🗺️ Aso Nakadake Crater

At an altitude of 1506 meters, Aso Nakadake is located in the central area of Mount Aso and is a highly active volcano. Visitors can witness the spectacular sight of thick smoke violently erupting from the crater up close. Among the seven craters of Nakadake, the first crater is currently active, with a circumference of about 4 kilometers, allowing visitors to get close to the massive crater and observe the volcanic wonders. When the volcanic gases are relatively clear, one can also see the crater lake at the bottom of the crater, which appears emerald green, with the strongly acidic lake water temperature around 50 to 60 degrees Celsius. If the concentration of volcanic gases exceeds the standard or if volcanic activity intensifies, alerts will be issued for the area around the crater. Access to the mountain is prohibited when the volcanic eruption warning level is 2 or higher. Therefore, it is recommended to check the official website before visiting. In the past, there was a cable car that directly reached the vicinity of the Nakadake crater, but it was abandoned due to damage from explosive eruptions in 2016. Currently, access is available via the toll road "Aso Mountain Park Road," which connects Aso Mountain Plaza and the parking lot near the Nakadake crater. If the parking lot next to the crater is full or if traveling by large bus, it is advisable to transfer to the "Aso Mountain Crater Shuttle Bus" at "Aso Mountain Plaza" to reach the crater.

One of the Aso Five Mountains. You can see the crater spewing thick smoke from the emerald green volcanic lake. You can drive there via the toll road or take the Aso Volcano Crater shuttle bus to enter. Access to the mountain will be prohibited when the volcanic eruption warning level is above level 2.