Volcano and geothermal tourism in Kyushu, Japan

Abstract

[Extract] In Japan volcano tourism and geotourism are part of many tourists' trip agendas, although as yet not under these specific categories. Most people who visit volcanic environments in Japan do so under the guise of nature-based hot spring tourism ,or onsen tourism which benefits from the geophysical attributes especially on the island of Kyushu. The number of national parks in Kyushu offers a broad range of recreational opportunities; moreover, most of them with access to volcanic and geothermal areas. To give a quick indication of the destinations discussed in this chapter a map of Kyushu (Figure 9.1) has been modified to indicate where the major volcanoes are located.