Mount Aso Eruption Disrupts Kyushu Itinerary; Tourism Bureau: All Taiwanese Tourists Safe

▲ Mount Aso in Kyushu erupted this morning. (Photo / Screenshot from NHK website)

Reported by Chen Rui-zhong / Compiled by staff

Mount Aso in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, erupted today (September 14). After gathering information from major Japanese tour operators such as Lion Travel, Southeast Travel, Wu Fu Travel, Da Xing Travel, and Xi Hong Travel—which organize a significant number of trips to Japan—the Tourism Bureau stated that the Mount Aso crater has not been open to the public for nearly six months, so tour groups were not scheduled to visit it. Instead, they were set to go to attractions such as the Mount Aso Museum and Kusasenri Park. Due to the volcanic eruption, the Japanese local government has expanded the alert and control zone. Tour groups that were planning to take the cable car have had their itineraries adjusted by their travel agencies. Travel agencies have reported that all tourists are safe.

To ensure the safety of travelers, the Tourism Bureau has requested that travel agencies operating tours to Japan pay close attention to alerts issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency and adjust group itineraries accordingly to safeguard the well-being of tourists. Currently, one employee tour group from Southeast Travel has canceled its afternoon itinerary at Kusasenri. In addition, Lion Travel also reported that its three tour groups currently in Kyushu, totaling 78 travelers, are all safe.

Lion Travel also noted that the previous rule prohibited entry within a 3-kilometer radius of the volcano crater. Following this morning’s eruption, the restricted area has been expanded to within 4 kilometers of the crater. Lion Travel has also adjusted its Kyushu itineraries starting today, replacing the originally planned Kusasenri—located 4 kilometers from the crater—with alternative destinations such as Kurokawa Onsen and Kushiusagi Flower Park, both more than 40 kilometers away from the crater. The agency continues to monitor the local situation to ensure the safety of travelers.