{"id":144225,"date":"2024-12-07T10:00:47","date_gmt":"2024-12-07T01:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/treasures-japan.com\/?p=144225"},"modified":"2025-03-11T12:26:46","modified_gmt":"2025-03-11T03:26:46","slug":"sacred-landscape-morning-mist-painting-asos-natural-nehanzu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/treasures-japan.com\/en\/sacred-landscape-morning-mist-painting-asos-natural-nehanzu\/","title":{"rendered":"Sacred Landscape, Morning Mist Painting Aso\u2019s Natural Nehanzu"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-nhtu&#8221; back_image=&#8221;143302&#8243; back_image_auto=&#8221;yes&#8221; back_position=&#8221;center bottom&#8221; overlay_color=&#8221;color-jevc&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;20&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; enable_bottom_divider=&#8221;default&#8221; bottom_divider=&#8221;gradient&#8221; shape_bottom_h_use_pixel=&#8221;true&#8221; shape_bottom_height_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shape_bottom_color=&#8221;color-jevc&#8221; shape_bottom_opacity=&#8221;30&#8243; shape_bottom_index=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;733152&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; overlay_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; shape_bottom_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; align_horizontal=&#8221;align_center&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;2&#8243; style=&#8221;dark&#8221; font_family=&#8221;font-165032&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; parallax_intensity=&#8221;4&#8243; parallax_centered=&#8221;yes&#8221; width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;718693&#8243;][vc_custom_heading auto_text=&#8221;yes&#8221; heading_semantic=&#8221;h1&#8243; text_font=&#8221;font-557908&#8243; text_size=&#8221;custom&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;191778&#8243; heading_custom_size=&#8221;38&#8243;]Automatic Heading Text[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_empty_space empty_h=&#8221;2&#8243;][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_horizontal=&#8221;right&#8221; align_horizontal=&#8221;align_right&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; style=&#8221;dark&#8221; font_family=&#8221;font-557908&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;119624&#8243;][uncode_info_box items=&#8221;Categories|do_not_display_prefix,Date&#8221; text_size=&#8221;h4&#8243; separator=&#8221;bullet&#8221;][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243;][uncode_block id=&#8221;141824&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=&#8221;yes&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;60&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-lxmt&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;0&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; row_height_use_pixel=&#8221;&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;184174&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; column_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-wayh&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_height=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;213103&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; mobile_height=&#8221;350&#8243;][vc_single_image media=&#8221;143309&#8243; media_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;174163&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column column_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; column_padding=&#8221;4&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_width=&#8221;0&#8243; zoom_height=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;204709&#8243; column_width_pixel=&#8221;450&#8243;][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;815016&#8243;]Mt. Aso&#8217;s (1,592-meter \/5,223-foot volcano) grandeur lies in its magnificent natural formations sculpted by volcanic activity. The rare sight of human settlements within one of Earth&#8217;s largest calderas (128 kilometers\/80 miles in circumference, covering 350 square kilometers\/135 square miles) creates a unique landscape.<\/p>\n<p>At its heart, Aso Gogaku (the Five Peaks of Aso) create a formation reminiscent of a Nehanzu (traditional Buddhist painting depicting the reclining Buddha at the moment of reaching nirvana), their contours forming a silhouette that recalls the Buddha in repose.<\/p>\n<p>Dawn reveals particularly mystical scenes as morning mist blankets the caldera, leaving only the peaks visible above the outer rim mountains. Aso embodies both the &#8220;Land of Fire&#8221; and &#8220;Land of Water,&#8221; its powerful yet serene vistas stirring the souls of all who visit.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-prif&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;365942&#8243; back_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243;][vc_gallery el_id=&#8221;gallery-514120&#8243; type=&#8221;css_grid&#8221; medias=&#8221;143303,143304,143305,143306,143307,143308&#8243; explode_albums=&#8221;yes&#8221; grid_items=&#8221;3&#8243; screen_lg_items=&#8221;3&#8243; screen_lg_breakpoint=&#8221;1000&#8243; screen_md_items=&#8221;2&#8243; screen_md_breakpoint=&#8221;600&#8243; screen_sm_items=&#8221;1&#8243; screen_sm_breakpoint=&#8221;480&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; css_grid_v_align=&#8221;middle&#8221; css_grid_equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; media_items=&#8221;media|lightbox|original,title&#8221; single_text=&#8221;under&#8221; css_grid_images_size=&#8221;sixteen-nine&#8221; single_style=&#8221;dark&#8221; single_overlay_opacity=&#8221;50&#8243; single_v_position=&#8221;bottom&#8221; single_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; lbox_title=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;724791&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;701455&#8243;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;180614&#8243;][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;108135&#8243;]Getting there: About 30 minutes by car from Kumamoto Airport. Parking available. The Milk Road along the outer rim mountains is recommended.<\/p>\n<p>Photographed: Early October 2021, 6:30 AM to 9:00 AM<\/p>\n<p>Temperature: 11\u00b0C (51.8\u00b0F)<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_raw_html]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[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_horizontal=&#8221;left&#8221; align_horizontal=&#8221;align_right&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;949484&#8243;][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;147472&#8243;]Text\/Kenji Sakamoto<br \/>\nPhoto\/Kenji Sakamoto<br \/>\nTranslation\/Yumiko Sushitani[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mt. Aso&#8217;s (1,592-meter \/5,223-foot volcano) grandeur lies in its magnificent natural formations sculpted by volcanic activity. The rare sight of human settlements within one of Earth&#8217;s largest calderas (128 kilometers\/80 miles in circumference, covering 350 square kilometers\/135 square miles) creates a unique landscape. <\/p>\n<p>At its heart,  Aso Gogaku (the Five Peaks of Aso) create a formation reminiscent of a Nehanzu (traditional Buddhist painting depicting the reclining Buddha at the moment of reaching nirvana), their contours forming a silhouette that recalls the Buddha in repose. <\/p>\n<p>Dawn reveals particularly mystical scenes as morning mist blankets the caldera, leaving only the peaks visible above the outer rim mountains. Aso embodies both the &#8220;Land of Fire&#8221; and &#8220;Land of Water,&#8221; its powerful yet serene vistas stirring the souls of all who visit. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":143302,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_locale":"en_GB","_original_post":"https:\/\/treasures-japan.com\/?p=143301","footnotes":""},"categories":[78],"tags":[179],"class_list":["post-144225","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nature","tag-43-en-kumamoto","en-GB"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/treasures-japan.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144225","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/treasures-japan.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/treasures-japan.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/treasures-japan.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/treasures-japan.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=144225"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/treasures-japan.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144225\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":144227,"href":"https:\/\/treasures-japan.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144225\/revisions\/144227"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/treasures-japan.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/143302"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/treasures-japan.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=144225"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/treasures-japan.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=144225"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/treasures-japan.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=144225"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}