Mount Taisen Hiking Trail

Magnificent Mount Taisen, loved by an ancient feudal lord

Hike up Mount Taisen (1,786 m) to discover why this mountain was one feudal lord's favorite.

*Bus service is temporarily unavailable.

From June to November, you can catch a bus that runs from Kusumi Kogen Palclub Resort to the Ikekubo bus stop. From there, it's a 40-minute hike to the Iriyamakobyo Cemetery. This is the final resting place of the Nakagawa clan, feudal lords said to have loved Mount Taisen, and the particular favorite of Nakagawa Kiyohisa. From the cemetery, continue your hike past the Toriikubo hollow. The climbing trail will rise sharply just before Mount Taisen comes into full view. As you pass Tenguiwa Rock, the slope eases. Here you'll be able to see Oike Pond and its environs. The summit of Mount Taisen is just a little further on.

If you choose not to take the bus from Kusumi Kogen Palclub Resort, the climb from the trailhead at Gokurakuji Temple will take about three and a half hours.

Highlights

The highest burial ground of a feudal lord in Japan

Mount Hitome Iriyamakobyo Cemetery

Nakagawa Kiyohisa was the third feudal lord of the Oka domain, who took on the name Iriyamako after he retired. It is said that Iriyamako loved Mount Taisen. He climbed it often and even prepared a burial spot for himself with a view of the mountain. The stone steps and stone lanterns of this burial ground have been carefully restored.

The warm autumnal scenery of Oike Pond

Oike Pond

Oike Pond is a crater lake directly below the summit of Mount Taisen. It is the only standing water found inside the remains of Mount Taisen's volcanic crater. The pond is particularly beautiful in October when the fall foliage around the lake is reflected in the water. The surface of the pond appears to turn bright red with reflections of maples and shrubs called dodan-tsutsuji (Enkianthus perulatus).

Blooms of Kyushu azaleas reach to the summit

Mount Taisen

In June, Kyushu azaleas form a huge pink carpet along a ridge running between Mount Taisen, Danbaru and Kitataisen. The colonies of azaleas making up this carpet are among the largest in the Kuju mountain range, and they have been designated a Natural Monument of Japan.

Trail Map

Mount Taisen Hiking Trail

Click to Expand Map