New Kusasenri — Restaurant in Minamiaso

New Kusasenri is a modern restaurant located beside the Kusasenri grassland, offering sweeping views of the vast Aso caldera and the active Nakadake volcano. Its glass-walled dining area allows diners to enjoy a stunning panoramic backdrop while they eat. The interior is minimalist and airy, letting the natural landscape take center stage. It’s a popular stop for tour groups and self-drivers exploring Mt. Aso.

The food is casual yet hearty, with local specialties being the highlight. The akaushi roast beef bowl is a standout—tender slices of regional red beef served over rice, often praised for both flavor and presentation. Other popular options include fried pork rice bowls (katsu-don style) and ramen. While the ramen is warm and comforting, it’s considered average compared to the beef dishes. Meals typically come with miso soup and rice refills, making it good value for those with bigger appetites.

Ordering is done via touchscreen kiosks. The process is smooth, though queues can build up during peak hours, especially when tour buses arrive. Prices range from around ¥1,000 to ¥3,000 per person, which is reasonable considering the location and view.

Seating is plentiful—over 300 seats in total—but window-side tables are the most sought after. If you arrive at opening time (11 AM), you’re more likely to get a scenic seat. The restaurant closes by 3 PM, so time your visit accordingly.

Parking is available outside the facility for a small fee (about ¥410), and the restaurant accepts a wide range of payment methods, including credit cards and IC cards like Suica and PayPay.

Overall, New Kusasenri is a worthwhile lunch stop when visiting Mt. Aso. It combines good food, breathtaking views, and a clean, modern setting. While it can get crowded, especially around lunchtime, it’s a great place to take a break, enjoy some local flavors, and soak in the...

Once again I was hooked by a YouTube vlogger video. I was just looking up how to enjoy Mt. Aso and she had the audacity to to show the restaurant that she went to for lunch! I had to pause the video a couple of times to wipe my mouth and then rewind it to see if this was truly something I wanted to try. So into my bookmarks it went and then when I stopped by Mt Aso, I went in and ordered the beef bowl. Just as predicted, it was everything as how she described it. The akaushi beef was tender, flavorful and luxurious. Do me a favor, take your time and try to enjoy it slowly, it’ll be worth it. Oh and the view of the volcano...

What an amazing food court with an incredible view of Mount Aso. The food was surprisingly good for a food court but be prepared to pay as it is relatively pricey. The line for the touch screen ordering machines will get long when a busload of hungry tourists comes charging in so get in line quickly. Once you've ordered and paid, the food comes out very promptly unless of course you get caught behind a busload of 50 tourists. Get a seat next to the very tall windows that span the entire length of the eatery and enjoy your meal while admiring mother nature. Can't think of anything on this planet more...