Aso UNESCO Global Geopark.
Here we can feel the living rhythms of the earth, 
the heartbeat of Mother Nature.
The Aso volcano Active even now Cows leisurely
graze in vast pastures
surrounded by the glorious backdrop of the outer rim and caldera.
And a unique culture thrives - interwoven
with the deities of the volcano.
All of these depend on the living earth and
the long history of Aso.
The Aso Caldera is at both the center of 
Aso Geopark and the center of the island of Kyushu.
Extending about 25km from north to south and18km
from east to west,
the caldera encompasses about 350 square kilometers and is among the largest in the world.
In the center of caldera are the Gogaku –
 the Five Mountains of Aso.
Here we can see the active Mt. Nakadake
pouring forth smoke, ash, and fumes.
People have lived in this dynamic environment
since prehistoric times.
Today, some 50 thousand make their homes within
the caldera.
The Aso volcano first erupted 270 thousand years ago.
It has been has been continuously active ever since.
The shape of the caldera you see today
was created by a temendous pyroclastic explosion
about 90 thousand years ago.
Pyroclastic flows from the eruption blanketed
central Kyushu
extending to Yamaguchi Prefectureon the island
of Honshu.
Ash from the volcano reached as far as Hokkaido.
After this mega-eruption,
the activities of the volcano have been mostly contained within the central cones.
Historical records of Mt. Nakadake go back to the
6th century.
Frequent mud flows, red-glow phenomenon,
and other volcanic activities have been observed.
Eruptions have caused much suffering among
the residents of the region.
The history of the Aso GeoPark is one of both
blessings and disasters.
It is the history of a people who confront
and struggle against the risks and dangers of Aso.
It is also a history of people living in harmony
with their environment
and appreciating the blessings that such a dynamic land can bring.
Nature gives us fertile soil and earthquakes,
spectacular scenery and tsunamis,
landslides,floods, and crystal clear springs of water.
The blessings and dangers of nature
are inextricably linked.
In July 2012 the Northern Kyushu floods occurred.
From the early hours of July 2nd,
torrential rains reaching 100mm an hour
struck the Aso region
accompanied by terrifying thunder and lightning.
Mountainsides collapsed and floods and debris-flow
resulted in the loss of many lives.
The faces of the mountains changed
and the scars still remain throughout Aso.
Four years after the flood, on April 14th,,
2016, a foreshock of the Kumamoto Earthquake
struck the nearby town of Mashiki with an
intensity of 7 on Japan’s scale of 7.
A day and a half later the Aso GeoPark area
was rocked by a quake registering 6 to 7.
In Minami-Aso Village,
landslides blocked national highways
and caused the collapse of the 200-meter Aso Ohashi Bridge – the main bridge into the area.
Many cultural symbols, including Aso Shrine
were heavily damaged ,
as were many farms  and much of the agricultural infrastructure.
Recovery and reconstruction is slow
and people’s lives and livelihoods have been severely affected.
On October 8th 2016 at about 1:46 a.m.,
an explosive eruption occurred
from Nakadake’s First Crater.
Smoke and ash rose 11 thousand meters.
Ash covered the cities of Aso and Taketa
and windows were broken by cinders.
Once the Volcanic Alert Level was lowered
three months later, a field inspection was possible.
The impact of the eruption around the crater
could be fully understood.
Flooding, earthquakes, eruptions…
The Aso GeoPark suffered a series of natural disasters.
These have also had a damaging impact on tourism
in Aso.
Exaggerated stories of damage and danger
have kept many visitors away.
In times of disaster,
one of the roles of the GeoPark is to gather accurate
and up-to-date information
for both local people and visitors.
We believe it is extremely important to support
and strengthen local communities.
One way to do this is to record and pass down
the experiences we have had
and the lessons we have learned
so that future generations
will be more resilient when disasters do strike.
Currently, the Aso Geopark is training guides
for the various geosites.
Since the earthquakes we also train in areas
severely damaged by the quakes
so that guides can accurately convey
the enormity of the disasters
and how the local people are coping with them.
The Aso volcanoes have continued their eruptions
since ancient times.
At Nakadake you can look directly into an
active crater – a rarity in the world.
Very popular with visitors is the mysterious
emerald green lake deep inside the crater.
About one million people visit the crater every year.
While being a major tourist attraction, 
Nakadake is a still an active volcano
with regular eruptions, smoke, and fumes.
In 1967 the “Aso Volcano Disaster Prevention
Council” observe
was established to carefully  the crater
and its activities so that visitors
can experience a safe and enjoyable tour.
In the Aso Geopark, there are many springs
and hot springs inside and outside the caldera.
The volcanic activities that have continued
for hundreds of thousands of years
have brought great blessings to the people in surrounding communities.
The vast grasslands spreading over Aso
are a historical creation of a thousand years of grazing,
cutting, and controlled burning.
Coexisting with active volcanoes, people have
learned to work with nature,
feel the awesome power of nature, and create their own culture within nature.
The theme of the Aso Geopark is “The Aso
Volcano and Human Life”.
Geo-tours and geo-guides are here to introduce
the area and help visitors experience it first-hand.
Come learn and enjoy the unique stories behind
each geosite.
Aso GeoPark: Understanding how to live with
nature in all its power of destruction and creation.
