Crater lake
Turquoise.
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Mount Aso is an active volcano in Aso Kujū National Park in Kumamoto Prefecture on Kyushu, about 37 km east of Kumamoto in a straight line. It is the second largest active volcano in Japan after Mount Fuji and among the largest in the world. The volcano sits in a vast caldera about 25 km north to south and 18 km east to west, with a circumference of around 120 km, formed by four huge eruptions between 90,000 and 300,000 years ago, and towns and villages lie inside it. At its centre stand five peaks, the highest being Takadake at 1,592 metres. The Nakadake crater is active and continuously emits smoke, and its west side can be reached by road. At the heart of the crater lies a milky turquoise acid lake with steam rising from it, ringed by steep walls of grey and brown rock layers. From the caldera rim, wide green pastures and grassy hills spread out. Visitors stand at the crater rim when conditions allow and explore the green pastures of the caldera. Access to the crater closes when volcanic gas or activity rises, so check its status on the day.
Turquoise.
Green pastures.
Rising from the crater.
Aso Kujū National Park, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan
No, it closes when gas rises.
Yes, from Kumamoto.