ACCESSGeotourism

KyushuAccess to Aso Geopark from each prefecture in Kyushu,JapanGCourse map

The Land of Aso
Volcano and theLives of Its Peoplerism CourtouseoBCityCitye

We introduce geotourism basedon three themes to comprehensively
show the attractions of Aso Geopark

CityTracing the Historyof the World-class
Caldera and its Impact

The Aso Caldera is situated in central Kyushu, Japan. It is
one of the largest calderas in the world, covering a total areaof 350 k㎡ and measuring 18 km east-west and 25 kmCity

north-south in width. In the caldera are the five peaks of Mt.
Aso: Mt. Takadake, Mt. Nekodake, Mt. Kijimadake, Mt.

CityEboshidake, and the still-fuming Mt.Nakadake. There also lie
volcanic clusters consisting of various mountains. A plain◎Memories of eruptions engravedin the grand caldera

spreads at the foot of the mountain range from north tosouth. Surrounding the plain and volcanic clusters, the outerCity

rims form a gently-sloping pyroclastic plateau. This unique

The world-class largest caldera is the symbol of Aso Geopark.
Unique land features and strata have been formed by considerable
volcanic activities over the past 270,000 years and by a great
eruption that occurred 90,000 years ago. Visitors will learn aboutsuch geographical information as well as influences of the eruption
on various places in Japan through geosites.

geography is formed by the Aso volcano, which has displayed

repeated volcanic activities since approximately 270,000 years
ago. The major theme of Aso Geopark is to provide visitors

阿蘇は、生きている。

Aso is alive!

◎Nakadake Crater: Feeling the breathof the earth

Among the volcanic clusters in thecaldera, Nakadake Crater is highlighted
because of its repeated and substantial
volcanic activities from prehistoric times
until the present. We will show you theunique landscape and ecology around
Nakadake Crater, and the lives ofpeople who live in symbiosis with theactive volcano.

with information about theCar

geological history of the Aso

volcano and its relation to thelives of people: how they haveenjoyed the bounties of theA journey across time and space, experiencing
the land of Aso and the lives of those who dwellin the shadow of the volcano.

earth, engaged in theirlivelihood, and developed aunique culture and landscape.

■What is the “Geopark” ?
By observing the earth and nature scientifically, we define a◎Blessings of the volcanic mountainand people’s lives

place of scientific importance as a geopark, where many
valuable and beautiful natural heritages exist such as strata,rocks, topography, volcano, and faults. A geopark values

People who live side by side with a
volcano have explored ways to livein harmony with nature in awe ofthe volcano, and developed theirown culture and lifestyle. Andnature has brought them abundant
blessings like spring water and hotsprings which are commonly foundin volcanic regions.

conservation and utilization of geological heritages. It is a place[Aso Geopark Promotion Council] Kumamoto Prefecture, Aso City, Minami-Oguni Town, Oguni Town, Ubuyama Village,
Takamori Town, Minami-Aso Village, Nishihara Village, Yamato Town, Aso Eco Tourism Association, National Aso YouthFriendship Center, Aso Den’en kukan Eco Museum Office, Aso Museum, Namino Plateau Yasuragi Recreation and RestCenter, Aso Nature Guide Association, Aso Tanibito Eco Museum, Aso Park Volunteers Association, Aso City Tourism
Association, Minami-Oguni Town Tourism Association, Oguni Tourism Association, Ubuyama Village Tourism Association,Takamori Town Tourism Association, Minami-Aso Village Tourism Association, Yamato Town Tourism Association, Aso
Volcano Museum, Kumamoto University, Aso Volcanological Laboratory Institute for Geothermal Sciences Graduate School of
Science Kyoto University, Kumamoto Geosciences Association, Kumamoto Geotechnical Consultants Association, Aso
Nature Conservation Group, Natural Parks Foundation Aso Branch, Aso Green Stock Foundation, Aso Design Center Foundation, Aso Junior Chamber of Commerce, Kumamoto 21, Japan Limonite Co., Ltd.

for people to become familiar with “geo” (the earth), learn about
its history and mechanisms, and think about its relation toecology as well as human life through natural heritages including
the culture of the people in the area. Geoparks are promoted
around the world by the Global Geoparks Network（GGN）,

Aso Geopark Promotion Council

Aso Volcanic Museum 1F, 1930-1 Akamizu, Aso City, Kumamoto prefecture 869-2232 Japan.
HP : http://www.aso-geopark.jp/
E-mail : info@aso-geopark.jp

which was established in 2004 and is supported by UNESCO.

