Journey to the East: Day 9 Aso

We took a themed train Aso Boy! to Aso. It was a cute little train with child friendly facilities and all female attendances.  The mountain journey was scenic.

Only when get got there, we know the volcano crater is shut for visitor due to heavy fog.  We went to have some lunch ramen at a little shop, shopped at their farm shop for snacks, snacked at their tatami room and got on the next train to Beppu.

The train to Oita is also scenic.  Oita and Beppu were both very busy, we wasn't sure why.  We check into the hotel, the receptionist explained to us that there was a firework exhibition tonight.  I went to their Onsen, hot spring. I was the second person using the hot spring and left before the next mother and toddler in. We went out to look for food, we found a supermarket, so we bought an array of food, including Hokke mackerel, sushi platter, mochi, etc.  We warmed them up and ate them in our room.

We then walk around town to check out the locker provision, did some shopping, and settled in for some fireworks.  It was quite impressive, we had a good view from our room and it went on for 45 minutes. Bonus!