Aso-Kujū National Park (阿蘇くじゅう国立公園, Aso-Kujū Kokuritsu Kōen) is a national park located in Kumamoto and Ōita Prefectures, Japan. The park is named after Mount Aso, which is the largest active volcano in Japan, and the Kujū mountains. Mount Aso is also one of the largest caldera volcanoes in the world.
History
About 270,000 years ago, volcanic activity changed the shape of the area.
The Aso Shrine at Mount Aso in Kyushu is a Shinto shrine believed to have been a place of worship before Emperor Jinmu became emperor. The shikinaisha shrine complex at Ichinomiya, now in Kumamoto Prefecture, was said to have been built in 281 BC. The original location of the shrine is not known exactly because it was destroyed and rebuilt many times near the crater of Aso-san.
- In the year 1934, this park was first created as Aso National Park.
- In 1953, Mount Yufu, Mount Tsurumi, and Mount Takasaki in Oita Prefecture were added as parts of the park.
- In 1956, Mount Takasaki was removed from Aso National Park and added to the Seto Inland Sea National Park.
- In 1964, the Yamanami Highway was opened and named the "Toll Road Beppu Aso Road."
- In 1986, the park’s name was changed to Aso Kujū National Park.
- In 1994, the Yamanami Highway was made free to use because the time for collecting tolls ended.
Activities
- Visitors can soak in natural hot springs at Sujiyu Onsen Public Bathhouse.
- Camping is easy to reach, with many campsites such as Kuju Kogen Soumi and Kokonoe Green Park.
- Natural spring water can be collected at the Shirakawa Fountainhead. Water from the Shirakawa River is used to water rice and vegetable farms in Kumamoto.
- The park has many hiking and biking trails. Horseback riding is also available.
Related municipalities
Kumamoto Prefecture includes the cities of Aso, Kikuchi, Minamiaso, Minamioguni, Oguni, Ōzu, Takamori, and Ubuyama. Ōita Prefecture includes the cities of Beppu, Kokonoe, Kusu, Taketa, and Yufu.