Aso

I introduce Aso. Aso is southern Kumamoto. The population of Aso is 29,636 for a census in 2005 and the population is decreasing. The flower of the city is a gentian and the tree of the city is a miyamakirishima which looks like an azalea.

The trucks run the southern of Mt. Aso and Shirakawa gorge which the height is 58 meters. Two small locomotives which were used in the old kokutetsu age pinch two passenger cars with the rooves which were improved cars. There are no widows, so we can enjoy fresh wind of the highland in the southern Aso and we can enjoy 55 minute trip.

There is a famous mountain called Mt. Aso. The altitude is 936 meters and the highest point is 1592 meters in takadake. We can see Takadake, Nekodake, Nakadake, Karasuboushidake and Kirishimadake from daikanbo in Mt Aso and the group of the center crater is made of them. Mt. Aso has the biggest caldera all over the world and the grand paddle mountain.

One of Mt. Aso is Nakadake and it has eight craters. The direct of the Nakadake crater number 1 which is smoking is 600 meters and the depth is 130 meters. There are many lavas on the periphery of crater and there are many past volcanoes. We can go there by an aerial cableway, a car and walk. Some dugouts are built near the craters. When Nakadake erupt suddenly, we run away them. The bottom of the crater collect water and the color is beautiful light blue.

One of the scenery in a representative Aso is Kusasenri-gahama. It is the grassland which expands on the side of Karasuboushidake and the direct is about 1 km. It has two ponds and it has no water when it is the dry season, but after it rains and the rainy season it becomes the ponds. It becomes the natural skating rink in winter. Many cattle and horses are pasturing, so we can ride horses around the grassland.

We can see Komezuka on the us way to Nakadake. Komezuka is a crater and it is made of Kishimadake and Ozyoudake. On the top there is the trace of the crater and the direct is 100 meters and the depth is about 20 meters. The surface of the Komezuka is two lines. This is the bank for the boundary of the acres and it is called dorui. Komezuka is the legend. It is that Takeiwatatsunomikoto piled harvested rice in the past, so it was named Komezuka.

The source of Shirakawa is the precinct of the Shirakawa-yoshimi shrine and the shrine enshrine god of water. The source of Shirakawa is respected for people and this source run the center of Kumamoto and it is a first-class river. The water's temperature is 14 degrees and water wells 60 tons a minute with soaring the sand. In winter water is warm and in summer it is cold. Water is clear. We can bring water home.

One of the famous theme park in Aso is Aso farm land. This is in the hillside Aso of the Aso Kuzyu national park and the altitude is 550 meters. The area is 100 square meters. This is the same as 21 times of Tokyo dome. The purpose of Aso farm land is a health facility. There are the milk farm in Aso, the market of some vegetables are made in Aso, the industrial arts in Aso, beer in Aso, the volcanic spa in Aso and the refresh forest. We can enjoy many facilities and experience them.

The famous tunnel in Aso is Takamori springwater tunnel. This tunnel is used for spring in Takamori town. Water is welling 32 tons a minute. The water god enshrines at the back of the tunnel and here spout out water. We can go in the back of the tunnel. The tunnel are decorated with illuminations. There are waterpearls which are gave a special sound wave in the tunnel and we could see as if waterpearls were up, down and stop.

There is the waterfall in the deep mountain in Takamori town, so the locals nearly never known here. This is called Usogui-no-taki. The height is 30 meters. Water pour into Otani river. The valley is made of lava.

There are many famous places in Aso. We can enjoy them.