Advise about Hitoyoshi area

Hello
Do you think its advisable to do a day trip from Mt. Aso area to Hitoyoshi area? I'm thinking to try the river activity as well as to take the SL train

Thank you
Yann

Check your transportation between Aso and Kumamoto City as the routes and schedules have changed to avoid the earthquake damage. With the early departure of the SL Hitoyoshi, you might want to stay in Kumamoto City the night before even if just taking the SL round trip.

The SL Hitoyoshi leaves Kumamoto Station at 9:44 AM arriving at Hitoyoshi Station at 12:13 and not everyday.
http://kyushu-japan-holidays.com/kyushu-guide/sl-hitoyoshi.html

Most of the river trips down the Kumagawa (Kumagawa Kudari) leave before the SL gets to Hitoyoshi and you still have to get from the station to the river start (taxi). The middle course (ミドル コース) has some departures after the SL arrives though, especially on weekends. The "Short Course" only takes an hour total and leaves throughout the day with the last departure at 3:20PM. The "Long Course" goes through the most waves (class 1-2 rapids) and takes out at the Kyusendo Cave where you get to ride a chairlift up to the road and catch the shuttle back. You can't do the SL and "Long" in one day.
http://www.kumagawa.co.jp/page0108.html

You would have to return on a regular train or highway bus to Kumamoto City. The bus is good if you need speed and want to see the inside of 26 tunnels (1 is 6 km) burrowing through the central highlands of Kyushu between Hitoyoshi and Yatsushiro. The train follows the river and is much more interesting.

If you drop the Kumagawa Kudari, you could go see the Aoi Aso Shrine and some other sights around Hitoyoshi. Don't bother with the castle, it was never finished and only has a few foundation walls.
https://www.odigo.travel/spots/561b3bb469702d119ce50200-aoi-aso-jinja-...#!

Just off of Route 219 on the east side of town is the Hitoyoshi Craft Park. Different crafts being made are shown at different times but it's a place I've picked up some hand-made knives and some red-yellow-and-green painted toys.
http://h-craftpark.com/

The SL Hitoyoshi is a full reserve train. And it normally books out fairly quickly. You can book the day you want to travel up one month in advance.

I traveled on the SL in 2014 and really loved it. Hitoyoshi is a lovely small rural town.