Aso Fantasy Forest Campground [Kumamoto]: Detailed Review & Blog
Aso Fantasy Forest Campground Photo

Aso Fantasy Forest Campground Review & Details: Onsen, Pool, Fishing Pond & More!

Revived from the Floods! Aso Fantasy Forest Camping Village

Aso Fantasy Forest Open Air Bath Photo

This campground has made a splendid comeback after previously being closed due to flood damage!

The facilities here are incredible.
It features an open-air bath (Rotenburo), heated pool, lodges, fishing pond, and river play area.
The Aso Fantasy Forest Onsen is particularly highly rated.

More great points:

  • Pets Allowed!
  • Unlimited Onsen Access!
  • Great location, only about 2km from Kurokawa Onsen!
Papa Usa

Papa Usa

This time we went with our family (2 adults, 2 kids aged 4 & 1) PLUS 2 adult friends!
My friend helped set up our tarp for us.
I’ll be writing this review to share our experience!

Facility Introduction & Photos

Campground Map sourced from Google Maps

Sourced from Google MAP

📷 Detailed Photos (Owner Quality?)

We used the Insta360 X3 to capture super detailed shots of Aso Fantasy Forest!

  • Underwater shooting, 360-degree photos, and videos are all OK!
  • Compact enough to hold in one hand, so it’s easy for anyone to use.
  • You can save parts of 360 photos as images or connect to your phone for shutter control!

★ Administration Building (Reception)

Administration Building

The shop sells juice, cup noodles, and insect repellent.
They also have a few rental items available (о´∀`о)

★ Kitchen / Washing Area

Retro Kitchen Area

A slightly retro-style kitchen area. I love this kind of atmosphere (*´`)
Washing machines are available for 100 yen per use.
Very helpful when camping with small kids who get their clothes dirty!

★ Campsites & Auto Camping Info

Overall, sunlight exposure feels a bit poor…🤔💭
However, this makes it cool and pleasant in the summer! Tents should dry fine with the summer heat.
According to the manager, summer temperatures hover around 10-20 degrees Celsius.
This is because of the high altitude (approx. 700-800m).
If you get cold easily, I recommend bringing thick sweatshirts or jackets. I get cold easily, so I wore a thick hoodie (*´з`)

Site 1
Site 1

Tiered layout: Upper → Middle → Lower (near the front) from the left side.

Site 2
Site 2

The front side is closest to the Onsen, so it’s recommended if you plan to bathe a lot.
The back area is quite spacious, more so than Site 1.

💰 Price / Rate Estimates

Tent / Tarp (Bring your own)
Motorcycle (1 person) ➡ 1 tent: 1,000 yen
Up to 3 people ➡ 1 tent: 1,500 yen
4+ people ➡ 1 tent: 2,000 yen

Car / Campervan Entry Fee (Per vehicle)
Bike: 600 yen
Small Car: 1,000 yen
Mid-size: 1,500 yen (5+ passengers)
Large: 2,000 yen (6+ passengers)

*Prices are subject to change. Please verify when booking.

★ Lodges & Bungalows

Fees: Admission (Adult 600 yen, Child 400 yen) + Building Fee
Small (2 bldgs): 8,000 yen / Medium (2 bldgs): 10,000 yen / Large (1 bldg): 14,000 yen
Available as Aso Fantasy Forest Bungalows.

★ Fishing Pond

Fishing Pond

Bait & Rod Fee: 200 yen
Caught Fish: Bought for 300 yen each

It was harder than I thought! (*´з`)
If you are confident in your fishing skills, please give it a try!

★ Onsen (Hot Spring / Rotenburo)

Onsen

17:00 ~ 10:00 (Unlimited Entry)
The water temperature is a bit hot.
Only buckets and chairs are provided, so bring your own toiletries.
Facilities include a Large Open-Air Bath, Family Bath, and Women-Only Bath.
Regarding Mixed Bathing: The large open-air bath is mixed, but since there is a women-only bath available, everyone can relax.

★ Pool

Aso Fantasy Forest Pool

Mid-July to Mid-September
Adults 500 yen / Children 300 yen (2 years and up)
*Photo taken out of season (pool was being prepped).
In summer, many visitors come specifically for the pool.

★ River / Stream Play

Stream

A small stream flows through the area.
Depending on the season, you might see fireflies.
Maybe you’ll find freshwater crabs too!? 🦀

My Personal Review / Impressions

The Good 👍

  • Unlimited Onsen access
  • Cool in summer (high altitude)
  • ✅ Kids love the pool and fishing pond
  • Trash disposal available

The Not-So-Good (Nitty-gritty) 🤔

  • ⚠️ Note that fees change based on Car Size
  • ⚠️ Toilets might be scary for some
Memories at Aso Fantasy Forest
This time we visited Aso Fantasy Forest Campground (*ˊ˘ˋ*)
Actually, this is a memorable spot where my dad brought me when I was little!
That was about 18 years ago... the manager has changed since then too (o^^o) naturally (lol)

I stayed in a lodge when I was little, and now as an adult, I'm camping here with my own kids (⌯ ' ᵕ ' ⌯)
Nothing beats this! Maybe one day my kids will bring their kids here too? Just kidding (o^^o)

The weather wasn't great and it felt a bit chilly💦
Especially for me, I get cold easily, so wearing a thick hoodie/sweatshirt was just right (o^^o)
My husband was in short sleeves though😊
Even if not thick clothes, I recommend packing a few long-sleeve shirts(o^^o)

Next time, I'll aim for mid-July to mid-September (Pool Season) (о´∀`о)

Thank you for the fun camping experience (⌯ ' ᵕ ' ⌯)

See our camping blog post here (Japanese) ↓↓↓

FAQ / Key Questions

Q. What are the rates for Aso Fantasy Forest?

For tents, it’s about 1,000 – 2,000 yen per tent (depending on size/people), plus vehicle fees (Bike 600 yen, Small Car 1,000 yen+). Lodges range from 8,000 to 14,000 yen + admission fee. Please check the “Price / Rate Estimates” section for details.

Q. What is the altitude and weather like?

Aso Fantasy Forest is located at an altitude of approx. 700m-800m. It is cooler than the plains, making it comfortable in summer, but mornings and evenings can get cold, so long sleeves are recommended. Weather in the mountains can change quickly.

Q. Is the Onsen mixed bathing?

There is a large open-air bath (mixed) and family baths, but there is also a “Women-Only” bath provided, so everyone can use the facilities with peace of mind. The unlimited entry is a huge plus.

Q. Are the toilets clean?

There are flushable Western-style toilets. No diaper changing tables. Being in the forest, some may find them “a bit scary,” but they are cleaned regularly.

Q. Difference between here and Aso Farm Land?

Aso Farm Land is a large health theme park with dome hotels and athletics. Fantasy Forest is an outdoor facility for camping, fishing, and natural hot springs. Nearby, there are other top-rated spots like “Yamadori no Mori” and “Ikoi no Mori,” so choose based on your camping style.

Q. Are there cool, high-altitude campsites in Kyushu?

If you want a cool campsite in Kumamoto, the Aso and Kuju areas are recommended. While “Shikimibaru Sukoyaka no Mori” (Miyazaki, 1200m) is famous for being the highest, Aso Fantasy Forest has sufficient altitude to serve as a great summer retreat.

Thank you for reading!

Wishing everyone a fun camper life ꒰ঌ(*ˊ꒳ˋ*)໒꒱

Back to HOME