Aso Uchinomaki

A small hot spring town sitting at the base of Mount Aso's caldera rim, where the same volcanic activity that powers the smoking crater also heats the ryokan baths and public pools. The mineral-rich water is the draw, but so is the food: Akaushi wagyu, a red-haired cattle breed raised on the caldera's open grasslands, produces marbled beef that appears on menus throughout town. It works well as a base for exploring the volcanic crater, Kusasenri grasslands, and the Daikanbo panoramic viewpoint nearby.