Mount Karakuni - Miyazaki, Japan
The timing for transportation wasn’t great—I had to wait about an hour at Kirishima Jingu Station for the bus to Ebino Kogen. I bought a 1-Day bus pass since a one-way ride was much more expensive, making the pass a good deal.
Mt. Karakuni’s elevation is 1,700m, but the trailhead starts at 1,200m, so the elevation gain wasn’t too bad. Before starting, I filled out the hiking registration. The trail had some snow but was well-marked and not too difficult overall.
Looking back, the panoramic view of the Ebino Plateau and the distant volcano was stunning. As I approached the summit, I could see the crater lake in the distance. Instead of returning the same way, I planned to descend toward the crater lake. Intending to take a break at the summit, but the temperature dropped significantly at the summit, so I didn’t stay long.
The initial descent toward Lake Onami was steep—about a 49% slope—with loose volcanic rock, making it extremely dangerous. It took a long time to cover just 1km. Once I reached the wooden stairs, it became easier, though some steps had large gaps or were rotten, so I still had to be cautious.
Further down, the trail improved but got muddier. I made a half-loop around the lake and exited from the Lake Onami Trailhead. I reached the bus stop with 15 minutes to spare, where I found a volcano shelter with informative guides about the volcano and crater lake. I read through them while eating snacks, making sure not to miss the second-to-last bus out of the area.
Route Overview
Distance: 8.21 km (Ebino Kogen Visitor Centre → Lake Onami Trailhead)
Total elevation gain: 624 m
Duration: 3 hr 19 min (with breaks 3 hr 28 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Peaks: Mt Karakuni 韓国岳 1,700 m, Onami Crater Lake 大浪池 1,411 m
Cost Breakdown
Train: Kagoshima Chuo Station → Kirishima Jingu Station — ¥2,080
Kirishima 1-Day Bus Pass: ¥1,100
Food: ¥200
