Fukuoka Excursions

Mount Aso

The composite active volcano of Mt Aso lies almost in the centre of Kyushu Island and boasts the world’s largest caldera, stretching 11 miles (18km) from east to west and 15 miles (24km) from north to south. Inside the caldera are five volcanic peaks, with one of them, Naka-dake, still being active and regularly emitting smoke and ash. The rest of the landscape inside the caldera is green and grassy, grazed by cows and horses and inhabited by about 50,000 people in several towns and villages, seemingly unphased by living inside a volcanic crater. In the town of Aso there is a museum dedicated to the volcano. Visitors can watch large screen presentations about Aso and the associated geology, in addition to viewing a live image from a camera positioned at the active crater site.

Telephone: (0)96 734 2111; Opening time: Aso Volcano Museum open daily 9am to 5pm