Kagoshima & Mount Aso

On one of our early trips to Kyoto for a conference, a doctor friend of ours invited us to Kagoshima in Kyushu. That’s the southernmost major city on Kyushu island.

It is situated close to a bay. In the center of the bay is a volcanic island named Sakurajima. It is an active volcano and from time to time when it erupts city of Kagoshima is covered with dust. We were lucky - this didn’t happen during our stay. During our stay our friend took us to this island and we walked around the island. If you visit the island one must not miss eating sweet potatoes. Good in taste and good in size. I have not had this tasty sweet potatoes in my own city, Mumbai.

Another outing we had was the visit to a lake which contains giant size eels. The  Lake Ikeda,  is a volcanic crater lake near Ibusuki in Kagoshima, which is famous for its large eels known as "unagi." They are a unique attraction in the area.

Kyushu’s southern region is warm, volcanic, and very dramatic. After Kagoshima, heading to Mt. Aso was  a completely different volcanic experience. 

Aso-Kuju National Park

Aso-Kuju National Park is home to volcanic peaks and fantastically shaped terrain, steamy hot springs, virgin forests and vast pastoral grasslands filled with flowers. One can go horseback riding, scale mountains, take in the views of a sapphire-blue crater lake, explore highland marshes and soak in an open-air on-sen in one of Japan’s most dynamic landscapes.

Mount Aso – The Living Mountain

Mt. Aso is not just a mountain—it is one of the largest volcanic calderas in the world. The land suddenly opens wide, almost like a giant bowl carved by nature.

The southern part of Kyushu’s Aso-Kuju National Park is dominated by the majestic Mount Aso, composed of five peaks inside one of the world's largest calderas. The Kuju mountain range stretches across the park’s center, and to the north are two more peaks—Mount Yufu and Mount Tsurumi. In between, the terrain is made up of sweeping grasslands, highland marshes, dense forests and hot spring towns, making it an ideal spot for all kinds of activities and leisure pursuit.

The Volcano Itself – Nakadake

Mount Aso Nakadake Crater

The smell of sulfur. The white smoke rising from the earth. The warning signs about volcanic activity.

We went to this place one more time - It was that impressive.

• Nature creates and destroys at the same time

• Humans can only watch and respect

Mt. Aso may have felt eternal—but it is also fragile.

A reflection on Earth’s power. The silence of the grasslands