Aso and the Yamanami Highway in December shed their lush summer green and turn into an endless expanse of dazzling gold.
The winter air is especially crisp and cold, but whenever sunlight breaks through the clouds, the entire mountainside seems to light up with a warm, gentle glow. The distant peaks are partly hidden by thick clouds and mist, while the wind rustles through the silver grass. The view is so vast that you lose track of time.
Away from the busy peak season, the roads in winter are less noisy, with more of nature's stillness and vastness. I really love December scenery like this—clean, pure, and wide open.
