Located in Kikuchi City, Kumamoto Prefecture, the Kikuchi Forest Owners' Cooperative has long served as the steward of community forest management in the region. Through the careful maintenance of Satoyama landscapes, the cooperative has played a key role in preserving local biodiversity and sustaining healthy forest ecosystems.
In Japan, much of the forestland is privately owned, making forest succession and management particularly complex. Within this context, locally rooted forest cooperatives are essential to ensuring sustainable forest management, enabling forests to continue providing environmental, cultural, and social benefits for future generations.
Japan's abundant and pristine water resources are not sustained by nature alone. They are the result of centuries of appropriate human engagement, especially in upstream forest areas. Forest management practices here extend far beyond timber production, embracing the many functions of forests—including water source revitalization, ecosystem conservation, and landscape preservation.
In the Satoyama of the Kikuchi River Basin, visitors can witness diverse approaches to forest use and management. Highlights include the lush natural environment of Kikuchi Gorge, the source of the Kikuchi River; local food culture supported by shiitake mushroom cultivation and other traditional practices; and scenic landscape initiatives led by residents, such as the planting of cherry blossoms and broadleaf trees.
| Day | Location / Time | Transportation | Itinerary | Meals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | July 16 (Thu) 2026 |
Kumamoto City 9:00 | Meeting Point: Kumamoto Sakuramachi Bus Terminal | Breakfast: × Lunch: ○ Dinner: × |
|
| Kumamoto City (Dep.) 9:10 | Chartered bus | Head to Kikuchi City by Chartered bus | |||
| Kikuchi City (Arr.) 10:30 | Chartered bus | Arrive in Kikuchi City Explanation of Japan's forestry and Forest Cooperatives: 30 min (at Kikuchi Furusato Suigen Koryukan) (Entry) Visit Kikuchi Gorge (Strolling) 60 min *1 Lunch: 60 min *1 (Meal featuring mushrooms and wild vegetables, produced in nearby mountains) Site Visit to Satoyama Management (Entry): 90 min (near Shiki no Sato Kyokushi) *2 |
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| Kikuchi City (Dep.) 15:30 | Chartered bus | Depart Kikuchi City and head to Kumamoto Airport | |||
| Kumamoto Airport (Arr.) 16:10 |
Arrive at Kumamoto Airport. (Optional drop-off) | ||||
| Kumamoto City (Arr.) 17:10 | Chartered bus | Arrive at Kumamoto Sakuramachi Bus Terminal. End of Tour |
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* Departure and arrival times are subject to change
*1The group will be split into two smaller groups; the order of activities may vary.
*2 In case of inclement weather, the explanation will be held at Kikuchi Furusato Suigen Koryukan instead of the Satoyama management site visit.
■ Meals: ○ = Provided / × = Not provided
July 16, 2026 (Thu) — Day Trip
8,000 JPY (tax included)
Participants must be 18 or older. Under 18 are not permitted.
1
Kumamoto Electric Railway
Breakfast: 0 / Lunch: 1 / Dinner: 0
A tour guide and certificated guide interpreter will accompany the group.
Kumamoto Sakuramachi Bus Terminal
*Optional drop-off at Kumamoto Airport is available.
Lunch features mushrooms and wild vegetables produced in nearby mountains.
Please note that allergy and halal dietary requests may not be accommodated.
The lunch fee is included in the tour price regardless of whether the meal is consumed.
1. Chartered bus fare (including toll roads and parking fees)
2. Meal costs listed in the itinerary (Breakfast: 0 / Lunch: 1 / Dinner: 0)
3. Kikuchi Gorge admission fee
4. Site visit fees
5. Tour Guide fee
6. Consumption tax
* Listed costs are non-refundable even if partially unused.
1. Personal expenses (food and drinks not listed in the itinerary, etc.)
2. Transportation and accommodation costs to/from the meeting/dismissal point
3. Medical expenses in case of injury or illness
4. GLOBAL NATURE POSITIVE SUMMIT 2026 registration fee
5. Any costs not listed under "What's Included"
The grasslands of Aso have been shaped by over a thousand years of human stewardship — controlled burns, grazing, and grass harvesting — making them one of the world's most rare and precious natural landscapes. Yet today, this irreplaceable ecosystem faces a serious crisis. An aging farming population and the decline of livestock farming have made ongoing management increasingly difficult. Over the past century, grassland coverage has shrunk by more than half, with 7,500 hectares lost in just the last 30 years alone — and 40% more at risk within the next 30 years. Once woodland takes over, restoration is nearly impossible.
