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Although its origins are uncertain, Aso Shrine (ˆ¢‘h_ŽÐ, 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).

How to get to and around Aso

Hotels around Aso

Top rated in Aso
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    • Minshuku Asogen
      Budget-friendly
      Minshuku Asogen, a property with a garden, is situated in Aso, 30 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 30 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 Lake Ezu is 40 km from the property. The nearest airport is Kumamoto Airport, 24 km from Minshuku Asogen.
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    • Syukubo Aso
      Mid-range
      Situated 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.
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    • Fairfield by Marriott Kumamoto Aso
      Mid-range
      Situated in Aso, 34 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 with a wardrobe, a kettle, a fridge, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a bidet. At Fairfield by Marriott Kumamoto Aso the rooms are fitted with bed linen and towels. Suizenji Park is 42 km from the accommodation, while Hosokawa Residence Gyobutei is 43 km from the property. The nearest airport is Kumamoto Airport, 28 km from Fairfield by Marriott Kumamoto Aso.
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    • Aso Base Backpackers
      Budget-friendly
      Only a 3-minute walk from JR Aso Train Station, Aso Base Backpackers offers affordable accommodation with free Wi-Fi. Guests can use the free parking on-site. Aso Shrine is a 10-minute drive away. Guests can stay in dormitory-style rooms with bunk beds or in private rooms. Bathrooms and toilets are shared. A coin-launderette is on-site. A free-use kitchen is available for guests to cook their own meals and travel stories can be shared with each other at the common living room. Luggage storage is provided. Backpackers Aso Base is a 20-minute drive from Daikanbo and a 3-minute drive from Cuddly Dominion. Kumamoto Airport is a 50-minute drive away. The craters of Mount Aso are a 30-minute drive away and guests can enjoy hiking on its trails. No meals are served.
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    • Aso Hakuun Sanso
      Mid-range
      AsoHakuunSanso 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.
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    • AsoTsuruya
      Mid-range
      38 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. The nearest airport is Kumamoto Airport, 32 km from AsoTsuruya.
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    • Yumeoi-so
      Luxury
      Boasting 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 guestsf relaxation. A game room with traditional Japanese games and a kidsf 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.
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    • KAMENOI HOTEL Aso
      Luxury
      Set 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. KAMENOI HOTEL Aso offers 4-star accommodation with a hot spring bath. Mount Aso is 8.8 km from the accommodation, while KK Wings is 37 km away. The nearest airport is Kumamoto Airport, 31 km from KAMENOI HOTEL Aso.
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    • Guest House Asora
      Budget-friendly
      Guest House Asora offers free Wi-Fi and beds in Western and Japanese-style rooms. It also features a garden, a free-use kitchen and a coin-operated washing machine. JR Aso Station is a 10-minute walk away. Open since 2013, Asora is a non-smoking guest house. The common kitchen comes with a fridge, a stove and a microwave. A rice cooker and an electric kettle are also provided. Guests can socialise at the shared lounge. Japanese-style rooms are for mixed use, and feature traditional futon bedding on a tatami (woven-straw) floor. Toilets and bathroom facilities are shared, and towels are available for rent for an additional fee. Guest House Asora is a 20-minute drive from view spot Daikanbo, and a 30-minute drive from Mount Aso. The nearest hot spring bathhouse is located within a 10-minute walk, while Kurokawa Onsen Hot Springs can be visited a 50-minute drive away. No meals are served.
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    • Aso Resort Grandvrio Hotel
      Luxury
      Aso Resort Grand Vrio Hotel is located a 7-minute drive from Akamizu Train Station. It offers modern accommodation with indoor and outdoor hot-spring baths, a golf course and karaoke. Rooms have a satellite TV, a sofa and nature views. Guestrooms are equipped with a fridge. The en suite bathroom comes with toiletries and a bathtub. The hotel has 2 hot-spring baths on site, one indoor and the other outdoor. Guests can enjoy a massage, unwind at the sauna or try the gganbanyokuh stone spa for an extra fee. Other recreational facilities include a mini golf course. Barbecue facilities are available during the summer and require an advance reservation. Breakfast and dinner feature local Aso-style cuisine. Kumamoto Airport is a 40-minute drive from Hotel Aso Resert Grand Vrio.
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