Mt. Aso, Kumamoto Prefecture

Every volcano deserves 5-stars just for being a volcano but Mt Aso is very special, and ought to get 5+. The crater is spectacular. The colours overwhelming. The smell horrendous - well not that bad, it is only sulphur after all. After being off-limits for a couple of years, it is now possible to visit the crater again from Feb 2019 onwards, although the iconic ropeway is still out of use unfortunately. Still the crater is a must visit.

How to plan If u want to see the crater up close on a particular day u should have level1 restriction ( check aso site ) Unfortunately it changes every day ... so u should be lucky too... How to get there Ur base for public transport is aso station If u come from beppu u can take Jr train which reaches aso station .... (infrequent every two or three hours once ) Jr is available till higo ozu ... after which u should connect with bus ... Once u reach aso station every hour there is a bus to reach the mt aso... Three stops are to be noted one to the museum One to the helipad Other to mt aso ( each of this stops are a km or two away ) Museum is ok not out of ordinary... If u are there anything else other than level1 u can't reach the crater ... Helipad may be the way to go ... It cost 5000 yen per person for a 4 mins ride If weather permits can go for a ride around crater worth it... Minimum two persons are required... if not u have to pay the charge of two .... Max 3 can travel at a single time.... There is other package of 8 mins... which cost 10000yen per person.... For kids it 500 yen lesser than adults ... They have a break in afternoon for fuel /lunch approx from 100 to 230 pm .... Mt as o has a loop bus operates only on level 1 restrictions are less otherwise it's closed its cheaper as mentioned in Google Unfortunately it's level 2 on our day So we took a helicopter ride which was worth it ... Don't forget to catch the last bus otherwise u may be stranded there... Museum has few restaurant options They have pakistani restaurant which serves naan and biryani if u are up to...

Big volcano

Was here in the mid 1960's. A typhoon had passed thought that week and the crater was full of green water coloured by the sulphur the smell of which was evident. There were concrete shelters at the top though how much use they would have been if there had been a eruption is a moot point.

The way to MtAso is like the way to heaven nature is most beautiful gift from god drive is bit scary but worth it you must be lucky 🍀 to see live volcano 🌋 mountain 🏔 because the there may be chances of poisonous gas ⛽️ we were lucky to see and take photographs but meanwhile the security guard were worried 😦 of poisonous gas ⛽️ and we were n’t able to stay long time there