Aso
The town of Aso (population 30,000) lies to the north of this vast depression, which contains a dozen villages with a total population of about 100,000. The fertile slopes are covered with lush grazing pastures, terraced fields, lakes, forests, and hot springs used for onsen. Within the caldera are five volcanic cones: Naka-dake (4,941 ft / 1,506 m, the only active one of the five), Taka-dake (5,223 ft / 1,592 m, the highest), Neko-dake (4,619 ft / 1,408 m, recognizable by its craggy peak), Kishima-dake (4,167 ft / 1,270 m), and Eboshi-dake (4,386.5 ft / 1,337 m).
Crater of Nakatake
This is the crater of the active Naka-dake Cone. Around the rim of the smoking crater, you can have a great view of the rugged lava terrain. You can get there via the toll road or by the ropeway. You can also walk up.
Kusasenri
Kusasenri is a green field that spreads about one kilometer on the northern slope of Eboushi Cone. It is the remains of a double volcanic crater. It has a pond in the center, and the peaceful view of horses grazing with no apparent tension is one of the typical views of Aso. In front of you is Nakadake Cone, smoking from the top.
Caldera
Mt. Aso is one of the world’s largest calderas.
The diametereter is approximately 20 kilometers.
A caldera is a Portuguese word meaning “Big Pan.”
See, it has the same shape, doesn’t it?
The caldera was formed by volcanic activities in ancient times.
These activities began about 300,000 years ago. About ninety thousand years ago, a great eruption occurred at Mt. Aso, causing a lot of pyroclastic flows.
Later, the ground sank, creating a large natural depression.
This is a caldera.
Then, new volcanoes appeared in the caldera.
Over tens of thousands of years, the ground collapsed and rainwater eroded it, forming the present Mt. Aso.
Kamishiki Kumanoza Shrine
This mystical shrine went viral on social media for a view that looks like a ‘Gateway to Another World.’ The steep path approaching the main hall is lined with 97 stone lanterns on both sides. The sight of these steps, covered in green moss and dappled with light filtering through the leaves, is truly fantastic.
As you continue up the slope past the main shrine, you will reach a large hole in the rock called ‘’Ugeto-Iwa.’ It is said to have been kicked out by the Onihachi monk, an assistant to the god Takeiwanotsu. The hole is 10 meters high and 10 meters wide. Praying here is said to bring good luck in academic success or victory in games.
Takachiho
Takachiho-kyo is a gorge in the Gokase River located in Miyazaki. It is listed as a national scenic beauty and a natural monument.
The major eruption of Mt. Aso 120,000 years ago formed this gorge.
The pyroclastic flow traveled through the river, stopped, and solidified here in the form of pillars.
→The river water eroded these solidified rocks.
→Then a new gorge formed.
Manai Waterfall
According to myth, a god named Amenomurakumono Mikoto came to earth with the grandson of the Sun Goddess and found no water where they landed. So this god placed the seed of water, which turned into a spring. This water falls as a cascade.
