Kurikoma Highland Autumn Foliage: Golden Mountain Colors Said to Be Tohoku's Finest

Kurikoma Autumn Foliage

Kurikoma Mountain (1,626m) straddling Akita, Iwate, and Miyagi is called the "King of Tohoku Autumn Foliage." The mountain's transformation into a brocade of autumn colors during the short window from late September to mid-October is breathtaking, drawing many foliage fans. The colors woven from the red of rowan, the yellow of Erman's birch and the green of creeping pine are known as the "Carpet of the Gods," and are famous throughout Japan as an autumn landscape representing Tohoku.

The Origin of the Name and What Each Prefecture Calls It

The name "Kurikoma" is said to come from the fact that as the snow melts away in spring, a snow pattern resembling a horse (koma) soaring through the heavens emerges on the mountainside on the Miyagi side. Even though it is one mountain, the name differs by prefecture: on the Iwate side it is also called "Sukawadake," after Sukawa Onsen, famous for its strongly acidic water. It is counted among Japan's 200 Famous Mountains, and Kyuya Fukada, author of "One Hundred Famous Japanese Mountains," rated it so highly that he remarked he perhaps should have included it among the hundred.

Highlights

• Summit-area Foliage: Color change begins near the summit in late September
• Iwakagami-daira (Miyagi Side): Base camp on the Kurihara, Miyagi side of Mt. Kurikoma. During the foliage season there are private-car restrictions and a shuttle bus service
• Sukawa Onsen (Iwate Side): Unique strongly acidic hot spring combined with autumn foliage
• "Divine Carpet": Colloquial name for the period when foliage covers the entire mountain. The gradation of red, yellow and green is spectacular

Hiking Information

• Beginner Course: Iwakagami-daira to summit and back: about 4-5 hours
• Sukawa Course: Sukawa Onsen (Iwate side) to summit and back: about 4 hours
• Because the foliage peak shifts with elevation, you can enjoy it over a longer period between the mid-slopes and the summit

Best Season

The peak of the autumn foliage is usually from late September to early October. The area near the summit colors first, and by mid-October the foliage front comes down to the foot of the mountain. The parking lots fill up early on weekend mornings, so visiting on a weekday or early in the morning is recommended.

Getting There

• Akita Side: National Route 342 to the Sukawa highlands in Higashinaruse Village, the Akita-side trailhead near Kurikoma Sanso (closed in winter)
• Miyagi Side: From Kurihara via the Tsukidate-Kurikoma Park prefectural road to Iwakagami-daira (car required; traffic is restricted at the height of the foliage season)
• Iwate Side: Bus from Ichinoseki Station to Sukawa Onsen (confirm schedule)

Tips

Foliage peak varies by year - gather information early. The summit is cold even in summer; warm layers are essential. After coming down from the mountain, easing your fatigue at Sukawa Onsen or one of the hot springs at the foot of Kurikoma is recommended.

Practical Information

• Access restrictions (typical years; Iwakagami-daira / Kurihara City, Miyagi side): At the height of the foliage season there are traffic restrictions to counter congestion, and the stretch from in front of the former Ikoi-no-Mura Kurikoma site to the Iwakagami-daira parking lot (Tsukidate-Kurikoma Park prefectural road) is closed to private cars 24 hours a day. In 2026 (Reiwa 8) this is scheduled from 5 p.m. on September 30 to 5 p.m. on October 18.
• Shuttle bus (typical years): During the restriction period, a shuttle bus runs from the temporary parking lot at the former Ikoi-no-Mura Kurikoma site to Iwakagami-daira. In 2026 it runs from October 1 to October 18, operating from 6:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (a ride of about 20 minutes; the last uphill service departs at 2:30 p.m. and the last downhill service at 3:00 p.m.). The temporary parking lot holds about 700 vehicles, and from fiscal 2026 part of it will be set aside as a reservation area. Service may be cancelled in bad weather or when there is a risk of disaster.
• Environmental protection cooperation fee: When boarding the shuttle bus, a cooperation fee of 1,000 yen per person is requested (from fiscal 2026 this also applies at 1,000 yen per person to those arriving by tour bus or microbus).
• Hot spring after the descent (Sukawa Onsen Kurikoma Sanso / Higashinaruse Village, Akita Prefecture): Day-trip drop-in bathing is 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (last admission 16:00), at 1,000 yen for adults, 650 yen for elementary school children, and free for children below elementary school age. The plan including use of the large tatami rest hall is 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at 1,600 yen for adults and 1,000 yen for elementary school children. During the foliage season, hours may be shortened due to water shortages.
• Inquiries: 0228-22-1151 (Kurihara City, Industry and Economy Department, Rural Tourism Division, Tourism Exchange Section) / 0182-47-5111 (Sukawa Onsen Kurikoma Sanso)
• Official information: Kurihara City Tourism and Products Association official tourism site "Gyugyutto Kurihara" (Mt. Kurikoma traffic congestion measures); Sukawa Onsen Kurikoma Sanso official website

*The above is based on information published by each facility and local government. Hours and fees are subject to change, so please check official sources before visiting.*