Aso Volcano Museum

Kyūshū


This old-school museum has exhibits and dioramas about Aso, volcanos in general and the sometimes fraught relationship locals have with the volcano system. A free English-language audio guide describes the exhibits, video on a parabolic screen tells the story of the caldera's creation some 19,000 years ago, and you can see a real-time video feed from inside Naka-dake crater. Other exhibits cover the flora, fauna and customs of the region.


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1. Naka-dake Crater

1.87 MILES

Naka-dake (1506m) is Aso's active volcano – very active in recent years, with fatal eruptions in 1958 and 1979, and other significant eruptions in 1989,…

2. Sensui Gorge

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In mid-May this gorge boasts a dramatic carpet of azalea blooms. Ask at tourist-information offices about trail conditions before setting out. Due to…

3. Aso-jinja

5.68 MILES

Dedicated to the 12 gods of the mountain, this shrine, including its revered gate, suffered severe damage in the 2016 earthquakes; photos show the scale…

4. Kamishikimi-Kumanoimasu-jinja

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5. Daikanbō Lookout

7.74 MILES

High above the Aso-san caldera, Daikanbō is one of the best places to take in the views, even if it’s often crowded with tour buses. From the parking area…

7. Takachiho-jinja

19.06 MILES

About 10 minutes' walk from the bus centre, Takachiho-jinja is dramatically set in a grove of cryptomeria pines, including one that's over 800 years old…

8. Suizenji-jōjuen

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Southeast of the city centre, this photogenic lakeside garden was built between 1636 and 1716 for the ruling Hosokawa clan. The main path represents the…

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