Asagiri, town in Kuma district, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan
Asagiri is a small town in southern Kumamoto Prefecture, surrounded by green hills, rivers, and wide fields spread across mountainous terrain. The Kuma River flows through the area while Mount Shiragatake stands as a protected nature reserve within its boundaries.
The area was part of ancient Higo Province and belonged to Hitoyoshi Domain during the Edo period. The current town was formed in 2003 when several villages merged and adopted the name Asagiri, taking it from the distinctive morning mist that characterizes the region.
The name Asagiri means morning mist in Japanese, derived from words for morning and fog. This mist shapes how local people perceive and interact with their landscape throughout the year.
The best time to visit is spring and autumn when weather is mild and the landscape is especially appealing. Most visitors arrive via Kumamoto and use local buses or cars to explore, as roads are quiet and easy to navigate on foot or by vehicle.
The town is documented in a 1939 book about a Japanese village that captures simple rural life. This historical reference marks it as a place where time and daily routines move more slowly than in modern cities.
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