Kusa-Senrigahama, Natural monument grassland in Aso, Japan.
Kusa-Senrigahama is an open grassland at the foot of Mount Eboshi, sitting at around 1,100 meters (3,600 ft) above sea level in the Aso area of Minamiaso, Japan. A small pond sits near the center of the plain, breaking up the otherwise flat and open terrain.
The land was shaped by volcanic activity from Mount Aso tens of thousands of years ago, which created the geological base for the plain. Over the following centuries, farming and grazing gradually turned it into the open grassland seen today.
Kusa-Senrigahama has long been grazed by local farmers, and this ongoing practice is what keeps the land open and the grass short. Without this work, the plain would gradually give way to shrubs and trees.
The site is reachable by bus from JR Aso Station in roughly half an hour, and services run throughout the year. Weather at this elevation can shift quickly, so bringing a warm layer is a good idea whatever the season.
The grassland sits across the boundary of two municipalities at once, making it an administratively shared space. Its appearance changes noticeably with the seasons, turning from green in summer to a silver-white tone in winter.
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