What is Aso Geopark?
Aso-Kuju National Park is one of Japan’s oldest national parks. Founded in 1934, the park is named after the Kuju Mountains and Mt. Aso, the group of five volcanic peaks and caldera at the heart of the park. The caldera, one of the largest in the world, is home to natural onsen and scenic hiking trails for nature lovers to discover.
The national park also contains the Aso UNESCO Global Geopark, which received its official UNESCO designation in 2014. Geoparks are areas where landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education, and sustainable development. Aso certainly fits this description: it is home to one of the world’s largest calderas, and for generations its locals have promoted a culture of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.