling waters from the precipice. Yamaguchi Inn, Tarutama spa: Kawabi Chouyou village Kumamoto prefecture: phone 09676-7-0006
After a short drive from the spa, we entered Hakusui (white water) village, famous for its clear fountains welling up here and there. We came across such a building, Aso Hakusui brewery run by Milky Way Highland Co., Ltd. We were unexpectedly lured in a restaurant in the building for lunch.
Beautiful display of the beer bottles produced in the brewery ranges from blue to red for Christmas sale.
	On the corner of the shop is a testing stand. My husband is happy to taste two kinds of beer. The brewery was constructed three years ago, they said. The company built other breweries all through Japan where clear water can be obtained.
On the second floor is a smorgasbord-style restaurant. We enjoyed tasty beer with various kinds of foods, from left: Pilsner with the flavor of fresh hops, Weizen with well-harmonized aroma of fruit and bitterness, and Staut made from roasted malt. We go out to the terrace and enjoyed the three kinds of beer. Aso Hakusui brewery plant of Milky Way Highland Co., Ltd. Ichinoseki Hakusui village Kumamoto prefecture, phone 09676-2-8888
As we needed to "cool down" ourselves for driving, we walked around the garden of the plant and took another spa bathing. In the evening, we headed home by passing by Mt. Neko who boasts its unusual rocky peaks and beautiful already browned grassy plain.
	Today, we started very early in the morning, visited Kujyu highland, and drove around the cardela of Mt. Aso. It was a nice drive after a ling time. We arrived home in dark, stars were already twinkling in the sky. The total distance today was 140 kilometers.