Mt. Taharayama 田原山

A dramatic ridge-top scramble scaling some steep boulders and taking in views of the southern Kunisaki peninsula and Beppu Bay. Not for the faint-hearted or those of a nervous disposition… confident footing a must (especially when wet), and I’d recommend having enough upper-body strength to trust yourself climbing over boulders (with hand and foot holds and chains, of course). Route can be combined with visiting Kumano Magaibutsu (Giant stone Buddha). Kaze no Sato onsen, just down the road, was a really unexpected treat.

We went on a grey and drizzly day. See link below for someone else’s sunny pictures! We loved it despite the rain.

Where: Kitsuki, Oita prefecture

Altitude: Highest point around 510m, trail head at around 300m. Lots of up and down.

Duration: The sign in the carpark says 3 hours for round-trip. Possible to do it in 2 if you don’t take a break.

Car park: https://goo.gl/maps/gmdWetdGeyJeaQ3X6 Car park has toilets and a trail map, in Japanese. Trail starts on the other side of the road.

Onsen: Kaze no Sato. Calcium hot spring with indoor and outdoor baths. Carbonated bath, cold plunge pool, sauna, outdoor air temperature bath. Shampoo, conditioner and body wash provided. Beautiful cypress and granite baths, outdoor bath covered in snowy white mineral build-up. https://goo.gl/maps/R3gmc8rr12nVVXfL6

More info (in Japanese) and pictures here: https://yamap.com/activities/5422759?fbclid=IwAR3BgIty4xyAgpP_OvdAh_7V6PZhLubjZwDTytjFOFQe5pPXngaAdGWWkiQ