Mt. Aso
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Musings_MJ
Singapore, Singapore630 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Family
Mount Aso turned out to be the highlight of our trip. The panoramic views of the surroundings were breathtaking. Weather was good and we could drive up to the crater. Smoke can be seen from the crater. It was very accessible but very windy and cold. Wonderful experience to be up close to a live volcano. There are restaurants next to the visitor centre/carpark which will be good for lunch. Set aside 2-3 hours to take in the wonderful scenery.
Written 26 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Cetra14
Inverness, UK23 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2014 • Couples
We visited Mt Aso during a 2 week tour around Japan and were very happy we went. How often are you going to get to stand on the craters edge of an active volcano?! We have written this review primarily to provide tips and info, rather than a review of the volcano itself.

We travelled to Fukuoka to Kumamoto on the Shinkansen (bullet train) and then changed to a local train from Kumamoto to Aso. Both trains are JR lines so they were covered by the brilliant JR Pass and it took around 2 hours from departure to arrival. The bus up to the cable car station (which takes you to the craters edge) stops right outside the train station. Note that you do not have to buy a ticket before getting on the bus as you pay when you get off; the fare varying depending where you get of. It is ¥650 per person, one way from Aso bus terminal to the cable car station. Whilst we were waiting in line at the bus terminal by the train station, quite a few locals rushed into the bus terminal to buy a ticket from the machine inside. We're not sure why they did this as there appeared to be no benefit – the ticket price is the same whether you buy on the bus or at the ticket machine. We thought it may reserve you a seat on the bus if there are more passengers waiting than the bus can take i.e. passengers with tickets will get a seat over those who are just waiting to pay when they get off the bus but this didn't seem to be the case. The key thing is to get in the queue quickly to ensure you get on the bus as there will always be more people wanting on than the bus can take.

On arrival at the cable car station we found that the cable car as not running due to maintenance so the operators had mini-buses driving up to the craters edge instead. These were the same price as a trip on the cable car (¥750 per person, one way or ¥1,200 per person, return). You buy the cable car / mini-bus ticket from the ticket booth in the cable car station. Alternatively, you can walk from the cable car station to the craters edge for free. We considered this but then thought better of it given it was probably about 0 degC and the wind was blowing pretty hard making it feel even colder (you are at approximately 4,000 feet above sea level). Be aware that you may have to wait at the cable car station for some time if the weather conditions are bad at the crater or if the wind is blowing the volcanic gases in the direction of the public areas at the craters edge. When we arrived at the cable car station, the craters edge was closed but within 5 minutes it was open and we were quickly on the bus on the way up.

On return to Aso train station we tried to book a limited express train back to Kumamoto; however it was fully booked. Therefore, we'd recommend that you reserve seats for the return train you want back out of Aso either the day before you travel to Aso or, at the very latest, when you get off the train at JR Aso Station on your way to Mt Aso.

With some time to kill until our train out of Aso, we ventured into the centre of the town (walk out of the train station, go straight ahead until you reach the main road and turn right) and got some lunch. After walking back towards the train station, we stumbled across a lovely bakery serving all sorts of cakes and pastries. To find it, walk out of the train station, go straight ahead until you reach the main road, turn left and head towards the baby blue building on the right hand side of the road. Continue along the main road and look for the pink 'Heartfelt Sweets' sign.
Written 8 April 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

May014
Sydney, Australia32 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2013 • Friends
I have read reviews previously about how infrequent bus services are in the Aso area and that it's better to hire a car to get around. When I visited Mt Aso in March 2013, I found out it is in fact quite easy to get around by public transport (buses and taxi) even we can't speak Japanese.

Opposite Mount Aso JR Station, simply check with the Tourist Information Centre to get the bus timetable for getting around the key tourist attractions in the area. I'd suggest you to arrive early at Aso if you want to cover the key attractions within a day, cause bus services are really reasonable before noon and also after 3pm but there's quite a big gap midday without any bus services. As long as you get there early and follow the timetable, you should be right.

Another key attraction is the special rapid train named "Aso Boy" that operates between Kumamoto and Aso. This train has the theme of a black cute dog named "Kuro" (means black) and in the whole train is painted with Kuro's face inside out. In each car, you will see decorations and framed pictures of Kuro between each rows of seats. Don't forget to get to the lounge of the train (at the front)... you will be surprised by the lounge sofa and all the "Kuro" theme everywhere.