平成24年度環境省地域コーディネーター活用事業小国町

5 小国郷温泉

Minami-Oguni Town

産山村

Oguni-go Area Hot Spring(Tsuetate Hot Spring)

阿蘇市

南阿蘇村

西原村

Nabegataki
Falls

坂本善三美術館
Sakamoto Zenzo Museum

山都町

Yamato Town

2000m

N

宮原
Miyahara●

小国高校
Oguni Senior High School▲涌蓋山
Mt. Waita

Michi-no-eki Oguni Yu Station●●

1

南小国町役場
Minami-Oguni Town Hall
満願寺
Manganji Temple

5 小国郷温泉（黒川温泉）
Oguni-go Area Hot Spring(Kurokawa Hot Spring)黒川
Kurokawa
三愛高原ホテル ●Sanai Kogen Hotel
瀬の本高原
Senomoto Highland

花の湯温泉館
Hana-no Onsen-kan

オートポリスAutopolis●The Aso caldera is believed to have been formed by the great eruption about 90,000 years ago.
About 50,000 people live inside the caldera and have developed the unique culture of Aso.
This course is designed to experience Aso by enjoying its beautiful caldera land features andlandscape created by the volcano and people.

3

JR Aso Station / Michi-no-eki Aso

赤馬場Akababa●Tracing the History of the world-class
Caldera and its Impact

START筋湯Sujiyu

●

小国町役場
Oguni Town Hall

総合物産館きよらカァサ ●Local Product Center "Kiyora Casa"

B

Oguni-go Area Hot Spring(Waita Hot Spring)道の駅小国ゆうステーション

3 鍋ヶ滝

TakamoriTown

1500（わいた温泉郷）

Yusuikyo Gorge

Oguni Town

高森町

1000

5 小国郷温泉

4 遊水峡

小国町

Minami-Aso
Village500

小国町 Oguni Town

（杖立温泉）

UbuyamaVillage

Nishihara
Village0rism Cou
rstou
eoe

南小国町

G

Oguni Town

Aso City

Stromboli Phenomenon

2

20 min.

Daikanbo

Aso City

25 min.

15 min.

Oshito-ishi

5

Minami-Oguni Town

● Transportation :private car or rental car

4

Nabegataki Falls

Oguni Town

20 minYusuikyo Gorge

Oguni Town

15~35 min.
Minami-Oguni Town

Oguni-go Area Hot Spring Oguni Town

● Time required : 4~5 hr.

Yusuikyo Gorge
4 （OguniTown）

Daikanbo
1 （AsoCity）

●

南小国町

●

Minami-Oguni Town

うぶやま民宿村
Ubuyama Farm Village

2 押戸石

Oshito-ishi

阿蘇スカイライン
Aso Skyline●●

Aso City

北山展望所
Kitayama Lookout●

阿蘇ゆたっと村Aso Yutatto-mura

かぶと岩
Kabuto-iwa (rock)●

阿蘇観光牧場
Aso Tourism Ranch

Daikanbo
展望所
Lookout

古代の里
Kodai-no-sato ●●はな阿蘇美Hana-Asobi

ハイ Yamanami Roadウェ
イエルパティオ牧場●
El Patio Ranch
み阿蘇市●●やまな1大観峰

スポーツ公園Sports Park国造神社
Kokuzo Shrine●

ミルクロードMilk Road

内牧温泉
三久保 Uchinomaki Hot Spring
Mikubo

●

阿蘇市

中通古墳群
Nakodori Tumulus Cluster
一の宮町 Ichinomiya Town

宮地・役犬原地区湧水群
Cluster of Springs in Miyaji
Aso City
阿蘇市役所
and Yakuinbaru District
農村公園あぴか阿蘇黄土●●
Aso City Hall
Farming Village Park Apika
Aso Yellow Soil●
阿蘇中央高校● 阿蘇神社（Aso Odo）
ASO田園空間博物館
うちのまき
Aso Chuo Senior High School
Aso Shrine
乙姫 Uchinomaki Sta. Aso Den en Kukan Eco Museum Office●
熊本県阿蘇総合庁舎
Otohime
道の駅阿蘇●JR 豊肥本線
Kumamoto Prefecture Aso General Office
START
Michi-no-eki Aso ●JR Hohi Main Line坂梨
あそ Aso Sta.
みやじ
阿蘇カドリードミニオン
いこいのむら●いちのかわ
Sakanashi
Miyaji Sta.
Ikoi-no-mura Sta.
Aso Cuddly Dominion

