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A collection of world's national parks. From towering mountains to green forests and vast beaches, each park offers a set of unique landscapes and captivating activities
A collection of world's national parks. From towering mountains to green forests and vast beaches, each park offers a set of unique landscapes and captivating activities
established
Dec 4, 1934
location
Kyūshū, Japan
coordinates
32.9191 N 131.0659 E
area
726 km2280.6 mi2
visitors
4.7 million (in 2019)
Aso-Kuju National Park is located in the central region of Kyushu, Japan's southernmost main island. It encompasses parts of Kumamoto, Oita, and Miyazaki prefectures.
The park is named after the Aso Volcano, one of the park's main attractions, and the Kuju Mountains, a range of volcanic peaks that stretch for over 30 kilometers18.6 miles. The Aso Volcano is one of the largest active volcanoes in the world, and its crater, which measures 25 kilometers 15.5 miles in circumference, is one of the largest in the world as well. The volcano has erupted over 50 times in the past century, and visitors can see steam rising from the crater and sulfuric vents.
The Kuju Mountains offer a picturesque landscape of mountains, valleys, and forests, and are a popular destination for hikers and nature enthusiasts. The highest peak in the range is Mount Nakadake.
The park is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, including over 2,000 species of plants and rare species such as the Japanese serow and the Japanese giant salamander. Visitors can also spot several species of birds, including the Japanese bush warbler and the black woodpecker.In addition to its natural attractions, the park also has cultural and historical significance. The Aso Shrine, located at the foot of the Aso Volcano, is one of the oldest and most important shrines in Japan, and is known for its stunning architecture and beautiful gardens. The Kusasenri Plain, located near the Aso Volcano, is a historic battlefield where samurai warriors once fought.
Visitors to the park can enjoy a variety of activities, including hiking, camping, hot springs, and scenic drives. There are several campgrounds and hot spring resorts located throughout the park, as well as several scenic drives that offer breathtaking views of the mountains and valleys.Overall, Aso-Kuju National Park is a unique and beautiful destination that offers a combination of natural beauty, cultural significance, and recreational activities.
Mount Aso
Aso, Kumamoto
location
Kyūshū, Japan
coordinates
32.9191 N 131.0659 E
area
726 km2280.6 mi2
visitors
4.7 million (in 2019)
most visited attraction
Mount Aso
closest city
Kumamoto
travel time from Kumamoto
1-2 hours
travel time from Tokyo
15-16 hours
travel time from Osaka
3-4 hours
popular activity see & do
hiking
popular activity see & do
hot springs
popular activity see & do
scenic drives
popular activity see & do
cycling
As it was at level 2 eruption warning, we could not get to the super ring or crater view. For safety sake, we watched Mt Aso from the observatory area. Not too bad as the distance kept us away from the smoke and allowed us to take pictures of the view. Remember to check the official site on latest status updates of the crater.
We had hoped to visit the crater of Mount Aso but unfortunately due to recent volcanic activity it was closed, in the distance we could see a thick plume of smoke rising from the latest eruption. The visitor centre wasn't the most interesting but there were some good views of the surrounding countryside.
I got a chance to explore this as part of the Kyushu SEVEN STAR Train Tour. We spent only half a day but the landscape and views we're very unique and they were building a new tourist area with modernized facilities.This is an active volcano and the hot springs around it are really nice! The food - AMAZING! The fertile grounds have provided this area with some of the best vegetables and the grazing for cattle and other livestock is excellent. They've a good life here on Mt. Aso. Spending a slow day here is highly recommended.
Spent almost 8 hours on the train to ASOSAN today . Not many tourists comparing to the time I came in February (Chinese New Year). The Bus from Aso Station took us to ASOSAN NISHI Station ( return ticket costed ¥1,300) . The bus was called “Sanko Bus” (35 minutes per ride) .
There was a level 2 eruption when we went and so we cannot get close to the crater, but nevertheless we still enjoyed the trip to mount Aso. Clean and nice place and my kid enjoy being there away from the tall buildings in the city centre. Getting away from the busy city centre is a great way to relax.
