The 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes hit 30 out of 33 geosites. (As of May 2016) Since then, with your huge efforts and warm encouragement, many geosites has become accessible. Please see the following list.
Regarding the Nakadake eruption on 8 October, entry to the area about 2km from the Nakadake crater is of-limits due to volcanic warning level 3
Please check updates from following links before you travel.
Aso Nakadake Crater Information:http://www.aso.ne.jp/~volcano/eng/
Trekking Regulation Map:http://www.aso-geopark.jp/news/index.cgi?mode=dsp&no=357
Up to Kusasenri-ga-hama and Aso Volcano Museum are accessible. Take a road 111 (East Mountain road) from JR Aso station. (One way drive regulation; road opening between 7:30am and 6pm) Alternatively you can take a public bus; Aso Crater Line :
http://www.kyusanko.co.jp/sankobus/english/
To visit Daikanbo Caldera Geosite, take Daikanbo Liner for public transport users : http://www.kyusanko.co.jp/sankobus_top/sites/all/themes/SankobusTop/pdf/DL.pdf
Aso Geopark Tour is available for the accessible sites.
To join or any enquiry, check Aso Geopark Guides Association official website.
Condition of geosites and road may change due to climatic changes. Please checks updated information and explore Aso UNESCO Geopark!
Contact: Aso Geopark Promotion Council, Email: info@aso-geopark.jp
As of 1 December 2016
| No | Name of Geosite | Points | Condition | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daikanbo Caldera Geosite | Aso Caldera | ー | ○ |
| Daikanbo | ー | ○ | ||
| Akahoya Ash Layer | ー | ○ | ||
| 2 | Nakadake Geosite | Nakadake Crater | Under survey | × |
| Sunasenri-ga-hama | Under survey | × | ||
| 3 | Kusasenri Geosite | Kusasenri-ga-hama | Shallow landslide, trekking routes under survey | ○ |
| Aso Volcano Museum | Building Construction Under Surbey. Partially reopen from 1 November |
○ | ||
| Kusasenri-ga-hama Lookout | Landslide, road cracks | × | ||
| Mt.Eboshidake | Landslide, trekking route under survey | × | ||
| 4 | Komezuka Geosite | Komezuka | Cracks on crater rim and mountain slop, deflection | × |
| Kami-Komezuka | Landslide, buried signboards | × | ||
| 5 | Furubochu Geosite | Furuboshu | Asosan Hondo Saigandenji Temple Okunoin: fallen roof, reclined building | × |
| 6 | Sensuikyo Gorge Geosite | Sennsuikyo Gorge | Road cracks, failure and landslide | × |
| Mt. Takadake | Landslide | × | ||
| 7 | Mt.KijimadakeGeosite | Mt. Kijimadake | Landslide, cracks on slope | × |
| Mt. Ojodake | Landslide | × | ||
| 8 | Fumotobochu Geosite | Saigandenji Temple | Saigandenji Temple; fallen roof and collapse of ranterns | ○ |
| Aso Den'en Kukan Eco Museum | ー | ○ | ||
| 9 | Mt.Ogidake Geosite | Mt. Ogidake | Some gaps between stone wall at Ogi shrine | ○ |
| 10 | Koganotaki Fall Geosite | Koganotaki Fall | landslide and rock fall | ○ |
| 11 | The Deity of the Volcano Geosite | Aso Shrine | Collapse of a two-storey gate and a worship hall, severe damaged to three shrines | ○ |
| Kokuzo Shrine | collapse of Toriigate and lantern(Repaired). | ○ | ||
