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Mount Aso 阿蘇山

Checked October 2026 · next check January 2027 · On our list

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Visiting Mount Aso today

  • What it is: An active volcano inside one of the world's largest calderas. The Kusasenri meadow sits below Nakadake's smoking crater.
  • Getting there: JR Hohi Line from Kumamoto to Aso Station, then a bus up to Kusasenri and the summit area.
  • Hours: Crater sightseeing has been suspended since January 2026. Alert Level 2 remained on 9 October 2026, with entry banned within about 1 km of the crater.
  • Admission: Kusasenri and the summit plaza are free to visit.
  • Tip: Check the JMA volcano bulletin before going; the alert level rose to 3 in August 2026. Kusasenri and Daikanbo lookout still give big caldera views.
Best time
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Green grasslands in early summer, silver pampas in autumn; the grass is burned in early spring.

Checked against: Japan Meteorological Agency: Aso volcano bulletin, 9 October 2026 · KAB: Aso alert level raised to 2, June 2026 · Kumanichi: Aso crater restrictions, October 2026. Check opening times and prices before you go.

Mount Aso on Shibuya246

We haven't been yet, so there are no photos here. The notes above come from official sources and are checked every quarter. Our own photos and story will appear here after we visit.