Although its origins are uncertain, Aso Shrine (阿蘇神社, Aso Jinja) is believed to date back almost two thousand years to the end of the Yayoi Period (300 BC to 300 AD). It has been considered the most important shrine in Higo Province, present day Kumamoto Prefecture.
The shrine's most impressive feature is its two-story Romon Gate, one of the largest of its kind in Japan. Behind the gate visitors will come upon the Haiden, the shrine's offering hall. Twelve deities are enshrined at Aso Shrine, including one god who is believed to have created the Aso area. The shrine also has a pine tree that is believed to give good fortune for marriage.
On April 16, 2016, the celebrated Romon Gate and the offering hall collapsed in an earthquake, and many more structures were damaged. The reconstruction works lasted 7.5 years and were completed in December 2023 when reconstruction works on the Romon Gate ended.
Getting there and around
Aso Shrine is about a 20 minute walk north from Miyaji Station on the JR Hohi Line (5 minutes, 210 yen from Aso Station, departures about once an hour).
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Links and Resources
Japanese
Hotels around Aso
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ShinwaenBoasting hot spring baths surrounded by beautiful gardens, Shinwaen provides charming Japanese-style accommodation, and lavish meals are served in guest rooms. Free Wi-Fi is offered throughout the property, and free parking is available. Rooms are fitted with tatami (woven-straw) flooring and traditional futon bedding, and come with a flat-screen TV. Some rooms feature a private open-air bath. Seasonal flower arrangements welcome guests at Shinwaen. In-room massages can be arranged at an extra charge. Free luggage storage is available, and drink vending machines can be used. The property is a 15-minute drive from JR Aso Station, and Hana-asobi with large rose gardens is a 3-minute drive away. Cuddly Dominion zoo can be reached within a 15-minute drive. Japanese meals prepared with home-grown vegetables are served in the Dining.View on Booking.com
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Fairfield by Marriott Kumamoto AsoSituated in Aso, 33 km from Egao Kenko Stadium Kumamoto, Fairfield by Marriott Kumamoto Aso features accommodation with a shared lounge, free private parking and a terrace. With free WiFi, this 3-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk. The property is non-smoking and is set 42 km from Kumamoto Castle. The hotel will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms offering a wardrobe, a kettle, a fridge, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a bidet. Suizenji Park is 42 km from Fairfield by Marriott Kumamoto Aso, while Hosokawa Residence Gyobutei is 43 km from the property. Kumamoto Airport is 28 km away.View on Booking.com
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Minshuku AsogenMinshuku Asogen, a property with a garden, is situated in Aso, 29 km from Egao Kenko Stadium Kumamoto, 38 km from Kumamoto Castle, as well as 38 km from Suizenji Park. The property is around 39 km from Hosokawa Residence Gyobutei, 8.8 km from Mount Aso and 29 km from KK Wings. The ryokan features rooms with air conditioning, free private parking and free WiFi. A fridge and kettle are also offered. At the ryokan, units include a tatami and a flat-screen TV. Kuroishi Station is 32 km from the ryokan, while Former Residence of Natsume Soseki is 37 km from the property. The nearest airport is Kumamoto Airport, 24 km from Minshuku Asogen.View on Booking.com
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Syukubo AsoSituated in Aso, 42 km from Kumamoto Castle, Syukubo Aso features accommodation with a public bath. The air-conditioned accommodation is 33 km from Egao Kenko Stadium Kumamoto, and guests can benefit from private parking available on site and free WiFi. Mount Aso is 7.3 km from the ryokan and KK Wings is 33 km away. The ryokan has a flat-screen TV. Towels and bed linen are offered in the ryokan. At the ryokan, there is a dressing room for guests to change in. Guests can relax in the garden at the property. Suizenji Park is 42 km from Syukubo Aso, while Hosokawa Residence Gyobutei is 42 km from the property. The nearest airport is Kumamoto Airport, 28 km from the accommodation.View on Booking.com
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Aso Base BackpackersAso Base Backpackers is located in Aso, 33 km from Egao Kenko Stadium Kumamoto and 42 km from Kumamoto Castle. The 2-star hostel has air-conditioned rooms with a shared bathroom and free WiFi. Free private parking is available and the hostel also provides bike hire for guests who want to explore the surrounding area. Suizenji Park is 42 km from the hostel, while Hosokawa Residence Gyobutei is 43 km away. Kumamoto Airport is 28 km from the property.View on Booking.com