These grasslands are not only a haven for biodiversity, but also serve as a vital "invisible infrastructure" — replenishing the groundwater that sustains the lives and industries of approximately one million people in the Kumamoto region.
On this exclusive excursion, we open the doors to grassland sanctuaries normally off-limits to the public.（*1） Through hands-on activities such as grass cutting, learning about the traditional controlled burn culture, tracing the journey of water, trekking, and cycling, we will experience first-hand how the grasslands, water, and local communities are deeply intertwined.
We will also introduce the Aso Guardians Fund for Nurturing Kyushu's Water — an initiative designed to channel donations directly to grassland conservation efforts, helping to build a sustainable future for this remarkable landscape.
（*1）We will guide you to Higo Mizu to Midori no Aigo Kikin Grasslands, which are not usually open to the public
| Day | Location / Time | Transportation | Itinerary | Meals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | July 16 (Thu) 2026 |
Kumamoto City 8:50 | Meeting Point: Kumamoto Sakuramachi Bus Terminal | Breakfast: × Lunch: ○ Dinner: × |
|
| Kumamoto City (Dep.) 9:00 | Chartered bus | Head to Kumamoto Earthquake Memorial Museum KIOKU | |||
| Kumamoto Earthquake Memorial Museum KIOKU (Arr.) 10:00 | Visit the Kumamoto Earthquake Memorial Museum KIOKU(Entry) | ||||
| Kumamoto Earthquake Memorial Museum KIOKU (Dep.) 11:00 | Chartered bus | Head to "Higo Mizu to Midori no Aigo Kikin Grasslands" by chartered bus | |||
| Higo Mizu to Midori no Aigo Kikin Grasslands 12:00 | Lunch at "Higo Mizu to Midori no Aigo Kikin Grasslands" (Stopover) *1 | ||||
| 13:00 | Grassland Activities at "Higo Mizu to Midori no Aigo Kikin Grasslands" *2 (Controlled burning volunteer work experience, Aso water tasting, trekking with a researcher, rare plant conservation activities, cycling, etc.) |
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| Higo Mizu to Midori no Aigo Kikin Grasslands (Dep.) 15:30 | Chartered bus | Depart Higo Mizu to Midori no Aigo Kikin Grasslands and head to Kumamoto Airport | |||
| Kumamoto Airport (Arr.) 16:10 | Arrive at Kumamoto Airport. (Optional drop-off) | ||||
| Kumamoto City (Arr.) 17:00 | Arrive at Kumamoto Sakuramachi Bus Terminal. End of Tour | ||||
* Departure and arrival times are subject to change.
*1 In case of inclement weather, lunch will be held at the Aso Grassland Conservation Center.
*2 In case of inclement weather, activities will take place at the Aso Grassland Conservation Center (Activities will include: Controlled burning volunteer work experience, Aso water tasting/comparison, and a lecture on rare plant conservation activities).
■ Meals: ○ = Provided / × = Not provided
July 16, 2026 (Thu) — Day Trip
7,000 JPY (tax included)
Participants must be 18 or older. Under 18 are not permitted.
1
Kumamoto Electric Railway
Breakfast: 0 / Lunch: 1 / Dinner: 0
A Tour Guide will accompany the group.
*A certificated guide interpreter will NOT accompany the group.
A tour guide will provide assistance in English.
Kumamoto Sakuramachi Bus Terminal
*Optional drop-off at Kumamoto Airport is available.
Vegetarian and halal meal options are available for lunch. Please inquire in advance.
1. Chartered bus fare (including toll roads and parking fees)
2. Meal costs listed in the itinerary (Breakfast: 0 / Lunch: 1 / Dinner: 0)
3. Site visit fees
4. Tour Guide fee
5. Consumption tax
* Listed costs are non-refundable even if partially unused.
1. Personal expenses (food and drinks not listed in the itinerary, etc.)
2. Transportation and accommodation costs to/from the meeting/dismissal point
3. Medical expenses in case of injury or illness
4. GLOBAL NATURE POSITIVE SUMMIT 2026 registration fee
5. Any costs not listed under "What's Included"
Located in Kamimashiki District, Kumamoto Prefecture, AEON Mall Kumamoto will host a tree-planting experience as part of the AEON Hometown Forests Program, which marks its 35th anniversary this year. The tour will also include a visit to Ezu Lake — Kumamoto City’s largest natural spring pond, producing approximately 560,000 tonnes of spring water per day (FY2024).
AEON has been conducting tree-planting activities across Japan as a reflection of its founding philosophy: “Pursuing peace with customers as our starting point, respecting people, and contributing to local communities.” This tour offers participants an opportunity to experience tree planting at AEON Mall Kumamoto, based on the Miyawaki Method developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki in the 1970s. Participants will also visit the already established “AEON Hometown Forest” at the mall and learn about AEON’s efforts to nurture forests in urban settings, while deepening connections with local nature and biodiversity.
