| Mount Aso 阿蘇山 |
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|---|---|---|
 The steaming crater of Mt. Naka |
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| Elevation | 1,592 metres (5,223 ft) | |
| Location | ||
| Location | Kyūshū, Japan
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| Coordinates | 32°53′06″N 131°05′07″E / 32.8851°N 131.0854°E | |
| Geology | ||
| Type | Caldera complex | |
| Last eruption | 2004 | |
Mount Aso (阿蘇山 Aso-san) is the largest active volcano in Japan, and is among the largest in the world. It stands in Kumamoto Prefecture, on the island of Kyūshū. Its peak is 1592 m above sea level. Aso has one of the largest caldera in the world (25 km north-south and 18 km east-west).[1] The caldera has a circumference of around 120 km (75 miles), although sources vary on the exact distance.
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The central cone group of Aso consists of five peaks: Mt. Neko, Mt. Taka, Mt. Naka, Mt. Eboshi, and Mt. Kishima. The highest point is the summit of Mt. Taka, at 1592 m above sea level. The crater of Mt. Naka, the west side of which is accessible by road, contains an active volcano which continuously emits smoke and has occasional eruptions. Only the northernmost crater (the first crater) has been active for the last 70 years—1974, 1979, 1984–1985 and 1989-1991.[1]
The present Aso caldera formed as a result of four huge caldera eruptions occurring over a range of 90,000–300,000 years ago. The caldera, one of the largest in the world, contains the city of Aso as well as Aso Takamori-cho and South Aso-mura. The somma enclosing the caldera extends about 18 km east to west and about 25 km north to south. Viewpoints from the somma overlooking the caldera are perched upon lava formed before the volcanic activity which created the present caldera.
Ejecta from the huge caldera eruption 90,800 years ago covers more than 600 km³ and roughly equals the volume of Mt. Fuji; it is presumed that the pyroclastic flow plateau covered half of Kyūshū.
The eruption which formed the present somma occurred approximately 300,000 years ago.
Four large-scale eruptions (Aso 1 – 4) occurred during a period extending from 300,000 to 90,000 years ago. As large amounts of pyroclastic flow and volcanic ash were emitted from the volcanic chamber, a huge depression (caldera) was formed as the chamber collapsed. The fourth eruption (Aso 4) was the largest, with volcanic ash covering the entire Kyūshū region and even extending to Yamaguchi Prefecture.
Mt. Taka, Mt. Naka, Mt. Eboshi, and Mt. Kishima are cones formed following the fourth above-mentioned huge caldera eruption. Mt. Naka remains active today. It is presumed that Mt. Neko is older than the fourth huge caldera eruption.
Aso's pyroclastic flow deposits (welded tuff) were utilized for bridge construction in the region. There are approximately 320 arched stone bridges in Kumamoto Prefecture, including the Tsujun-kyo and Reidai-kyo bridges on Midorikawa River, which are important national cultural properties.[1]
Coordinates: 32°53′06″N 131°06′15″E / 32.885°N 131.10417°E
Mount Aso (阿蘇山 Aso-san), located in Kyushu's Kumamoto prefecture, is a volcano with the largest caldera in the world.
The active volcano of Aso will bring quite a significant amount of tourists to the small town of Aso. Aso Tourist Information is located in it's own building just beside the Aso station.
Aso is on the JR Hohi line, 1 hour and 40 minutes from Kumamoto by local train (¥1080, change of trains may be required). There is also a limited express, the Kyushu Odan Express (九州横断特急), which makes four daily round trips with no change of trains required (65 minutes; ¥2180).
Kumamoto connects to Hakata in Fukuoka via the Relay Tsubame and Ariake limited express trains, and to Kagoshima via the Relay Tsubame and the Kyushu Shinkansen.
From Beppu you can get there in about 3 hours by bus (¥2950) or 2 hours by train (¥3740)
There are luggage lockers on the Aso Station.
There are two cable car lines up to the mountain. Aso Nishi (west) cable car station is easily reached with a bus from the Aso station. The last bus back from Aso Nishi cable car station leaves at 5 pm. You can also hop on and off the bus at the bus stop near the Aso Youth Hostel. If you're driving, a toll road goes right up to the station and if you're prepared to pay, you can actually drive up to the summit of the crater.
Aso Higashi (east) cable car station can be reached by taking a local train to Miyaji station (2 stops from Aso station) and then walking up the road to the cable car station.
 WARNING: The mountain spews sulphurous gases from the crater of Mt. Nakadake. Sometimes, when the winds blow from the crater towards the crowds, the cable car lines are shut down, so you might not be able to reach the summit. They will start operating again, when the winds turn - sometimes you will only have to wait half an hour or so. If you want to check, before starting your hike, the owner of the youth hostel is able to tell whether everything's in operation. |
If you have extra cash to spare or you want to have an aerial view of Mount Aso, you can take the helicopter ride, which is not far from the Mount Aso Museum. It cost ¥5000(adult)/¥4500(child) per person for a 4 mins ride but the view is astounishing!
Besides the usual tourist trinkets you can buy from the Aso Nishi cable car station, there's not much shopping to do around here. Your usual supermarket is a couple blocks south from the Aso station.
There are some restaurants and a noodle bar near the station. In Aso Heights, there is a delicious cheese cake. Japanese lunch box can be bought at Aso JR Station.
| Routes through Mount Aso |
| Kumamoto ← | W  E |
→ Oita |
| This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow! |
Category: Outline articles
   | New York Public Library Digital Gallery, early photograph of smoke plume from Mt. Aso - NYPL Digital Gallery | Detail ID 1253802 |
| | Global Volcanism Program - Global Volcanism Program | Aso | Summary |
| | Cities on Volcanoes 5 conference: - Cities on Volcanoes 5 |
| | A6: Living with Aso-Kuju volcanoes and geothermal field . - Field Excursions A |
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