阿蘇牧場 ●
Aso Farm

Ichinokawa Sta.

凡例

Legend

案内所
Information

ロープウェイ
Ropeway

温泉
Hot Spring

博物館/美術館
Museum

水源
Springパソコン
PC Facilities

駐車場
Parking

ゴルフ場
Golf Course

ホテル / 宿泊施設
Hotel / Accommodation

史跡
Historic Site

鉄道 / 鉄道駅
Railway / Railway Station

レンタル電動アシスト付き自転車
Electric Bicycle Rental

郵便局
Post Oﬃce

展望地 / 景勝地
Viewpoint

キャンプ場
Camp Site

レンタカー
Car Rental

キャッシュサービス
Cash Service

神社
Shrineレストラン
RestaurantAS

バス / バスのりばBus / Bus StopOGeot our i s

ms ofPlace tsintere

For local products and tourism information in Oguni Town

Michi-no-eki Oguni “Yu Station”
A two-storied roadside station
fully covered with glass walls.
There are shops of local specialties
on the ﬁrst ﬂoor and a gallery
and information center of Oguni
Town on the second ﬂoor.

［TEL］0967- 46-4111

滝Waterfall
公園
Park

JR豊肥本線
JR Hohi Line
南阿蘇鉄道
Minami Aso Railway Line
ジオツーリズムコース
Geotourism Course

An array of local specialties of Minami-Oguni Town

Bussan-kan (Local Product Center) “Kiyora Casa”
The building is characterized by thepyramid shaped structure. It boasts
an array of local products including
agricultural products such asvegetables, mountain vegetables, andpuddings made from Jersey cow milk.

［TEL］0967- 42-1213

A geopoint where you can enjoy a panoramic view of thefive Aso peaks and the caldera. One can appreciate thescale of the eruption which formed the caldera byobserving the geographical features visible from this site.

Oshito-ishi
2 （Minami-OguniTown）

A group of andesite megaliths
located on a hill 845 m above
sea level. The biggest stone hasa pyramid shape with a heightof 5.5 m and circumference of
15.3 m. The stones have beenlong worshiped by local people
as “Iwakura” or holy rocks. This place offers a
grandstand view of the grassland on the pyroclastic
plateau of the north outer rim.

Nabegataki Falls
3 （OguniTown）
It is a waterfall that flows overignimbrite of Aso pyroclastic
sediment. It is 9 m high and
25 m wide and the lower partof the waterfall is hollowed
out in the depth of around
15 m, so it is possible to see
the waterfall from the backside.

A rock riverbed found in a small river in the northerncaldera. It is formed by ignimbrite of Aso pyroclastic
sediment. The normal water depth is around 50 cm,
making it a popular destination for summer holidays.

Oguni-go Area Hot Spring
5 （Minami-OguniTown・Oguni Town）●Kurokawa Hot Spring(Minami-Oguni Town)
Started as hot spring resort forrecuperation in 1961, Kurokawa Hot
Spring has become famous nationwide.
Its thermal source is considered to be
the Kuju volcanic system.

●Waita Hot Spring(Oguni Town)

It refers to a group of hot springs which
includes Hagenoyu, Takenoyu,
Asozuru, Jigokudani, and Yamakawa
Hot Springs. These hot springs arelocated on the west foot of the Kuju
volcano, and are influenced by it.

●Tsuetate Hot Spring(Oguni Town)
The hot spring wells up along Tsuetate
River, whose thermal source is the Kuju
volcanic system. It is traditionally said that
Kobo-Daishi Kukai was impressed by theefficacy of the hot spring during hisjourney in the beginning of the Heian Era.