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Mount Aso © JNTO
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