As a dog lover, I really love this train and just walking from car to car inside the train had kept us quite entertained during the almost 2 hours train journey to Aso.
Written 12 April 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Andrew M
7,589 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2014 • Family
My son and I visited Mount Aso in July 2014. We were inexperienced travelers on trains in Japan, and had quite an experience. The train from Kumamoto Station to Aso Station, was a two car older model train. The windows had to be manually opened to get proper air circulation and we were kept cool by ancient fans spinning overhead. As our previous experiences of train travel in Japan were Shinkansen, this felt like a real Japanese adventure.

The train climbed slowly towards Aso Station, and stopped at Higoozu Station (I think). We did not get out, as all the other passengers were seated. To our horror, the train started again, and headed in the direction that we were coming from. I thought that we made an error and should have gotten off. I actually walked to the driver to confirm that we were still going to Aso (he could not communicate while driving), but realised that the train was stopping again. The tracks actually branched at a point 5 minutes prior to arriving at Higoozu. The driver walked back to the other end of the train, and we were headed in the correct direction again...uphill.Phew!

After arriving at Aso Station, it was quite easy to purchase bus tickets for the trip to the Volcano, and the bus was on time. If you are travelling with children, there is a play fountain in front of the station that actually emits steam as the volvano does. It will get you soaked if your timing on running through is a bit off. Perfect way to wait for the bus!

We had planned to take a helicopter ride over the Volcano to ensure that we got the best view possible, but the Helicopter was not operating due to foggy conditions (5 minutes prior to getting to the final ropeway stop). Our next plan was to travel up on the ropeway, but this was not working either (due to maintainance or wind gusts being too strong). The hostess offered to transport the passengers by bus for a small fee, or gave the passengers an option of a brisk 1/2 hour walk uphill. We chose the latter.

The walk was easy and the view was fabulous. At the halfway point, there was the smell of sulpher in the air. We were disappointed again, when the eastern section of the volcano (this is the section where the best pictures are taken) was roped off due to the increased activity of the volcano and the wind direction. We took a few pictures of the sulpher clouds rising, but were unable to get pictures of the sulpher lake. There are souvenirs of (yellow) sulpher rocks for sale, but there are also warnings that they should not be transported on planes, so the gift shop souvenirs are the best bet for memories.

We walked back down, and visited a small shrine next to the ropeway building...great pictures with the volcano in the background. It was a really great day, and I would recommend combining the volcano visit with a nature walk on the many hiking trails that are in the area. bring food as there is not much on offer.
Written 6 August 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

JillRika
Bangkok, Thailand75 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2013 • Friends
I have always wanted to visit Aso mt. and it was very impressive, Aso consists with five peaks and the Nakadake crater is an active one, it has itself excellent view, You have to take a bus from Aso station for 30-40 mins and then 5 mins for Aso Ropeway to see get to the volcano or you could probably spend like 20 mins to walk (an option) which is so worth to visit but please note that it may be closing if the sulphur level gets too high, I suggest you to check the weather before visiting.

Tips: 10% discount for the Mt.Aso Ropeway cable car for JR pass ticket holders so do not forget to show the JR pass ticket before purchasing the Ropeway ticket.
Written 2 March 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Marywhotravels
Washington DC, DC1,625 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
My friends and I spent 2 nights at a small minshuku nestled among farmhouses in the little town of Aso. The town is just lovely, with the large mountains looming in the distance, occasionally belching out smelly volcanic gasses.

We took a bus up to the volcano museum in the morning. It has a lovely, although dated, movie showing scenic views above and inside the volcano. The museum and the surrounding shops are more than a little tacky and are periodically swamped with tourists as tour buses stop by for their guests to buy locally made cookies and take photos for a half hour at a time. From there you can walk up to the volcano visitor center. Sometimes you can walk or take the funicular all the way to the volcano's mouth, but on the day we were there the sulfuric gas levels were too high and the top area was closed off. In order to get a glimpse of the inside of the volcano, we went on an exciting, though pricey, helicopter ride around the area. While I hated spending that much money, it was a gorgeous sight.

There are hiking trails around the non-active volcanoes. They're pretty, but the heavy tourist traffic means that there isn't much animal life about. The restaurants near the volcano are pretty crummy. The options in town aren't much better, although we did find a fabulous and very cheap conveyer-belt sushi place a ways west up the main street.
Written 22 August 2005
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Travel-Kumamoto
Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan170 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2019 • Friends
Pleased to inform, Kyushu Sanko Bus is going to operate non reservation bus from Kumamoto Sta.– Aso Sta. / Uchinomaki Hot Spring.

