Mt. Karakuni 韓国岳

Near Ebino in Miyazaki's northeast, Mt. Karakuni is the tallest mountain in Kirishima-Kinkowan National Park , standing at 1,700 meters above sea level. It's a relatively easy climb for most people and the visual rewards, both along the trail and from the top at the crater, make it a very special place.

You can access the mountain by car.

Access to Kirishima-Kinkowan National Park is via Kirishima Jingu Station or Kobayashi Station. If you're coming by car, you can use the expressway and pay a toll, or use local roads. From Miyazaki, the drive is just over 90 minutes.

Mt. Karakuni is part of a highly volcanic area, which means you will see many incredible crater lakes with rich, blue colors along the way.

In the winter, start hiking early in the morning so you can see all the overnight ice hanging from the tree branches.

The main carpark that leads to Mt. Karakuni is 1,200 meters above sea level. This means it's only another 500 meters to the peak. Hiking shoes are advised, especially in winter, but sneakers are fine in the summer months.

It takes about two hours to get to the top, and about an hour and a half back down.

There are 23 mountain peaks in the area, so you can easily take a few days to explore others, such as Mt. Kirishima . There are many small hotels you can stay in, and many have natural onsen hot springs.