Page 276 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Japan

springs. Arriving tour buses on the crater wall relay
pass a curious, grass-covered continuous images of the
mountain resembling an cone’s volcanic activity.
inverted rice bowl, aptly
named Komezuka (Rice Mount Aso Volcanic
Mound), and often stop at the Museum
pretty Kusasenri Meadow. " ⌂ 1930-1 Akamizu
A cable car (currently # 9am–5pm daily
suspended and replaced by
EXPERIENCE Kyushu of Nakadake, providing, on y
a bus service) runs to the top
clear days, awesome views
Takachiho
into the depths of the crater
and its malodorous green
高千穂
lake. Hikers can follow a path
! B6 ⌂ Miyazaki
Smoke rising from a crater
look. A popular hiking route
The Takachiho mountain
starts at the very top of the
on Mount Aso, Japan’s to the summit for a closer Prefecture
largest active volcano ropeway, proceeds to Mount region, a place of homage
Takadake around the crater for those with an affection
rim, and descends to Sensui for Japan’s ancient pantheon
t Gorge. Access to the crater of gods and goddesses, is
alive with the resonances of
is constantly under review
Mount Aso depending on volcanic legend. Most of the sights are
阿蘇山 activity, so it is worth checking connected with Japan’s rich
in advance for an update. mythology. Kagura, a mime-
! B6 ⌂ Kumamoto
Prefecture £ Aso The Mount Aso Volcanic dance said to have been
(from Oita only), then Museum, at the base of first performed by the Sun
Nakadake, offers a fascinating
Goddess Amaterasu Omikami,
bus @ Kyushu Odan preview of the mountain even is thought to have originated
sight seeing bus from
Beppu or Kumamoto when the crater is closed due here. The cave into which
∑ city.aso.kumamoto.jp to a high level of dangerous, Amaterasu vanished, casting
sulfuric fumes. Two cameras the world into a contemporary
Actually a series of five
volcanic cones, Mount Aso
is one of the world’s largest
calderas, with a circumference
of 80 miles (130 km). Of the
five peaks, Mount Takadake, at
about 5,220 ft (1,590 m), is the
highest. Mount Nakadake is
still active, emitting sulfu rous
fumes and hot gases, earning
Kumamoto the epithet hi-no-
kuni (“the land of fire”).
Below these peaks, the
caldera is dotted with towns
set among forests, grasslands,
bamboo groves, and hot
INSIDER TIP
Onsen Hopping
Kurokawa, the town
at the base of Mount
Aso, is considered one
of Japan’s best onsen
locations. A pass gives
access to several hot
springs at a discounted
rate (www.kurokawa Rowing boats under
onsen.or.jp). a pretty waterfall
at Takachiho Gorge
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