A complete guide to hiking in Kyushu
Hyakumeizan
7
Average Difficulty
3/5
Best Season
May - October
Highest Elevation
1936m
Overview
Kyushu is an amazing island at the southern end of Japan, it seems to fly under the radar a bit, but it's actually an incredible place for hiking and sightseeing, with its own unique landscape and environment. Kyushu has two famous active volcanoes, Mt. Aso, the largest volcano in Japan, and Sakurajima, the most active volcano in Japan. Sakurajima is constantly erupting so hiking is not permitted, but Mt. Aso features a handful of unique and enjoyable hikes, even though the crater is often closed due to volcanic activity.
There are so many amazing hikes in Kyushu, a truly complete guide would be far too big for one webpage, so this guide will mainly focus on the 7 mountains that are included as part of the Hyakumeizan, which is the main reason hikers travel to Kyushu. There's an extra entry on this list for the Kirishima National Park, which contains some noteworthy trails in addition to the Hyakumeizan-listed peak of Mt. Karakuni.
In This Article
1. General
1.1 - Access
1.2 - Weather & Seasons
1.3 - Accommodation
1.4 - Useful Links
2. Featured Hikes
2.1 - Mt. Aso
2.2 - Mt. Yufu
2.3 - Mt. Karakuni
2.4 - Kirishima National Park
2.5 - The Kuju Mountains
2.6 - Mt. Sobo
2.7 - Mt. Kaimon
2.8 - Yakushima
The beautiful trees in Kirishima National Park
Access
To Kyushu
Flights are often the best option to the major cities of Kagoshima and Kumamoto, where you'll have the easiest access to the mountains. They can be cheap depending on the season, sometimes costing just ¥12,000 one-way. The cheapest option is using Skyscanner, you can compare prices here.
The overnight ferry from Osaka to Beppu is possibly the best way to travel to Kyushu. Prices start from ¥8000 during off-peak periods, but can double during popular times or if you prefer a nicer room. The ferry is very nice and is an experience in itself. There is also a ferry from Tokyo to Fukuoka.
Click here for Osaka, or here for Tokyo.
The overnight bus is the cheapest option, running from Kyoto and Osaka to Fukuoka, Kumamoto, or Beppu, it takes 10 to 12 hours and the price varies from ¥4000 to ¥8,000, with Fukuoka being the cheapest option. Click here for the bus to Fukuoka, here for the bus to Kumamoto, or here for the bus to Beppu.
The Shinkansen is also an option, although it's usually the most expensive. But if you don't mind spending the extra money, the convenience is totally worth it. Google Maps will provide the estimated cost and required transfers.
To The Hiking Trails
Renting a car is a great option for hiking around Kyushu and it's a great destination for roadtrips. You can compare prices and make reservations here, prices can be as low as ¥4000 – ¥6000.
Public Transport for the hiking trails in Kyushu is not as seamless as in mainland Japan. But if you don't mind multiple connections and the odd taxi fare then you'll be fine. The easiest hikes using public transport are Mt. Aso, Mt. Yufu, and the Kuju mountains. Detailed information can be found on the individual hiking pages linked below.
Useful links
Weather and Seasons
Late spring to late autumn, from mid-May to the end of October, are the best times for hiking in Kyushu. The large island is famous for its rolling grasslands which become vibrant and green from June to September. Summer can be quite hot and humid, with temperatures averaging around 32°C.
Snow falls in the mountains around mid-November and is likely to be hanging around until April. The autumn leaves turn red in the higher mountains (over 1500m) from late September to late October.
Click here for a complete view of the monthly weather patterns in Kyushu.
Note
Kyushu is often in the path of typhoons which occur from June to October, and are most common in August and September. You will need to check these forecasts one week before your trip and consider cancellation policies for any bookings.
Accommodation
On weekends and public holidays, hostels and hotels can get booked out pretty quickly. Booking.com will usually provide the cheapest rates, you can click the links below to check the options for each city. Your main cities for accessing the best hikes in Kyushu are:
Beppu (Mt. Yufu, The Kuju Mountains)
Kumamoto (Mt. Aso, The Kuju Mountains)
Kagoshima (Mt. Karakuni, Mt Kaimon)
Yakushima (Mt. Miyanoura, Jomon Sugi)
The Hikes
Trail Summary
Mt. Aso is an active volcano located in the centre of Kyushu, near the city of Kumamoto. It's the largest active volcano in Japan and one of the largest in the world. It features numerous mountains with hiking trails and a variety of beautiful terrain with stunning views. The highest peak in the area is Taka-dake (on the Naka-dake trail) which overlooks the active caldera and is often closed when volcanic gas levels become too high.
The 3 main hikes that are accessible from the bus area can be done over two days. Naka-dake and Taka-dake are part of the same hike and will take about 5 hours, while Eboshi-dake and Kishima-dake will only take a few hours to complete.
