Hotel Greenpia Minamiaso is a large establishment situated on the foothills of Aso caldera’s south rim. This location provides for an ideal view over the caldera, with the Five Peaks towering at the center. Normally I try to avoid big hotels, but I was sold when I saw those photos, and seeing it in person did not disappoint.

The hotel was, as expected, big and noisy, the food was good (dinner mixed the usual ryokan style serving and a buffet). The outdoor bath had the same superb views as you would get out of the window, the only drawback for me was the water temperature – it wasn’t hot enough, so I couldn’t stay in there for as long as I would like and had to get indoors.

I think it’s only accessible by car, but if you happen to be driving around Aso – visiting this place even for a quick soak during the day is totally worth it.