Key Facts
• July 18, 2025: Aso City released a visitor etiquette video on YouTube.
• Video includes guidelines in four languages to prevent improper behavior.
• Prohibited actions: trespassing on grazing land, littering, and approaching cattle or horses.
• May 5, 2025: Aso Park Road recorded a record daily toll revenue of ¥2.1 million.
• Post-pandemic tourism surge led to increased visitor numbers and etiquette violations.
• Local concerns: risk of foot-and-mouth disease due to tourists touching livestock.
• Misinformation on social media claims visitors can interact with horses at Kusasenri.
• Aso City aims to provide clear, visual information to promote responsible tourism.
Summary
Aso City in Kumamoto Prefecture has launched a multilingual video to educate visitors on proper behavior when visiting Mount Aso and Kusasenri. The video, available on the city’s official YouTube channel, highlights prohibited actions such as trespassing on grazing land, littering, and approaching livestock. This initiative comes in response to a surge in domestic and international tourism post-pandemic, which has also led to increased etiquette violations. On May 5, 2025, Aso Park Road recorded its highest-ever daily toll revenue of ¥2.1 million. However, local concerns about foot-and-mouth disease have risen due to tourists touching cattle. Additionally, misinformation on social media falsely claims that visitors can interact with horses at Kusasenri. Aso City’s tourism department hopes the video will provide clear, visual guidance to ensure visitors enjoy their experience responsibly.
