In a country balancing on five tectonic plates, Kyushu is the region where the earth’s activity surfaces. To the south the rugged mountains of the stunning Kirishima volcano chain. Smouldering Sakurajima looms over the port city of Kagoshima, at times showering the town with fine ash which the residents casually respond to with open umbrellas. Unzen, Japan’s first national park (1934).
The eerie volcanic landscape of Aso-san, Japan’s most active volcano. Numerous onsen hot springs provide a soothing side effect of all this violence.