Kirishima

The first tract of land to be designated a National Park in Japan, Kirishima is the site where, in Shinto mythology, the grandson of the sun goddess descended to earth. It is supposedly from this god--Ninigi-no-mikoto--that the Japanese imperial line originated. The park contains 23 volcanoes--many of them active--as well as 10 crater lakes.

Sai-no-kawara:


A crater lake:


Kirishima-jingu, the shrine dedicated to Ninigi-no-mikoto: