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Volcano and Geothermal Tourism in Kyushu, Japan 147

easy recognizable colour coding, security guards
in the car parks and more recently on the viewing
platforms at the crater rim, people feel that in case
of an emergency there will be enough time to
retreat safely and with dignity.
Visitor satisfaction is high at Mt Aso; 92.5 per
cent said the visit to the crater met their
expectations and 98.5 per cent said they would
recommend a visit to Mt Aso to other people. The
best experience was being able to look into the
crater and all respondents thought that volcano
tourism is a great idea with 48 per cent of the
respondents having visited other volcanic areas
elsewhere. Special safety guidelines over and above
the safety measures available at Mt Aso were
expected by 53 per cent of the visitors. The
proportion of repeat visitors was calculated at 11
per cent, with a number of people coming on a
regular basis as they live in Kyushu and spend
weekends at the numerous hot spring Ryokan
(hotels, inns) around Mt Aso.

The Kuju volcano complex
Figure 9.5 One of the warning signs at the crater The Kuju volcano complex is also part of the Aso-
entrance of Mt Aso
Kuju National Park and consists of 20 lava domes
and cones, located in the central part of Kyushu
may be worth considering upgrading is the low Island, and includes Iwoyama, one of the most
open fence around the crater rim, which would active geothermal fields where sulphur used to be
not stop a small person from falling towards one mined (Nabakoh et al, 2003). A phreatic eruption
of the craters. occurred at Kuju volcano in October 1995 (Sudo
Volcano photography is another important and Matsumoto, 1998) and Mt Kuju does not
reason to visit active mountains; only 11 per cent share the easy access to the higher elevations
of the visitors questioned were not interested in found at Mt Aso. However, many hot springs and
taking photos. For the majority it is a little ritual hydrothermal fields are located at the Kuju
in Japan to have their photo taken with the complex with the town of Kokonoe in the
steaming crater behind them. The stall holders on foothills a popular place for weekend houses or
the summit offer step ladders to stand on for a country side retreats. People come from all over
better photographic angle, as the crater is currently Japan to the area around Mt Kuju and Mt Aso to
rather deep and the photos must include the crater enjoy a different lifestyle for either a few days or
lake. weeks or as a second home to retire. An active
volcano is no deterrent at all; the many volcanic
Risk perception and visitor satisfaction hot springs with their waters so rich in beneficial
The overall risk perception of visitors to Mt Aso minerals hold an enormous attraction for Japanese
was noted as low (25 per cent), which is countered people. The Ryokan owners often use one of the
by a relatively high awareness of the potential nearby volcanoes in the background of their hot
danger of active volcanic environments (88 per spring inn or resort advertising material and to
cent). Due to obvious warning signs and constant verify the quality of the local onsen water.
PA announcements, flashing warning lights with Artificial heating or cooling of hot springs by

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