Packed up the tents and stuff after a game of frisbee. Headed back up into the heights of Mt. Aso to the visitors' centre of Nakadake - the active volcano. Freezing wind. Parked up and started the two kilometre walk up to the rim of the volcano along an old path. Nakadake billowing loads of white smoke today. As we walked up, saw cars coming down and then met a bunch of American tourists walking down telling us that they had closed the mountain due to an increase in toxic gas. Rats. Very very disappointed. Hung around for a while hoping that the situation would change. It didn't. Cars of security guys with loudspeakers saying "Back. Back. Down. Down." So, we sauntered back down. Looked around a really nasty souvenir shop for far too long before reluctantly getting in the car to drive across Mt. Aso and eventually out of the caldera towards Beppu. Found some campsites marked on a map in a convenience store and headed for them. Arrived at one to find it was the Oita Education Authority Campsite. I went into the staff room and asked if we could stay. Lots if breathing through teeth so I mentioned I had my family with me and we were on this huge tour etc etc. That did it. They fell over themselves to accommodate us. Small cabin and bedding given to us for the princely sum of nothing at all. Unloaded and headed into Oita city to scout ferry terminal for tomorrow's 7am departure. Found it no problem and went off to spend a few hours eating a lot of food in a Gusto restaurant downtown. Back to bed early. Cold but better than camping and having to strike camp in the morning.