Aso Caldera, Volcanic caldera in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan
Description
Aso Caldera is a massive volcanic basin in Kumamoto Prefecture measuring roughly 25 kilometers north to south and 18 kilometers east to west. Inside it stand five prominent peaks called Aso Gogaku, with trails and observation areas surrounding the landscape.
History
This caldera formed from powerful eruptions roughly 90,000 to 270,000 years ago that released enormous amounts of rock and ash. Those ancient explosions created the deep basin that now defines the region.
Culture
The five central peaks hold deep meaning for locals and serve as pilgrimage sites and sources of inspiration for artists today. The annual fire festival shows how this landscape shapes daily life and traditions in the community.
Practical
Several trails of varying difficulty and an aerial tramway provide access to higher viewpoints throughout the area. Most visitors find it helpful to start at a local visitor center to get information for navigating the landscape.
Did you know?
About 50,000 people live permanently within the caldera's boundaries, making it one of the few inhabited volcanic basins in the world. This community has adapted over generations to the unique conditions of this place and shapes its character today.
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Mount Aso
930 m
Aso Shrine
8 km
Heitate-jinja
22.1 km
Autopolis
20.3 km
Aso Bridge
9 km
Aso Cuddly Dominion
5.8 km
Mount Aso Ropeway
506 m
Kusa-Senrigahama
2.9 km
Mount Neko
5.6 km
Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine
7.5 km
Hakusui Dam
22.8 km
草部吉見神社
16.6 km
Daiichi-Shirakawa bridge
9.7 km
Takamori Spring Tunnel Park
8.3 km阿蘇長陽大橋
9.4 kmTawarayama Tunnel
10.4 km
阿蘇カドリー・ドミニオン
5.9 km
Sensuikyō
2.9 km
Sgaru Falls
9 km
Manganji
21.7 km
Saigandenji
5.7 km
男成神社
22.4 km
Shiramizuno Taki
17.4 km
Aso Saru Mawashi Gekijō
8.4 km
Shonenji Temple, Takachiho
22.6 km
Yonjūsanman-Wasserfall
19.3 km
Aso Volcano Museum
3.1 km
Komezuka
4.7 kmDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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