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Aso Hakuun SansoAsoHakuunSanso quietly located in the vast Aso Caldera Basin at the foot of Mt.Aso is a natural hot spring resort hotel Enjoy the view of the majestic Aso mountains from the hotel, and relax in the hot spring of AkamizuOnsen, which is good for beautiful skin, and the delicious cuisine for which the hotel prides itself. All rooms in the hotel building have twin bedsroom and offer views of the five Aso peaks or the outer rim of Aso.JP Superior rooms have beds on tatami mat floors, allowing guests to take off their shoes. Dinner and breakfast is served buffet style with a variety of Japanese and Western dishes will be served at GOGAKU restaurant. The hotel is located 15 km from Aso Shrine and 18 km aroundf Mt.Aso. You can come here on foot in 10 minutes from the nearest station, JR Akamizu Station. A free shuttle bus to and from JR Akamizu Station is also available. and there are also 80 free parking spaces available.View on Booking.com
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AsoTsuruya38 km from Egao Kenko Stadium Kumamoto, AsoTsuruya is a recently renovated property set in Aso and offers air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi and private parking. Featuring a housekeeping service, this property also provides guests with a traditional restaurant. The ryokan features family rooms. All units come with a seating area, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels and a private bathroom with bathrobes, bidet, bath and shower. Some units feature a balcony and/or a patio with mountain or inner courtyard views. At the ryokan, the units come with bed linen and towels. Guests may chill out in the on-site bar or lounge. Kumamoto Castle is 47 km from the ryokan, while Suizenji Park is 47 km away. Kumamoto Airport is 32 km from the property.View on Booking.com
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AsobeFeaturing 2-star accommodation, Asobe is situated in Aso, 39 km from Kumamoto Castle and 39 km from Suizenji Park. The air-conditioned accommodation is 30 km from Egao Kenko Stadium Kumamoto, and guests can benefit from private parking available on site and free WiFi. The ryokan has family rooms. At the ryokan, every unit is equipped with a shared bathroom. Guests at the ryokan will be able to enjoy activities in and around Aso, like cycling. Hosokawa Residence Gyobutei is 39 km from Asobe, while Mount Aso is 8.1 km from the property. The nearest airport is Kumamoto Airport, 25 km from the accommodation.View on Booking.com
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Yumeoi-soBoasting various hot spring baths that can be reserved for private use, Yumeoi-so provides chic Japanese-style accommodation. Guests can enjoy karaoke and table tennis for free. Free Wi-Fi is provided in the lobby. Yumeoi-so offers large public hot spring baths and 12 private-use hot spring baths for guests’ relaxation. A game room with traditional Japanese games and a kids’ room are available on site. Female guests can choose their own yukata robe when checking in. Rooms at Yumeoi-so feature tatami (woven-straw) flooring and traditional futon bedding. A low table and seating cushions are provided, and rooms come with facilities like flat-screen TV, a fridge and an electric kettle. A Japanese and Western breakfast buffet is available. The property is a 15-minute walk from JR Aso Station. Mount Aso is a 30-minute drive, and Aso Farmland is a 25-minute drive away.View on Booking.com
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KAMENOI HOTEL AsoSet in Aso, 37 km from Egao Kenko Stadium Kumamoto, KAMENOI HOTEL Aso offers accommodation with a garden, free private parking, a shared lounge and a restaurant. The property is around 45 km from Kumamoto Castle, 46 km from Suizenji Park and 46 km from Hosokawa Residence Gyobutei. The resort features mountain views, a sun terrace, a 24-hour front desk, and free WiFi is available throughout the property. All rooms in the resort are equipped with a kettle. The units will provide guests with air conditioning, a safety deposit box and a flat-screen TV. The daily breakfast offers buffet, Italian or American options. KAMENOI HOTEL Aso offers 4-star accommodation with a hot spring bath and spa centre. Mount Aso is 8.8 km from the accommodation, while KK Wings is 36 km away. Kumamoto Airport is 31 km from the property.View on Booking.com
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