Hello! It’s Kazu. How’s everyone doing?
Suddenly, but it has been about 1 year and 3 months since I started working at “Michi-no-Eki Aso.” Ever since then, there has been something I have been wondering about.
Recently, I have noticed that quite a few tourists from Europe, especially Switzerland, visit Aso with the specific purpose of seeing the Aso crater. I found this somewhat curious.
After all, Switzerland is home to the Alps, and when it comes to alpine skiing in the Winter Olympics and other international competitions—such as downhill and slalom skiing—the Alps are known as the birthplace of these sports (perhaps “Alpine” even comes from “Alps”?). The country is one of Europe’s most beautiful scenic regions, with towering 4,000-meter-class mountains, including the three great peaks of the Alps. So, I couldn’t help but wonder, “Why Aso?!”
Incidentally, in contrast to alpine skiing, which originated in the Alps, events where Japanese athletes tend to perform well in the Olympics and international competitions—such as ski jumping and cross-country skiing—are categorized as “Nordic” sports.
Why would people from Switzerland—a country famous for its rich natural landscapes and the Alps, a must-visit destination for travelers—choose to come to Aso?
For example, the three great peaks of the Alps:
- The Matterhorn (4,478m), towering on the border between Switzerland and Italy,
- The Jungfrau (4,158m), the highest peak in the Bernese Alps,
- Mont Blanc (4,810m), the highest peak in the European Alps, standing between France and Italy.
And yet, despite having these world-famous mountains, why Aso?
So, late last year, I decided to ask a Swiss tourist visiting the tourist information counter at Michi-no-Eki Aso what I thought might be a silly question:
“Why have you come all the way from Switzerland—a world-famous tourist destination with breathtaking mountain scenery—to Aso?”
“Switzerland has many high mountains, but no volcanoes. Being able to witness the Earth’s tectonic activity up close at an active volcano is extremely rare, even on a global scale.”
With just this one sentence, I realized that I had completely overlooked such a simple, obvious, and worldwide reason… ( ﾉД`)
Indeed, when visiting the active crater of Aso’s Nakadake volcano, there is no need for serious mountaineering gear, special shoes, or even a specialized suit. You can simply wear your everyday clothes and, from the nearest crater parking lot, walk just two or three minutes to the crater’s edge and witness the breath of the Earth with your own eyes.
To be able to experience such raw natural power so easily—without intense trekking or specialized equipment—might not only be unique in Japan but possibly even in the entire world. Don’t you think? (_;