| Nakadori Burial Mounds | Roack fall | ○ | ||
| Kami-no-okura and Shimo-no-okura Burial Mounds | Under survey | ○ | ||
| Shimo Shrine | Collapse of Torii gateand lantern. | ○ | ||
| 12 | Cluster of Springs in Aso Valley District Geosite | Miyaji and Yakuinbaru Destrict Springs | Some springs dried up | ○ |
| 13 | Futaenotouge Mountain Pass Geosite | Futae-no-touge Mountain Pass | Roack fall and road cracks | ○ |
| Sankin-kotai Road | About 5cm gap between stone pass | ○ | ||
| Matoishi Ocyaya (Reamin of Tea room and Garden Pond) | Collapse of Torii gate, Ochaya tea room and enshrinement hall | ○ | ||
| Matosihi Rock | ー | ○ | ||
| 14 | Aso Yellow Soil Geosite | Aso Yellow Soil (Ocher) | ー | ○ |
| 15 | Uchinomaki Hot Spring Geosite | Uchinomaki hot spring | Some Onsen (hot spring)dried out | ○ |
| 16 | Milk Road Grassland Geosite | Grassland scenery | Landslide | △ |
| 17 | Oshito-ishi Geosite | Oshitoishi Hill | ー | ○ |
| 18 | North Outer Rim Pyroclastic Flow Geosite | Nabegataki Fall | ー | ○ |
| Yusuikyo Gorge | ー | ○ | ||
| Nanataki Fall | Landslide and rock fall | × | ||
| Aso Pyroclastic Flow Deposits (Yamanami Highway) | ー | ○ | ||
| 19 | Oguni-go Area Hot Spring Geosite | Minamioguni Onsen Village | ー | ○ |
| 20 | Ikeyama and Yamabuki Geosite | Ikeyama Spring | ー | ○ |
| Yamabuki Spring | ー | ○ | ||
| 21 | The Sankin-kotai Road Geosite | Sankin-kotai Road | Sakai-no- Matsuzaka stone pass is suspended due to rock fall | △ |
| 22 | Kusakabe Geosite | Kusakabe-yoshimi Shrine | ー | ○ |
| 23 | Camel ountain (Rakuda-yama) Geosite |
Camel Mountain,Minamiaso Visitor Centre, Aso Wild Flower Garden,Aso Folk School,Mt. Nekodake | Landslide and rock fall at Mt. Nekodake | Apart from Mt.Nekodake are accessible. |
| 24 | Cluster of Springs in Minamiaso District Geosite | Minamiaso Village Spring Group,Takamori Spring Tunnel | Shioisya spring : spring dried out. Enshrinement hall collapsed. Shirakawa and terasaka spring : Collapsed torii gate, lantern and enshrinement hall | ○ |
| 25 | Jigoku and Tarutama Hot Springs Geosite | Ikenokubo,Jigoku and Tarutama Onsen | Massive landslide, suspended water supply. Collapsed Kinryu-no-taki fall. | × |
| 26 | Nango Valley Geosite | Terraced Topography in Nangodani Valley | Under Research | ○ |
| 27 | Mt. Rakanyama Geosite | Mt. Rakanyama strange spectacle,Zizo-toge pass dike swarm | Rock fall near stone buddha | ○ |
| 28 | Tawarayama Mountain Pass Caldera Geosite | Aso Caldera, Tawarayama Lookout | Landslide on the way to the lookout | × |
| 29 | Tateno Gorge Geosite | Tateno Gorge,Ayugaeri-no-taki Fall,Sugaru-ga-taki Fall | Tateno Gorge:Huge collaption of columner joints / Kitamukiyama native forets: landslide/Ayugaeri-no-taki Fall:Landslide/Sugaru-ga-taki Fall :Lanslide | × |
| 30 | Shiraito-no-taki Fall Geosite | Shiraito-no-taki Fall | Lanslide | × |
| 31 | Omine Volcano Geosite | Omine Volcano, Takayubaru lava plateau | Under survey | × |
| 32 | Soyokyo Gorge Geosite | Soyokyo Gorge | Some part of trekking route is supended due to lanslide | ○ |
| 33 | Heitate Shrine Geosite | Heitate Shrine | Under survey | ○ |
