I’m staying in Kumamoto for a week and I’m absolutely in love with the nature here and want to do around 3 hikes in the area.
Of course Mt. Aso is my top priority and i was trying to go tomorrow, but the official website showed that it closed down because of volcanic activity today. So i’m hoping the activity will calm down and I can go at the end of the week.
But right now i’m kinda in doubt where to go. There are so many beautiful places to hike but most are not easily reachable by train/bus from Kumamoto. I’ve been searching for hours and the best options I’ve got are taking the Shinkansen to Kagoshima and then go to Sakurajima. Even though I prefer other hikes this is the one that’s easily reachable by train.
A hike I really want to do is at the Kuju mountains. A bus that departs from Kumamoto at 7:30 AM arrives at “Makinoto Pass Trailhead (Mt. Kutsukake)” at 11:50 AM. The only downside is I will only have 4.5 hours to hike here as the last bus to Kumamoto leaves at 3:30 PM. I kinda don’t feel like taking the risk of missing that bus and having to stay the night in the wilderness with 0 supplies.
Anybody who can recommend some hikes that are reachable by train/bus with better times? Or just some other advice on hiking the Kyushu prefecture (especially around Kumamoto)? Any recommendations or tips are welcome 🙂
by VoorhuidWasser
5 comments
Mt. Kinpo may not be as long/high but it’s just right outside Kumamoto City so hopefully not too far out of your way! [https://kumamoto-guide.jp/en/spots/detail/94](https://kumamoto-guide.jp/en/spots/detail/94)
Unfortunately in Kyushu, the public transport isn’t great for hiking trails.
Your options are:
1. restrict your hikes to public transportation schedules
2. rent a car.
3. Stay in the area , a hotel , a hostel or those country ryokans.
4. taxi
A rental car will give you more freedom to hike. Staying in the area means you can hike/walk all around however long you want until check out.
I did walk around and hike Sakurajima to Yunohira Observation Point when I stayed on Sakurajima because I didn’t want to drive. For Kuju, there’s probably some accommodations nearby around.
Can’t you rent a car?
Not rlly an advice but i really recommend exploring the takamori side of mount aso as well as the beach area of uto it has a very nice view and peaceful atmosphere .
I was just there last week and i love it
I hike all over Kyushu using only public transportation or bicycling (though I have a tent).
You can make Kuju an overnight trip by staying at Hokkein Onsen Sanso.
Start from Makinoto, hit Kuju and Nakadake and hike down to the hut.
You can hike Mount Taisen (Taisenzan) the next morning even before hiking out to Chojabaru (bus stop is alternately called Kuju Tozanguchi) to catch the bus back.
I’m seeing a bus that gets to Makinoto just after 11 btw.