Back in 2008, we tried to get to the top of Mt. Aso, an active volcano on the southern island of Kyushu (Japan). Due to heavy sulfur fumes, the top of the mountain was not accessible to the public.
Just this month, we were fortunate to visit Mt. Aso on a sunny morning.
On our way up, we stopped at this roadside stand selling blocks of sulfur.

Blocks of sulfur for sale on Mt. Aso
Notice the shade of green in the bubbling hot water.

Mt. Aso in Japan
This is one of my favorite pictures showing volcanic rock formations and a man-made rail.

Volcanic formations around Mt. Aso
Last, but not least. I have again become a fan of Japan’s unusual fusion food, strange concoctions, and unlikely flavorings, such as this one…. black sesame ice cream.

Black Sesame Ice Cream at Mt. Aso
Out of the unusual ice cream flavors I had sampled during this trip (Black Sesame, Wasabi and Corn), I liked the wasabi flavored one the best (more about that on my post about the Taio Gold Mine near Hita).