Mount Aso

One of Kyushu’s highlights, Mount Aso is the world’s largest volcanic caldera measuring around 21 km in diameter with a in a surreal landscape of grassy plains, small lakes, waterfalls and active volcanic peaks occasionally emitting smoke and ash.

Aso has a long history of habitation, and today a community of around 50,000 live within the crater, making a living by herding and farming in the rich volcanic soils. Being in the centre of Kyushu, Mount Aso combines well with most other parts of Kyushu and offers a mix of beautiful natural scenery with a taste of rural Japanese lifestyles in this most unlikely of settings.

There are limited accommodation options around Mount Aso so we recommend staying in one of the traditional style ryokans in Kurokawa Onsen only a 30km drive away.