Mount Aso is an alive volcano which is located in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. This world most famous active volcano is among the largest in the world. The peak is 1,592 from the sea level and measuring 18 km east-west and 25 km north-south.

Mt. Aso has full of mystery and thunders. That’s the region it attracts not only Japanese but foreigner too!

Kumamoto-Aso Express Bus bound Kumamoto-Aso/Uchinomaki Hot Spring. Change to a local bus for Aso sightseeing. from Aso sta. The total journey takes around 1.5 hours from Kumamoto Airport in the lap of nature. The major bus stops are Kumamoto Sta. Kumamoto Bus Terminal, Aso Kumamoto Airport.

Tourists can enjoy the same day tour. Aso has full of nature sightseeing and activities such as; Aso volcanoes, Aso Shine, Uchinomaki Hot Spring, Cycling, Horse riding, Rope-way, Trekking and more..

Aso is blessed with its natural ground water resource which makes the food very delicious. The most popular foods are Aka-ushi (Red-beef), Bashashi (Horse meat). Tourists can try it with either rice or ramen. Also, Aso cow milk is very famous in Japan and very delicious.
Written 21 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

rhyss4ever
Singapore, Singapore254 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
We took Asoboy, a special local train by chance to Aso station from Kumamoto station. I saw the deal the day before. The design of the train painted with lots of little black dog by the name Kuro. It's internal has a small playground for children. Do take a postcard from the train attendant and chopped with Aso-Kuro.

Many reviews reminded us to check the weather before we head to our destination. Also, we were aware the ropeway closed down since last year.

As our train reached around 1455hrs, we were lucky to take last bus at 1505hrs to Mt Aso @¥650 one-way. We choose to alight at the ropeway station as it is the closest to the volcano. The last bus leaving Mt Aso is 1705hrs, do take note.

We did not go to the visitor centre, but many people alight there. We were glad we make the right choice as the sky was clear for us to lots of pictures along the way. The bus ride has English audio along the journey.

Upon reaching the top, we could see smoky fumes arising from the volcano. It was a was amazing view indeed. The pungent smell was quite for me but not my friend. She had nose bleeding at night, and said jokingly the smell might be the cause of it.

Return fare same @¥650, pay when you alight at Aso station. If you have time, across the station is a little fountain. The station is uniquely black in color with Kuro.

Written 19 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Andy P
Singapore, Singapore187 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2013 • Friends
The volcano itself if impressive, but... japanese people is paranoid about safety, so you should make some efforts to have pleasure there.
If slightest fume goes to observatory point, they immediately close the entry and try to stop you, if you go by foot. But NOBODY speak English, not one word... You should show them, that you want to go not to the observatory point, but to go around, and they could allow.
You should go up by foot up to the fork in the road - left one leads to observatory, right one - around crater. First it's wooden path, and after - just trekking.
It's very easy to go around crater and it takes 2 hours if not hurry to make almost full circle and reach another observatory. From this second observatory the road goes down to another cable car, but I don't recommend to go there, because no bus goes from there.
The way back to the main cable car takes around 1.5 hour. If to go fast, you can go there and back in 2.5 hours only.
Take a mask - just in case. Sometimes you feel the slightest sour smell from the crater, but it's not dangerous. If it strong - put a mask.
From the main observatory it's excellent view down in the crater with it green lake which consist of hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid and aluminum.
The cable car costs about 10-15$, but by foot it's more interesting and only 10 minutes to go along the road. Entry on the path - on the right if you stay faced to entry in cable building.
Many times japanese paranoid staff will try to prohibit you to go here or there. Just demand that they will speak English. They could be aggressive if you only make 1 step aside. I think that this is demeaning and not affordable. Protect yourself from this aggression with demanding of speaking English.

The buses goes to Aso volcano every hour from the Kumamoto (from bus station, from Tenmonkan) - see schedule. The price for forward-back bus-ticket is around 25$
Written 16 February 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Monaco S
109 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2018 • Family
I go to mount Aso at least once a month, there are different roads to get there, each with it’s own unique scenery. There was a toll gate a few years back but it’s been taken out. It is now free to get in. Food is cheap and great!
Written 10 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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MT. ASO (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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