The Sleepy Japanese Town Built Inside an Active Volcano

[demmiblue]

Source: The Smithsonian

For the residents of Aogashima, an island about 200 miles due south of Tokyo, 1785 was an unforgettable year. Although they weren’t alive to witness the deadliest event in island history, they know what unfolded all too well—and what they know hasn't changed their mind about living atop a real-life volcano.

They’ve heard the stories about how, on May 18, the ground began to shake. Giant plumes of gas and smoke billowed out from the mouth of the island’s volcano, shooting rocks, mud and other debris into the sky. By June 4, the island’s 327 residents had no choice but to evacuate, but only about half succeeded and the rest perished. Those who live on the island that’s home to a volcano still registered as active by the Japanese Meteorological Agency, the governmental agency responsible for monitoring the nation’s 110 active volcanoes, know that there’s always the chance that history could repeat itself. But Aogashima’s inhabitants are willing to take that risk.

One such resident is Masanubu Yoshida, a government worker who has lived on the island for the past 15 years. He says that he tries not to spend too much time worrying about the possibility of another eruption. After all, it’s been more than 230 years since the last one—the odds (at least so far) are in his favor.

“No one can win over nature,” he tells Smithsonian.com. Rather than dwell on the possibilities, the 40-year-old focuses on the benefits of living in this lush paradise, which formed from the remnants of four overlapping calderas centuries ago. Much of the village is located inside the outer crater wall.

Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/japanese-town-aogashima-active-volcano-180959153/

[Silver_Witch]

1. Beautiful...I can see why they live there!

[masmdu]

2. I'm in an active volcano caldera right now. Mt. Aso, Japan

Visiting family in the area and going to hot springs/onsen. The caldera here is massive (about 75 miles circumference) and beautiful.

[demmiblue]

3. Very beautiful!

I also googled some of the onsen there... lovely and relaxing. Enjoy your time there!

[masmdu]

8. Our favorite is Kurokawa. Always a pleasure...

http://www.kurokawaonsen.or.jp/eng_new/




&width=800&height=450

[demmiblue]

9. That is just jaw-dropping!

Nope, not jealous at all!

[masmdu]

11. Lucky enough to have been coming here regularly for 20 years. It's a gem..

And if you are ever in Kyushu it is well worth a visit. My favorite time to visit is in the winter but work makes that rare.

[smirkymonkey]

14. Wow, it really does look like paradise!

I can see why they consider it a trade-off.

[yuiyoshida]

19. My gf goes there every year!

She has family in Osaka, and its her favorite onsen. I wish she would take me with her!

[dixiegrrrrl]

5. Amazing. Beautiful, too.

thanks for that pic.

[yuiyoshida]

18. Envious

I want so badly to visit an onsen!!! I would soak until I turned into a prune!

GOKURAKU GOKURAKU!!

[hobbit709]

4. Not I says me.

I won't live where the ground moves or the mountains smoke.

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. Smoking is bad for your health, you are correct to avoid it.

[demmiblue]

7. A video and more pics:

Via: http://whenonearth.net/live-inside-active-volcano-aogashima-island/

[Hortensis]

10. Lovely pictures, Demmiblue and Masmdu.

Thanks for the visits.

Long ago we seriously considered purchasing a house near Puget Sound with a wonderful view to Mt. Ranier, close enough to dominate everything. The job transfer never happened, and I've always wondered if I would have been completely happy with that constant reminder. I certainly know why people live on this island, though, and Manhattan Island as well.

[smirkymonkey]

15. Just curious, why do you think Manhattan Island is so much more frightening that most other places

in the world? I lived there for years (only moved to Boston 4 years ago) and never felt terribly threatened (maybe a little after 9/11). Mostly just stressed out and tired of the rat race.

[Hortensis]

16. Terrorism, of course. It's quite a target, and many

attempts will be made to make 9/11 look like amateur hour. Already have been, no doubt.

Of course, I also was a bit concerned about Southern California when we lived there -- 20 million people surrounded on 3 sides by hundreds of miles of desert and the fourth by the Pacific Ocean. I always thought if I were a terrorist I'd like to take out water and power, communications, major roadways in August or September, but above all water. A primitive high-level nuke from a freighter on the ocean could do most of it. Deaths would begin almost immediately.

Ugly thoughts. Many areas of Southern California are also paradise to their residents, and it'll never be allowed to happen. But we were raising kids, so we stored water under the house anyway. It was cheap and allowed me to forget about it.

[smirkymonkey]

17. That's true I suppose. The thing about Manhattan is that it is an Island and if all

the bridges and tunnels were taken out, people would be absolutely stranded. I'd be lying if I said that thought never crossed my mind. I guess that didn't scare me as much as potential natural disasters though. I'm not sure why.

[Hortensis]

20. Well, I'd live both wonderful places anyway.

And Boston is also very high on my list. One plus about high-density areas is that aid has to go there first.

[masmdu]

12. That night sky is stupendous!

Would love to visit but I'd suffer from rock fever if I lived there. I used to take a boat once a week to an tiny island to teach English in a town of about 100 people. While the experience was interesting I was always glad to get back to the mainland.

[demmiblue]

13. Speaking of the night sky...

another search of Aogashima brought me to a site that discussed the island, as well as Tanabata (which is today!).

Tanabata (七夕?, meaning "Evening of the seventh&quot , also known as the Star Festival, is a Japanese festival originating from the Chinese Qixi Festival.[1] It celebrates the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi (represented by the stars Vega and Altair respectively). According to legend, the Milky Way separates these lovers, and they are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month of the lunisolar calendar. The date of Tanabata varies by region of the country, but the first festivities begin on 7 July of the Gregorian calendar. The celebration is held at various days between July and August.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanabata

(I'm sure you are aware, I just posted this for myself and others )

Rock fever... I have known a few people express the same about Hawaii (not so tiny, but compared to the contiguous states...).

This has been fun! I know little about Japan... thanks for your input.

[Hortensis]

21. That sky reminded me of the sky from our

southwestern desert. Magnificent. And what a wonderful reason to have a festival. Our nation forming after the Enlightenment was a great blessing, but not being much older has its costs too.