Mount Karakuni and Onamiike Crater Lake Hiking Trail

A volcanic peak and Japan's highest crater lake

This hiking course starts at the Ebino Eco-museum Center, which is a great place to get the latest information on hiking conditions. The route takes you across Ebino Highland to Mount Karakuni (1,700 m). After you pass by the Third Station, you'll have a great view of Ebino Highland. At the Fifth Station, you can see Onamiike Crater Lake, Kinkowan Bay and Mount Sakurajima (1,117 m).

Once you reach the summit of Mount Karakuni, Mount Shinmoe (1,421 m) and Mount Takachiho-no-Mine (1,574 m) will be visible. In late spring, Kyushu azaleas bloom around Mount Karakuni's summit. Take the wooden walkway from the peak down to Onamiike Crater Lake, where you can ramble all the way around the rim of the crater. The lake's deep blue color and the green hues of the broadleaf forest create a memorable scene. The colorful contrasts grow even stronger when the leaves turn in the fall.

Highlights

Mount Shinmoe and Mount Takachiho-no-Mine

The view from Mount Karakuni's summit

Mount Karakuni is the highest peak in Kirishima-Kinkowan National Park, standing at 1,700 meters. It has a volcanic crater that is 900 meters in diameter and 300 meters deep. The view near the summit is breathtaking, and if the weather is nice, you can see views of Kinkowan Bay, Mount Sakurajima and the distant Mount Kaimon. You can also see Mount Shinmoe’s crater and Mount Takachiho-no-Mine, both of which are part of the Kirishima mountain range, along with Mount Karakuni. It takes just 90 minutes to reach the summit of Mount Karakuni from Ebino Highland, so it is a popular mountain to climb in the early morning to catch the sunrise.

Kyushu azaleas in bloom

Kyushu azaleas across the Kirishima mountain range

From mid-May to mid-June, Kyushu azaleas (Miyama Kirishima) bloom across large expanses of the Kirishima mountain range and have become a symbol of this area. The Kyushu azalea shrubs are especially large between the Sixth Station and the summit of Mount Karakuni. The best time to see them is in the early morning when dew condenses on the petals and makes the flowers even lovelier.

Onamiike Crater Lake

Japan's highest crater lake

Onamiike Crater Lake on Mount Karakuni ranks as Japan's highest crater lake at an elevation of 1,411 meters. The crater's circumference is about 1.9 kilometers, and you can walk all the way around in about 90 minutes. In winter, the lake usually freezes over completely. The spider-shaped flowers of Japanese witch hazel bloom in spring, while early summer brings the vivid pink blooms of Kyushu azaleas. In fall, the lake's surface mirrors the colorful autumnal foliage along the shore.

Trail Map

Mount Karakuni and Onamiike Crater Lake Hiking Trail

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