Participants will explore the deep connection between Kumamoto’s abundant forest and water, born from the world’s largest caldera.
| Day | Location / Time | Transportation | Itinerary | Meals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | July 16 (Thu) 2026 |
Kumamoto City 8:30 | Meeting Point: Kumamoto Sakuramachi Bus Terminal | Breakfast: × Lunch: × Dinner: × |
|
| Kumamoto City (Dep.) 8:40 | Chartered bus | Head to AEON MALL Kumamoto | |||
| AEON MALL Kumamoto (Arr.) 9:20 | Tree planting experience and commentary • Presentation: "Environmental Initiatives at AEON MALL Kumamoto" • Presentation: "Collaborative Initiatives with Biome Inc." |
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| 12:00 | Free time for lunch at AEON MALL Kumamoto | ||||
| AEON MALL Kumamoto (Dep.) 13:30 | Chartered bus | Head to Lake Ezu (Ezu-ko) | |||
| Lake Ezu (Arr.) 14:00 | Site Visit to Lake Ezu (strolling) (supported by Kumamoto City) "Walk along the Upper Lake Ezu & experience the spring water" *1 "Visit Kumamoto City's largest waterworks source" |
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| Lake Ezu (Dep.) 15:50 | Chartered bus | Head back to Kumamoto City | |||
| Kumamoto City(Arr.) 16:00 | Arrive at Kumamoto Sakuramachi Bus Terminal. End of Tour |
||||
*1 In case of inclement weather, the on-site visit to Upper Lake Ezu will be changed to a view from the bus window.
* Departure and arrival times are subject to change.
■ Meals: ○ = Provided / × = Not provided
July 16, 2026 (Thu) — Day Trip
5,000 JPY (tax included)
Participants must be 18 or older. Under 18 are not permitted.
1
Kumamoto Electric Railway
Breakfast: 0 / Lunch: 0 / Dinner: 0
A Tour Guide will accompany the group.
*A certificated guide interpreter will NOT accompany the group.
A tour guide will provide assistance in English.
Kumamoto Sakuramachi Bus Terminal
*This excursion does not include a stop at Kumamoto Airport.
1. Chartered bus fare (including toll roads and parking fees)
2. Site visit fees
3. Tour Guide fee
4. Consumption tax
* Listed costs are non-refundable even if partially unused.
1. Personal expenses (food and drinks not listed in the itinerary, etc.)
2. Transportation and accommodation costs to/from the meeting/dismissal point
3. Medical expenses in case of injury or illness
4. GLOBAL NATURE POSITIVE SUMMIT 2026 registration fee
5. Any costs not listed under "What's Included"
On this tour, we will immerse ourselves in the Kuma River basin, where people and nature exist in harmony. Discover landscapes shaped by the crystal-clear Kawabe River and the mountains associated with local shrines. The pristine waters and the natural topography—where mountains protect the communities at their foothills—serve as a powerful example of Nature-based Solutions, where ecosystems themselves help mitigate disaster risks.
From the bus windows, we will head to the Seto Tsutsumi Natural Ecological Garden, passing by tea fields spreading across the river terraces, a testament to the deep connection between nature's bounty and local industries. This garden is a rare valley wetland unique to this region—known in Kyushu as sako—and its conservation is being advanced through a research project involving Higo Bank and the MS&AD Group.
After lunch by the main Kuma River, we will visit a geographically certified Kuma Shochu distillery and the National Treasure "Aoi Aso Shrine" in Hitoyoshi City, while also reflecting on the devastating floods that struck the region in 2020.
While the region's rich natural environment and abundant water bring great benefits, these same waters can also cause severe damage. This journey offers a rare opportunity to experience both the blessings and risks of nature, and to learn how local communities live in balance with both—adapting, rebuilding, and moving forward.
| Day | Location / Time | Transportation | Itinerary | Meals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | July 16 (Thu) 2026 |
Kumamoto City 8:00 | Meeting Point: Kumamoto Sakuramachi Bus Terminal | Breakfast: × Lunch:○ （Boxed Lunch） Dinner: × |
|
| Kumamoto City (Dep.) 8:10 | Chartered bus | Head to Amenomiya Shrine by Chartered bus | |||
| Hitoyoshi City 10:30 –15:00 | Chartered bus | • Visit Amenomiya Shrine (No entry — viewing from the outside only) • Visit Sayuri (Amaya)(Entry) • Visit Seto-tsutsumi Nature Ecology Park(Entry) • Lunch at "HASSENBA" • Visit Sengetsu Shuzo (Kuma Shochu distillery)(Entry) • Visit National Treasure "Aoi Aso Shrine"(Entry) |
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| 15:00 | Local Dismissal in Hitoyoshi City (For those who wish to leave the tour here) | ||||
| Hitoyoshi City (Dep.) 15:10 | Chartered bus | Head back to Kumamoto City by Chartered bus | |||
| Kumamoto City (Arr.) 17:00 | Arrive at Kumamoto Sakuramachi Bus Terminal. End of Tour |
||||
* Departure and arrival times are subject to change.
