## Japan’s Greatest Driving Roads If you love driving, Kyushu offers some of the most spectacular, cinematic roads in the world. Two routes stand far above the rest, both converging around the massive Mount Aso Caldera: The Yamanami Highway and the Milk Road. ## The Yamanami Highway (Route 11) Running from the hot spring town of Yufuin down into the Aso Caldera, this 50-kilometer stretch of road is legendary. - **The Scenery:** You will drive through the lush Kuju mountain range, passing steaming geothermal vents, sweeping grasslands, and dense forests. - **Key Stops:** The Makinoto Pass (the highest point of the drive) and the Chojabaru Visitor Center, which offers incredible views of the volcanic peaks. ## The Milk Road Originally built for dairy farmers to transport milk across the vast grasslands of Aso, this road traces the northern outer rim of the caldera. - **The Scenery:** Unlike the winding mountain passes of the Yamanami Highway, the Milk Road offers sweeping, unobstructed panoramic views. There are no power lines or buildings—just rolling green hills and grazing horses. - **Key Stop:** The Daikanbo Lookout. Park your campervan here to look directly down into the caldera and see the "Sleeping Buddha" formed by the five peaks of Aso. **Driving Tip:** Both roads are incredibly safe, wide, and well-maintained. However, in winter (December to February), the Yamanami Highway often freezes or receives snow, making studless winter tires mandatory.