38,000 feet up in the air.

Come along on a brilliant visual journey through the skies above Japan.

Our flight path this time offers views of an awe-inspiring active volcano, with plumes reaching skyward.

So, let us embark...

On the Wings.

About an hour's drive from the heart of Tokyo, we've come to Narita International Airport in Chiba Prefecture.

Welcoming over 32 million passengers annually, it stands as Japan's largest international airport.

Narita serves some 92 airlines, linking 115 cities across the globe, including domestic destinations.

It has three terminals.

Each of them caters to different airlines.

We'll be using Terminal 3 today, an area specifically designed for Low-Cost Carriers that opened its doors in 2015.

The terminal's design is remarkably straightforward, a strategic choice that kept construction costs low.

Its lower airport fees allows for more affordable travel.

Our destination is Kumamoto Prefecture, famous as the home of the volcanic Mount Aso.

Aso Kumamoto Airport lies about 900 kilometers west of Narita, and the route promises spectacular close-up views of active volcanoes.

Departure is at 1 PM sharp.

It's about a 2 hour and 10 minute flight to Kumamoto.

On this trip, we're flying on a small jet aircraft, and guess what;

you're in for a treat because both sides of this flight offer breathtaking views.

Here we go. It's time to fly.

Immediately after takeoff, the aircraft makes a sharp right turn.

For those seated on the right-hand side, the expansive Lake Kasumigaura comes into view.

It's the second largest lake in Japan.

Meanwhile, on the left, there's Kujukuri Beach.

Stretching 66 kilometers, this sandy expanse is a haven for surfers.

See those peculiar patterns on the ground?

Those are all golf courses.

Chiba Prefecture boasts the highest number of them in Japan.

Twenty minutes after takeoff.

On the left, Hakone, a hot spring haven, and Lake Ashinoko, a caldera lake formed by volcanic activity.

Once reaching over Shizuoka Prefecture, the plane levels out for horizontal flight.

On the right, the Fuji Five Lakes unfold around Mount Fuji.

As these come into view, please direct your attention downwards.

Mount Fuji's crater seen from directly above.

Five minutes later, the Japanese Alps begin to emerge.

Welcoming people from overseas to Japan; Narita International Airport.

Protecting the country from hidden threats - this is the vital role played by these noble guardians.

Approximately one million people enter Japan through Narita Airport each month.

Conducting checks of entrants and all their bags is one part of the job, to prevent the entry of prohibited items.

One of the guardians, Maki Takako, keeps a watchful eye on the passengers' luggage.

She observes passengers arriving from Shanghai.

Some of their items capture her attention.

Hello there.

What's inside this?

Food? May I take a look, please?

The passenger is a foreign worker in Japan, returning from a visit home.

Just a quick look.
Smells like durian!

She finds the tropical fruit, durian.

Durian is not allowed.

The prohibited items she checks for are... that's right - food.

You can bring durian,
but you need a certificate.

As a plant quarantine officer, she's tasked with finding fruits, vegetables, and all flora prohibited from entry.

Our other guardian, Kokubun Hideyuki, is an animal quarantine officer.

A key player in these efforts - dogs.

Excuse me.
Thank you.

Kokubun's partner is a beagle, a breed with an exceptionally keen sense of smell.

Dogs sniff out scents from luggage.

If they detect certain target items
they'll stop and sit to notify the handler.

The Animal Quarantine Service‘s job
is to keep out livestock diseases.

Basically all animal products
cannot be brought into Japan.

Beef, pork, poultry, and things made from these
like ham and sausages are banned from import.

Fruits can carry pests not native to Japan.

These are undetectable by visual inspection alone.

That's why we prohibit the import of fruit.

Things classified as prohibited items, or plants without inspection certification cannot be brought into Japan.

Many prohibited items are brought in unintentionally.

Snacks with meat powder and in-flight meals
are inspected, so please be mindful.

Sliced fruit is quite common,
as airlines distribute them to passengers.

Once through immigration,
they become a violation of Japanese law.

The intentional import of prohibited items will result in severe penalties.

Sometimes we actually find bugs.
This gives us a sense of duty fulfilled.

Our job is to protect Japan's agriculture
through these border measures.

Day after day, these guardians shield Japan from hard to see threats.

It's been an hour and ten minutes since takeoff.

We're flying over the Seto Inland Sea.

Japan's largest sea of its kind, it's dotted with over 700 islands.

Passing the Seto Inland Sea, we reach Kyushu, home to Kumamoto.

From here on ahead lies a series of active volcanoes!

Now coming into view is the Kuju mountain range, with peaks around 1,700 meters tall.

We're entering Kumamoto, dubbed Japan's land of fire.

Unfolding before our very eyes, one of the world's largest calderas, formed by eruptions from Mount Aso.

Visible here is merely a fraction; its entire circumference spans an impressive 100 kilometers.

Next, look out to the left-hand side of the craft.

Mount Aso comes into sight.

This rugged landscape, and smoke-belching silhouette is why Kumamoto is referred to by some as, the land of fire.

With Kumamoto Castle in sight, it's nearly time for landing.

Aso Kumamoto Airport, freshly renewed in 2023, connects eight domestic and three international cities.

In the new terminal's boarding area, an array of souvenir shops and restaurants,

offering a chance to taste Kumamoto's specialty, horse sashimi!

At the airport, a popular character awaits us.

Why it's Kumamoto's mascot, Kumamon, dressed as a pilot, here to greet us!

Our guide for Kumamoto...

Welcome to Kumamoto!
We've been waiting for you!

Born and raised in Kumamoto, taxi driver Hattanda Susumu.

Kumamoto Castle is close to our hearts here.
It's a symbol of the prefecture.

In April 2016, a series of earthquakes with a maximum magnitude 7.3 struck Kumamoto.

As of 2024, restoration efforts are still ongoing.

Kumamoto Castle sustained significant damage.

Recently, we finally managed to
restore the castle tower!

Be sure to visit Kumamoto Castle!

Next, Hattanda recommends Suizenji Jojuen.

Let's ask him what's special about this garden.

Subterranean waters of Mount Aso feed in,
making for incredibly clear water.

But Hattanda's favorite spot in the garden?

The Kokindenju-no-ma, an ancient building with cultural significance.

The view from here is truly magnificent.

Its beauty seeps into your heart
and makes you feel a bit kinder to others.

Lastly, Hattanda suggests a visit to a traditional Japanese sweet shop.

Here, anyone can book a session to try their hand at making unique confections like these.

Looks good to me!

What do you think?

Looks great!

Thank you for showing us around!

Please fly with us again on, On the Wings.