■ Meals: ○ = Provided / × = Not provided
July 16, 2026 (Thu) — Day Trip
7,000 JPY (tax included)
Participants must be 18 or older. Under 18 are not permitted.
1
Kumamoto Electric Railway
Breakfast: 0 / Lunch:1（Boxed Lunch） / Dinner: 0
A Tour Guide will accompany the group.
*A certificated guide interpreter will NOT accompany the group.
A tour guide will provide assistance in English.
Kumamoto Sakuramachi Bus Terminal
*This excursion does not include a stop at Kumamoto Airport.
* Local Dismissal in Hitoyoshi City can be possible.
The boxed lunch provided is not vegetarian or halal.
The lunch fee is included in the tour price even if the meal is not consumed.
If you cannot eat the boxed lunch, you can either:
-Purchase pancakes, donuts etc., at thelunch venue, HASSENBA.
-Bring your own lunch purchased before the tour starts.
1. Chartered bus fare (including toll roads and parking fees)
2. Meal costs listed in the itinerary (Breakfast: 0 / Lunch: 1 / Dinner: 0)
3. Site visit fees
4. Tour Guide fee
5. Consumption tax
* Listed costs are non-refundable even if partially unused.
1. Personal expenses (food and drinks not listed in the itinerary, etc.)
2. Transportation and accommodation costs to/from the meeting/dismissal point
3. Medical expenses in case of injury or illness
4. GLOBAL NATURE POSITIVE SUMMIT 2026 registration fee
5. Any costs not listed under "What's Included"
Please review the excursion details and notes, then click the "Apply Here" button to submit your application.
Application Period: Until July 9, 2026 (Thu) 12:00 (JST)
Immediate payment by credit card will be processed on the application page.
The travel contract will be concluded upon full payment of the tour fee
A "Final Itinerary" document (noting the meeting time and meeting point) will be sent to your registered email address at least 5 days before departure.
(If you have not received the email 5 days before departure, please contact us.)
You may cancel your travel contract by paying the cancellation fee listed below.
To cancel, please contact us by fax or email. Cancellations by phone are not accepted.
Please state "Cancellation Request" in the subject line and include your name and contact information.
| Cancellation Date | Cancellation Fee |
|---|---|
| 10 to 8 days prior to the tour departure date | 20% of tour price |
| 7 to 2 days prior to the tour departure date | 30% of tour price |
| 1 day prior to the tour departure date | 40% of tour price |
| On the day of departure (before the tour begins) | 50% of tour price |
| After the tour has started, or in case of no-show without notice | Full tour price |
Kinki Nippon Tourist Co., Ltd. (KNT)
『GLOBAL NATURE POSITIVE SUMMIT EXCURSION』Desk
Address: 12F, 1-13 Kanda-Izumi-Cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0024 Japan
E-mail：tourdesk07@or.knt.co.jp
★Before applying, please allow emails from the following domains to ensure delivery: @or.knt.co.jp
Office hours: 10:00-17:00 (Japan time GMT+9:00) / Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and National Holidays
※Replies to emails received on holidays or outside of business hours will be made on the next business day or thereafter.
※Please note the date and time of the cancellation will be based on the working hours.
Certified Travel Service Manager：Naoki Ito (Mr.) / Yuri Suzuki (Ms.)
A Certified Travel Service Manager is responsible for supervising all transactions at the sales office where your travel arrangements are made. If you have any questions about your travel contract, please feel free to contact the Managers specified above.
Corporate 3rd Office, Kinki Nippon Tourist Co.
Address: 12F, 1-13 Kanda-Izumi-Cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0024 Japan
Registration Number: Japan Tourism Agency No.2053
Full member of Japan Association of Travel Agents
Member of the Compensation Security Bonds System
Member of Travel Agency Fair Trade Council
Manager: Naoki Ito (Mr.)
Office Hours: Mon – Fri 10:00-17:00 (JST = UTC+9)
Closed on Sat, Sun and National Holidays
Conditions are as of May 28, 2026
Reference Number：60442606C017