In the afternoon, I strolled along the Monzenmachi Shopping Street in front of Aso Shrine. The most charming part was the unique Mizuki spring tour. Scattered along the street are fourteen distinctive spring water spots supplied by Aso’s fresh, sweet spring water. You can also try a special “sacred water fortune”—dip it in water, and your fortune appears, giving the experience a real sense of ceremony.
The area is also packed with food. In addition to the famous Aso cream puffs that draw lines, I recommend an unassuming burger place called MUSUBIKAZE, where you can dig into a rich, juicy Akaushi beef burger or an Akaushi beef bento. At the end of the street is the Former Girls’ School Site, which has an artsy Showa-era atmosphere and is home to shops selling antiques and carefully selected goods. It’s definitely worth spending an entire afternoon exploring at a leisurely pace.
