Aso Kujū National Park

Aso-Kujū National Park
阿蘇くじゅう国立公園
Mount Aso and its caldera
Map showing the location of Aso-Kujū National Park
Map showing the location of Aso-Kujū National Park
Aso-Kujū National Park
Aso-Kujū National Park in Japan
Map showing the location of Aso-Kujū National Park
Map showing the location of Aso-Kujū National Park
Aso-Kujū National Park
Aso-Kujū National Park (Japan)
LocationKyūshū, Japan
Coordinates32°53′06″N 131°06′15″E / 32.88500°N 131.10417°E / 32.88500; 131.10417
Area726.78 km2
Established4 December 1934
Governing bodyMinistry of the Environment (Japan)

Aso-Kujū National Park (阿蘇くじゅう国立公園, Aso-Kujū Kokuritsu Kōen) is a national park in Kumamoto and Ōita Prefectures, Japan. The park derives its name from Mount Aso, the largest active volcano in Japan, and the Kujū mountains.[1][2] Mount Aso is also one of the largest caldera volcanos in the world.[3]

History

Around 270,000 years ago, a burst of volcanic activity helped shape the area.[4]

Aso Shrine at Mount Aso in Kyushu is a Shinto shrine traditionally held to have been a center of worship before the accession of Emperor Jinmu. The shikinaisha shrine complex at Ichinomiya in what is today Kumamoto Prefecture was said to have been established in 281 BC.[5] The original location of the shrine is uncertain because it was destroyed and rebuilt many times in or near the crater of Aso-san.

  • On December 4, 1934, this park was first established as Aso National Park.[6]
  • On September 1, 1953, Mt. Yufu, Mt. Tsurumi, and Mt. Takasaki in Oita Prefecture were designated as extensions.
  • On May 1, 1956, Mt. Takasaki was separated and incorporated into the Seto Inland Sea National Park.
  • On June 25, 1964, the Yamanami Highway was put into service as the "Toll Road Beppu Aso Road".
  • On September 10, 1986, the name was changed to Aso Kujū National Park.[6]
  • On June 25, 1994, the Yamanami Highway was opened free of charge due to the expiration of the toll collection period.

Activities

See also

References

  1. ^ "Introducing places of interest: Aso-Kuju National Park". Ministry of the Environment. Archived from the original on 8 February 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
  2. ^ Sutherland, Mary; Britton, Dorothy (1995). National Parks of Japan. Kodansha. pp. 143–5. ISBN 4-7700-1971-8.
  3. ^ a b "Aso-Kuju National Park". National Parks of Japan. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  4. ^ "Aso-jinja Shrine". JNTO. Archived from the original on 15 October 2017.
  5. ^ "Aso-jinja Shrine". JNTO. Archived from the original on 15 October 2017.
  6. ^ a b c d "Aso-Kujū National Park - Basic Information". Ministry of the Environment. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2012.



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