くじゅう連山 - Kuju - 10/28/2023
Kuju is a stratovolcano group in Oita Prefecture containing the highest peak in Kyushu at 1,787 m. Six peaks in six hours — an epic ridge traverse across the volcanic plateau with active fumaroles, stunning caldera views, and the famous Beppu-Myoban volcanic hot spring area nearby.
Volcanic Japan
I'm Kris Kazan — and I love volcanoes, history, nature, onsen culture, and Japan. This site and my YouTube channel are a celebration of those passions: a dream to produce an NHK-style travel series exploring Japan's ~87 accessible active volcanoes, the local culture, volcanic history, and the hot spring towns that have grown from the earth beneath them.
Background
By day I work in software sales and account management, based on the US West Coast between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. Twice a year I make lengthy visits to Japan — to visit family and friends, and of course to hike and soak.
Seeds of Mysticism
I grew up surrounded by silk screen paintings my grandfather brought back from post-WWII Japan. Those images of stratovolcanoes hung on my bedroom walls — and still do. They seeded a lifelong allure. After 8+ trips and nearly two years living in-country, my focus has returned to that original pull: the geology, the volcanoes, and the culture born from them.
111 Active Volcanoes
Japan sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire with 111 active volcanoes, ~87 of which are accessible for exploration.
Onsen Culture
A thousand-year-old bathing culture whose very existence is born from the living volcanoes and geologic activity.
Personal Exploration
Documented hikes, visits, and experiences across Japan's volcanic landscape with original photography and video.
