Mt. Nakadake in Aso, Tsujunkyo, and Gorogataki Falls

My mother-in-law Patti came to visit us in Japan and we have been up to all sorts of adventures. We've eaten sushi a couple times and tried out our favorite restaurants with her, like our cheap Yakiniku place. As for new and exciting places we went to Aso yesterday (Saturday) and Yamato today (Sunday).

In Aso we went to Kusasenri and went up to the crater on Mt. Nakadake. It was surreal, I didn't expect it to look like that! There was no water in the crater just billowing clouds of sulfur gas. We were able to look down into the crater and see where is was coming from. You are only able to go to see the crater if the winds are blowing in the right direction and the dangerous gases aren't overwhelming. We've gone to Aso three times trying to get to see the crater but the dangerous gases always ruined the plan.

At the top there were these cement shelters so you could run to them in case of a volcanic eruption. Around them the earth was very rocky and everything was shades of gray and brown. The earth looked very fertile even though there wasn't a lot of foliage.

Little shelters to save you from flying mud

The crater with tons of sulfur gas.

Notice the stages of eruption. Kind of scary!

<3

View of the walking area from the crater.

The area was all different shades of brown and gray. It was so beautiful.

Views from the B-1 Section of the crater viewing platform.

Aso Ropeway

 

 

Tsujun Bridge (通潤橋 -kyō) was very interesting too, even though we missed them opening up the water flow (which opens at noon everyday supposedly).  It was raining, but it made the experience more memorable (and wet).

 

We parked and walked around some rice paddies up the side of the aqueduct and across it. It was great to see the view from the top. After looking from the top of the aqueduct we walked down this trail that had the kanji's for Gorogataki Falls... but it also had the kanji's for "risk"... but we took our chances! The path was very risky and slippery but it led down to the waterfall, as well as the maintained path that I didn't initially see. I wouldn't recommend the "risk" path to anyone who wasn't surefooted on mossy steps. I think the path is pretty much closed, so it is better to take the better maintained one. However, it was all part of the adventure! Gorogataki Falls was so amazing, I'm glad we walked down to see it.

 

 

 

Tsujun Bridge - The aqueduct

Ducks!

Top of the bridge.

Amazing views from the top of the bridge.

 

Neat information on Tsujunkyo.

Walking down the risky path!

Gorogataki Falls

There was a red metal walkway near the base of the river which led to a pond.

 "Gorogataki is the largest waterfall in Yamato Town, Kumamoto. The sight of water cascading down from a height of 50 meters into the basin of the falls is captivating, especially when crowned by a rainbow. The area around the falls consists of layers of lava deposited when Mt. Aso erupted. The falls has beautifully carved out the rock walls to the left and right. It is said that when the landlord Aso clan hosted envoys from the Imperial Court and took them to the falls, the envoys goranni-natta (honorific word meaning 'saw') the falls. Goranni-natta was corrupted to gorojita, from which the name Gorogataki is said to be derived. There is a promenade between the falls and Tsujunkyo Bridge. The view of the falls from the suspension bridge before the falls is magnificent."

 

 

I highly recommend the crater in Aso, Tsujun Bridge, and Gorogataki Falls (which is a short walk from Tsujun Bridge). Everything is really accessible by car, and easy to find on google maps.



Here is a link to the Official Aso Geopark Website: http://www.aso-geopark.jp.e.ed.hp.transer.com/geosites/geosite02.html

Information websites for Tsujun Bridge and Gorogataki Falls:

 

http://kumanago.jp/en/spots/detail/430000000605.html 

http://www.ne.jp/asahi/naomii/waterland/km/yabe/km24.htm