Mount Aso: Inside the World's Largest Caldera, the Active Volcano and Grasslands of Kyushu's Aso-Kuju National Park

Descend into the world's largest active volcanic caldera on this episode of Walking Tour of Japan, as we explore Mount Aso in Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu. Inside this twenty five kilometer wide basin, nearly one hundred thousand people farm and live alongside a still-venting volcanic crater, grazing cattle across grasslands kept green for over a thousand years through deliberate, traditional burning. The walk takes you from the nearly two thousand year old Aso Shrine, rebuilt after the devastating 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, to Komezuka, a perfectly cone-shaped hill tied to a legend of famine and generosity, and on through the sweeping grasslands of Kusasenri before climbing to Daikanbo, the caldera's most celebrated viewpoint, where the Five Peaks of Aso form a silhouette known locally as the sleeping Buddha. Along the way, you'll hear where to warm up with a locally roasted coffee, where to try the region's prized red beef over rice, and which nearby destinations - including the hot spring village of Kurokawa Onsen and the cool forests of Kikuchi Gorge - are worth adding to your itinerary.Visit NorthStarTravelers.com to explore our other podcast shows and browse gear recommendations for wherever your next journey takes you.