Aso-jinja

Aso Shrine sits at the foot of the active Aso volcano in Kumamoto and has been a place of worship for roughly 2,000 years. The shrine is dedicated to the twelve deities of the Aso region and is one of the most important in Kyushu. The楼門, a two-story gate that was partially destroyed in the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, has been under restoration and is expected to be completed around 2023. Several of the annual rituals here are listed as nationally significant intangible folk cultural properties, including a fire festival in March. The grounds are shaded by large trees, and the atmosphere is serious rather than ornamental. Walking the full compound takes about thirty minutes.