[Kumamoto / Aso Touring] Aso Nakadake Crater – Experience Japan’s Most Active Volcano and Breathtaking Roads!

Basic Information

• Spot Name: Aso Nakadake Crater
• Location: Kurokawa, Aso City, Kumamoto Prefecture
• Access: About 30 minutes by car or motorcycle from JR Aso Station
• Parking: Available
• Fee: Aso Volcano Park Road – 1,000 yen (cars), 400 yen (motorcycles)
• Hours: 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM (last gate entry: 5:30 PM) *Hours may vary by season
• Closed: Open year-round
• Visit Date: June 2025
• Website: Kumamoto Tourism Official Website

Note: Access may be restricted due to volcanic gas or weather. Please check the latest Aso Crater Access Restrictions before your visit.

Map（Google Maps)

Highlights

• Scenic Ride on Aso Panorama Line
  This breathtaking route cuts through vast natural landscapes, including the famous Kusasenri Plateau, making it a must-ride road for touring enthusiasts.
• Get Close to One of Japan’s Most Active Volcanoes
  The active Nakadake Crater offers a truly dramatic view with smoke and volcanic gas rising from the caldera—an experience unlike anywhere else in Japan.
• Crater Access When Conditions Allow
  When weather and gas conditions permit, visitors can walk up to the crater itself. It’s a rare opportunity to feel the power of an active volcano up close.

Quick Impression

The ride up to the crater felt like stepping into another world—scenic, rugged, and exhilarating. Fortunately, crater access was open that day, and I was able to walk right up to the rim for an unforgettable view.

If you’re touring the Aso area, this spot is absolutely unmissable. Make time for it if you can—you won’t regret it.

Photos

From the Aso Mountain Terminal, the Aso Volcano Park Road stretches about 1.5 km to the crater. The fee for motorcycles is 400 yen. You can also walk the route in about 30 minutes.

Aso Panorama Line – Kyushu’s Premier Scenic Touring Road