Volcano city!

Our hosts in Kyoto recommended Aso- san for a visit so we made the trip there after a day trip in Hiroshima. Aso is one of the largest calderas in the world. It`s like a wee town in a big basin surrounded by mountains and trees. We didn`t realise it was goin to take so long so we were goin up the mountains in the dark, the driver had to walk down the platform and change the direction he was driving twice in order to get up this mountain, and of course we couldn`t see what was goin on outside! It felt like we were goin back on ourselves but somehow when changing seats he must have changed the tracks too.

It was a torch job from the station but luckily the hostel wasn`t too far away. It felt like a cabin in the woods, probably the least Japanese of our accomodation so far. We still had to change into slippers though!

We didn`t realise til morning how great a location we were in. The bus up to the top of the mountain took 30 mins. Most people then opted for the cable car but we walked it and soon we were peering into the bubbling volcano crater. Each time there was a breeze we could smell the sulphur. Pretty horrible because I could taste it too, ummm.

Bubblin' crater of Mt. Nakadake

Our reading of the area didn`t really prepare us for the size of the place. It was huuuuge, and so many different terrains- orange rocks, ash soil, rocks, patches of grass. It was ace.

Volcano bomb...

We started scrambling up the hill. It was all rocks but there was arrows pointing us in the right direction. I felt pretty nervous actually, just because I`ve not really walked up near any volcanoes before!! Each time we turned round the view got better...

Even at this point it had been a tough climb, 1270m to go!

The view at the top was unreal. 360... smokin crater in one direction, mountains in the other, wee caldera town and then more rocks to climb. We reached the peak of Nakadake and we were unsure what to do because the descent was roped off. The tourist info said the path was closed because the cable cars had been abandoned; our hostel owner too said it was officially closed but that we could still walk it if we liked. We were wary, I didn't really want to double back on ourselves but being so close to a bubbling crater I was a bit on edge, and it did look like quite a long descent into unknown ground... humm... anyways we soaked up the view while debating what to do for a while then 5 Japanese guys came down from the highest peak, Taradake, and after exchanging some konnichiwa's they continued down the roped off hill. Should we just follow? Yeahh, let's go!

The otherside of the smoking crater!

The path was very crumbly, so we carefully stepped over the No Trespassing tape and started our descent. It was exciting and fun, and I figured if we were stopped by any officials the Japanese guys would be able to talk to them haha.

Top of the world!

Pete has been on field trips before albiet not right next to a bubbling volcano, but I dunno, this guy could explode any moment, I felt uneasy and walking down next to a rusty, abandoned cable car station it was eeerie for sure but exciting!! The path was fine, not sure why it was closed exactly. There was no cable cars hanging in the sky so there was no danger in that sense. One of the look out points did pretty much look into the crater so needless to say we didn't stay at that observation point for long. The Japanese guys did so we passed them at this point and continued down, I kept checking behind me because for some reason I felt safer knowing there was other hikers coming down this 'closed' path.

My legs hurt more coming down then they did going up!! I was at times holding on to Pete and going down walking backwards, as in heels first. I've not really used going down hill muscles for an extended period of time. This was like a 1.5hr descent. I don't even know what the muscles are called, but continuously having to catch yourself, ouch my wee legs.

We finally arrived at a car park which marked the end of the trek although the train station back to Aso was 2km from here. We bought some drinks and prepared ourselves for more down hill walking. The 5 guys had their own car otherwise I'm sure we would have asked to share a ride or a taxi with them. We were pretty gutted because there was no space for us in their car! We started walking with our thumb out.

I think only one van passed us, and he didn't stop!! We saw him snake his way all the way down the hill so he was going in that direction anyway. He was bowing as he drove past hehe so polite. I guess he was in a hurry or something. Anyways the 5 Japanese guys stopped for us! They pulled over and just laughed and then opened up the boot so we were getting ready to climb into the boot but he got two of his pals to sit back there so we could sit in the back seats. They spoke very little English but we managed to get some chat. They were firemen and paramedics so I guess helpful people :-) they dropped us right at our hostel, and then asked if they could take a photo with us. It was ace. I love Japan.

Hai, cheesu!