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Aso-san or Aso Caldera is the largest active volcano in Japan and among the largest in the world. Common use relates often only to the somma volcano in the centre of Aso Caldera. It stands in Aso Kujū National Park in Kumamoto Prefecture, on the island of Kyushu. Its tallest peak, Takadake, is above sea level. Mount Aso is in a fairly large caldera (25 kilometers (16 miles) north-south and 18 km (11 mi) east-west) with a circumference of around , although sources vary on the exact distance. It is one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains.
The present Aso Caldera formed as a result of four huge caldera eruptions occurring over a range of 90,000–300,000 years ago. The caldera, one of the largest in the world, contains the city of Aso as well as Takamori and Minamiaso enclosing the caldera extends about 18 km east to west and about 25 km north to south. Viewpoints from the somma overlooking the caldera are perched upon lava formed before the volcanic activity which created the present caldera. Ejecta from the huge caldera eruption 90,800 years ago covers more than 600 km3 and roughly equals the volume of Mount Fuji; with a pyroclastic flow plateau that covered a significant part of Kyushu.
Volcanic ash from Mount Aso and Mount Kujū plays a crucial role in maintaining and replenishing the Mudflat of the Ariake Sea, which are among the largest in Japan. Several of the flats have been designated as . The ash is carried from the volcanoes to the coastline by the Chikugo River, which has its source located on Aso as well.
Mt. Taka, Mt. Naka, Mt. Eboshi, and Mt. Kishima are cones formed following the fourth above-mentioned huge caldera eruption. Mt. Naka remains active today. Aso's pyroclastic flow deposits (welded tuff) were utilized for bridge construction in the region. There are approximately 320 arched stone bridges in Kumamoto Prefecture, including the Tsujun-kyo and Reitai-kyo bridges on the Midorikawa River, which are important national cultural properties.
A new eruption began at 11:43 a.m. on 20 October 2021.
Foreigners visited Mount Aso for the first time during the Meiji era for tourism and research. A new hiking path from the south of the mountain became famous, as more and more local visitors came.
During the Taishō era, the Miyaji line opened. There were more than 100,000 visitors every year. In 1934, the area was established as Aso National Park.
At the foot of the mountain there are also various campsites, and horse riding at Kusasenrigahama. There are also helicopter tours and bicycle tours.
Mount Aso serves as the inspiration of Mt. Chimney in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, Pokémon Emerald and the remake Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.
In the manga Magical Girl Spec-Ops Asuka by Makoto Fukami and Seigo Tokiya, the final battle of the Distonian War that took place 3 years before the events of the series takes place on Mount Aso.
In the 2006 tokusatsu disaster film Sinking of Japan directed by Shinji Higuchi, Mount Aso erupts as an aircraft carrying the Japanese Prime Minister flies over it, raking the plane with tephra and causing it to crash with the loss of all on board. Mount Aso's eruption also destroys the city of Kumamoto.
In the manga Yaiba by Gosho Aoyama, Mount Aso is the resting place of the Crimson Dragon Orb (or Fire Orb), and where Yaiba Kurogane fights against a revived Amakusa Shirō.
Mount Aso also appears in and .
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