【Aso Volcano】Sightseeing spots in Kumamoto

Aso is a typical double caldera volcano.
The term “Mount Aso” often refers to the central mountains centered around the Aso Five Peaks, but in a broader sense, it also includes the outer rim and the crater plain.

Aso is a symbol of Kumamoto, featuring the Aso Five Peaks, which are connected and include the highest peak, Takadake (1,592m), Nekodake (1,433m), Nakadake (1,506m), Eboshidake (1,337m), and Kishimadake (1,321m).
The outer rim, which encircles the crater plain at an elevation of nearly 900m, offers first-class scenery regardless of where you look.

Typically, Mount Aso is synonymous with visiting the Nakadake crater, famous enough that it’s said you can peek into the crater even in high heels, thanks to the road that leads there.
If not restricted, visitors can easily view the emerald green crater.

Opposite to the sandy Senri on the south of the Nakadake crater, this crater, known for its beautiful green grass, is called Kusasenri or Kusasenrigahama.
In the Kusasenri area, visitors can enjoy museums, cafes, restaurants, snacks, and souvenirs.

After the Kumamoto earthquake, the museum completed its restoration work and held its grand opening on October 1, 2017.
A new guide center has been established to invigorate tourism in Aso.
In September 2018, the crater camera was restored, and by the end of the fiscal year 2018, a visitor center was set up, bringing a host of new attractions to the area.

You can experience the safest horseback riding in Japan with the calmest horses in the country.
The principle is that rides are led by a staff member and are walking only.
If instructions are followed, it’s the safest horseback riding experience in Japan.

Taking photos and videos while riding is completely okay.
Casual clothes (aprons available for skirts) and regular footwear (high heels, slippers, etc. are also okay) mean that everyone from small children to the elderly can enjoy.

There is a cafe where you can enjoy light meals made with ingredients produced in Kumamoto Prefecture and locally sourced/manufactured foods, as well as a shop offering souvenirs.

Free Wi-Fi is available, allowing visitors who come by mountain bus or other means to spend their waiting time comfortably and relaxed.

A multi-faceted facility offering panoramic views of Mount Aso and Kusasenri!
Our establishment is located directly in front of Kusasenri, with the first floor housing the Yama No Eki Product Hall, selling specialty products from Kumamoto Aso, and an attached cafe that is perfect for a break during your drive.

Additionally, on the second floor, there is the Kusasenri Dining Hall where you can enjoy meals while taking in the spectacular views of Mount Aso and Kusasenri.
Here, you can indulge in Akagyu beef bowls, which have become a specialty of Aso, as well as Kumamoto’s famous horse meat dishes and local cuisine from Kumamoto Aso.

At the foot of Nakadake, where the crater is located, lies the Mount Aso Summit Area. Here, you can find shrines and temples where rituals to calm the fire of the volcano are performed.
Additionally, there are attractions such as permanent projection mapping shows, shops selling original goods, and restaurants where you can purchase charming souvenirs.

The Mount Aso Summit Terminal serves as the hub for the Mount Aso Crater Viewing Shuttle Bus.
Inside the building, there are facilities such as an information desk, a boarding area, a goods shop, and a souvenir store.

As the most historic souvenir shop on Mount Aso, we offer a wide selection of Kumamoto and Aso exclusive products and specialty dishes, eagerly awaiting our customers’ visit.
Additionally, we take pride in the variety of Kumamon goods we have available.

Our Volcanic Ash Soft Serve Ice Cream has become famous for its unique name, attracting visitors from all over the country who have seen it on travel programs and in magazines.

Mount Aso has been revered as a mountain of matchmaking since ancient times, with young men and women making pilgrimages to the crater of Mount Aso during the spring and autumn equinoxes.
This practice is known as “Ondakesan Mairi,” and it is said that participants would exchange vows of marriage during this event.

Located atop Mount Aso, Nishiiwadenji Okunoin of the Asozan Hondō is renowned for bestowing blessings on marriage and good matches.

Visiting the crater of Mount Aso is very popular, attracting a large number of tourists every day. However, access may be restricted depending on the volcanic activity, so please pay attention to the latest information.