Kuju is located in western Oita Prefecture on Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan’s main islands. It is surrounded by the Kuju Mountain Range, home to the highest peak in Kyushu, and vast, sweeping grasslands. The area is dotted with distinctive volcanic landscapes and wetlands such as the Bogatsuru Wetland and Tadewara Marsh, both designated sites under the Ramsar Convention. From the Kuju Plateau, visitors can gaze out across the expansive grasslands toward the smoking peaks of Mount Aso and the majestic Mount Sobo. Pure spring water, filtered through the region’s rich soil, flows throughout the land, nurturing a thriving diversity of life. The grasslands within Aso Kuju National Park have been carefully maintained by human hands for over a thousand years through controlled burning, grazing, and haymaking. These practices have preserved the expansive meadows, vibrant wildflowers, and rare plant species that together create a truly unique landscape. In Kuju, where nature and humans have long existed in harmony, visitors can experience the profound blessings of the earth.