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由布岳
Elevation: 1583m
Trail Summary
Mt. Yufu is a prominent volcanic mountain rising up above the hot spring town of Yufuin, located next to Beppu, with easy access via public transport. The mountain is stunningly beautiful in summer, with picturesque grasslands, natural forests, and a rocky volcanic crater at the top. The trail meanders smoothly up the grassy mountainside, then into the forest, and finishes with rock climbing along chains and ropes to reach the peak. The views at the top are also spectacular, with a complete panorama that includes the Aso-Kuju mountain range, the ocean, and the mainland of Honshu. Despite the chain assisted rock climbing, it is a relatively easy hike and can be completed in an afternoon.
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Trail Summary
Mt. Karakuni is the highest peak in the Kirishima-Kinkowan National Park, located near Kagoshima city. The Kirishima mountains feature an incredible collection of active volcanic peaks, stunning crater lakes, and beautiful natural forests. The national park also features a lot of natural hot springs, with many accommodation options ranging from campgrounds to luxurious onsen hotels. One of the volcanic peaks, Shinmoedake, experiences regular eruptions and is often closed from hiking due to the volcanic activity.
There are two main trails for hiking Mt. Karakuni, the most visually striking option includes the stunning Onami crater lake. The other trail loops passed the Onami lake so it's an optional extra depending on your time and mood. The views from Mt. Karakuni are quite incredible, on clear days you can see the entire Kirishima volcanic range and all the way to Sakurajima.
Elevation Change
➚ ➘ 750m
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Trail Summary
The Kirishima-Kinkowan National Park, located near Kagoshima city, is one of the most unique hiking destinations in Japan. The Kirishima mountains feature an incredible collection of active volcanic peaks, stunning crater lakes, and beautiful natural forests. The park is abundant in natural hot springs, and has many accommodation options ranging from campgrounds to luxurious onsen hotels. One of the volcanic peaks, Shinmoedake, experiences regular eruptions and is often closed from hiking due to the volcanic activity.
Our article trail guide summarises three hikes in Kirishima: the main hike up Mt. Karakuni, the leisurely Ebino Plateau hike, and the interesting Mt. Takachiho hike.
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Elevation Change
➚ ➘ 200 - 750m
Trail Summary
The Kuju mountains are located between Kumamoto and Beppu, and are part of the Aso-Kuju National Park. The Kuju mountains are perfect for a few days of camping due to an amazing free campground called Bogatsuru. The are a number of peaks with hiking trails, the most notable mentions are Nakadake, which is the highest peak in the range, and Mt. Taisen, which is popular for its photogenic lake and rock formations. The campground is accessed via an easy 2-3 hour hike from the bus stop, there are many day hikes available from the campground, so it serves as the perfect base for exploring the mountains. It's especially popular for the autumn colours that peak at the end of October, and it's sometimes referred to as the best place for autumn hiking in Kyushu.
Elevation Change
➚ ➘ 1800m
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Trail Summary
Mt. Sobo is a Hyakumeizan located on the border of Oita and Miyazaki prefectures in Kyushu. It's part of a large mountain range that includes two other fantastic peaks, Mt. Okue and Mt. Katamuki. In terms of terrain, Mt. Sobo is actually the least impressive of the 3 peaks, but it receives more attention due to its Hyakumeizan status, it's also an easier hike. It's situated close to the popular Takachiho gorge and has many different trailheads leading to the peak, our guide focuses on the two most popular options.
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Trail Summary
Mt. Kaimon, or Kaimondake, is a prominent volcano that rises from the ocean on the southern end of Kagoshima in Kyushu. It's a dormant stratovolcano that last erupted in the 9th century and hasn't seen much activity since. There is only one trail, which eventually twirls up the peak, and provides sweeping views over Kagoshima. Two-thirds of the hike is spent in a heavily eroded dry creek bed, with dirt walls towering around you - this means there is no wind so it can become very hot during the summer period, from June to August. But after this, the terrain evolves into a fun rocky trail, featuring the occasional rope to assist with climbing.
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Trail Summary
Yakushima is a subtropical island south of Kyushu famous for its unique mountainous landscape filled with stunning rainforests and ancient cedar trees known as Yakusugi. It features a beautiful old railway that meanders along the river, providing hikers with a picturesque trail unlike anything else. This railway continues for 8km before turning into a well-maintained hiking trail that eventually leads to Jomon Sugi, said to be the oldest tree on the island. Yakushima is also known as the rainiest place in Japan, locals often joke that it rains 40 days every month. However, the rain creates a beautiful atmosphere, so just be prepared and you'll have a wonderful experience.
Mt. Miyanoura is the highest mountain on Yakushima and is part of the Hyakumeizan, it can be completed as an out-and-back day hike with a car, or an overnight loop hike with public transport. The trails are well maintained and feature occasional ropes, deer, monkeys, and some huge boulders which can be quite fun to climb.
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