Outdoors

Best known for being the largest inhabited caldera in the world, Aso in Kumamoto has plenty to offer. It offers fantastic hikes and cultural spots you won’t want to miss. 1. Mount Aso The main reason to come to Aso is to visit one of the largest active volcanoes in Japan: Mount Aso, also called Aso Volcano. When it has a level one status, visitors can walk right up to the crater and look down into the erupting white smoke below. 2. Aso Volcano Museum Pay Aso Volcano Museum a visit to learn more about the volcano and how it was formed. It’s a good alternative if the volcano itself is too active for you to approach the crater — you can see the live footage from two cameras that go right into the volcano. Other exhibits at the museum are constantly changing, but they explore themes like volcanoes in general and nature on the caldera. 3. Kusa-Senrigahama Grasslands If you want nothing more than to enjoy some wide open spaces away from other people, head to the grasslands of Kusa-Senrigahama. Spanning the distance between Mount Kishima and Mount Eboshi, they are an excellent spot for views of the mountain…