Hiking along Mount Aso volcano's caldera
It is currently forbidden to climb within 1 kilometer of the crater of Mount Aso (largest active volcano in Japan), so I used Google Earth to find another hike giving nice views of the volcano, and found this caldera that surrounds it:
The ridge forms a somma circle with a radius of about 10 kilometers around the crater:
QUESTION: Is it possible to walk along the edge of this ridge?
I don't want to fight my way in the jungle, so I am looking for a beaten path, at least a documented trail.
The South edge looks like the most beautiful, joining the peaks Seieizan-Onariyama-Shirogadake-Shiroyama-Takagiyama (清栄山-御成山-城ヶ岳-城山-高城山), dominating the towns of Takamori and Minamiaso (高森, 南阿蘇村) in the caldera.
Best Answer
Most if not some of the way is possible to be trekked on a semi-beaten path.
The ridge you mention actually has roads most of the way around it. If you are to go hiking, some that I recommend (although still old paved roads) would be somewhere like Sky Road / Laputa Road (Yes, named after the Studio Ghibli movie). Google Map shows it as Closed (which it just may be due to the earthquakes) however I have found it (at least until the recent earthquakes) accessible to walk most of the time (there is parking available at the top of the road).
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From what I can tell from looking at available maps, there are hiking trails around the Southern an Eastern sides of the ridge which should be accessible (albeit checking local police / hiking information may be required as they may be closed due to the recent earthquakes). As for the rest of the ridge, not covered by roads or trails, you will find that quite a lot of the area is private farmland (Dairy and Beef cattle mostly) so use your own discretion when thinking about walking through someone elses farm.
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Can you hike Mount Aso?
For the visitors who want to enjoy a short hike on Mount Aso, Eboshidake is definitely a good choice. A two hours hike with views on Kusasenri, the Nakadake crater and part of the caldera.Is Mount Aso still active?
Mount Aso (\u963f\u8607\u5c71, Asosan) is an active volcano in the center of Kyushu which most recently erupted in 2021 and 2016.Do people live in Mount Aso?
Mt Aso's nearest populated city is Aso, which has a population of about 26,500 people. Ash falls from the 1,592-metre (5,222-foot) mountain in the prefecture of Kumamoto are expected to shower nearby towns until late afternoon, JMA added.Why is Mount Aso famous?
Aso, which lies almost in the center of the island of Kyushu, is an active composite volcano. The crater, which measures 18 kilometers (11 miles) from east to west and 24 kilometers (15 miles) from north to south, is not only the world's largest caldera; it is also said to be the most beautiful.Hiking Japan’s Largest Active Volcano - Mount Aso #阿蘇山噴火
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Images: ROMAN ODINTSOV, Timo Volz, Marina Leonova, Marina Leonova