Kuju Mountains Autumn Trekking — Autumn Colors Painting the Roof of Kyushu

The Kuju Mountains, rising to 1,791 meters at Nakadake's summit, are the highest peaks on Kyushu's main island and one of the finest autumn trekking destinations in Japan. When maples, mountain ash, and dwarf bamboo turn crimson across the plateau in late October, the Kuju highlands become a painting in motion — clouds and color shifting with every hour of light.

Highlights

The Kuju Mountains form part of the Aso-Kuju National Park and are accessible from multiple trailheads. The Makizono-Maki trailhead and Chojabaru Visitor Center area are the most popular starting points. The highland plateau (around 1,400 meters) opens after an initial climb through beech forest, revealing a broad landscape of volcanic peaks, autumn-colored shrubs, and distant views to Aso and the sea. The Handa and Sogamaruyama areas turn particularly vivid crimson. The Makinoto Pass and Sugatami Pond are classic waypoints. Summit trekking to Nakadake, Kujusan, and Hoshitoge requires no technical skill but does demand proper footwear and clothing. Miyama Kirishima azaleas create a second bloom event in June, covering the open plateau in pink.

Getting There & Tips

From Oita or Kumamoto, take a bus or rental car to Chojabaru Visitor Center (the most accessible trailhead). The center provides trail maps, weather forecasts, and restroom facilities. Standard day hikes take 4–7 hours depending on route. Bring waterproofs as mountain weather changes quickly. The season is cold — temperatures at 1,400+ meters can drop below 5°C in October.

Best Time to Visit

Autumn color peaks late October to early November. June brings the famous azalea bloom. Snow dusts the peaks from December to February, when experienced hikers can enjoy winter alpine landscapes. Summer trekking (July–August) is cooler than lowland Kyushu but can be misty.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Best time to visit: According to the official Oita Prefecture tourism information website, the autumn leaves usually begin to turn around mid-October and are at their best from late October to mid-November (colouring descends in order from the summits to the foothills). The Ministry of the Environment describes the scenery of "Miike in October", when maples and enkianthus are reflected on the surface of Miike, the crater lake just below the summit of Mount Taisen. Miyama-kirishima azaleas usually bloom from late May to mid-June.
• Prices: Admission to the Chojabaru Visitor Center is free (pushchairs and wheelchairs can be borrowed free of charge).
• Access: Drive to the trailheads (Makinoto Pass, Chojabaru and others) from the Oita and Beppu side or from the Aso side. The Tadewara Marshland walking course takes about 45 minutes from the Chojabaru Visitor Center, and the Mount Taisen course takes about 4 hours 15 minutes (Ministry of the Environment). There is also a route to Mount Taisen of about three and a half hours from the Gakurokuji trailhead.
• What to wear and bring: The ridges are windy, and because the peaks are around 1,700 m high the temperature differs greatly from that on level ground. Bring windproof and warm clothing, rain gear, a headlamp, and plenty of water and snacks. From late autumn into winter there is rime ice and freezing, so crampons or other anti-slip equipment become necessary. Submit a climbing plan and avoid walking alone.

*[Most important safety information] The Kuju mountain range (Mount Kuju) is an active volcano for which the Japan Meteorological Agency has issued "Eruption Warning Level 1 (be aware that this is an active volcano)". High-temperature volcanic gas is emitted from the fumaroles of Mount Io, and volcanic activity is said to have possibly risen slightly over the long term. Do not approach the fumarole areas, and if you smell volcanic gas, retreat upwind. Always check the Japan Meteorological Agency's volcano information (eruption warnings and forecasts and explanatory information) before you climb. *Trail conditions change from time to time. The "Trail News" page of the Chojabaru Visitor Center announces such things as the closure of the Gakurokuji and Ichibanmizu trailheads because of rockfalls and washed-out paths caused by heavy rain, the collapse of the trail between Maedake and Takatsuka, and the closure of the Imamizu-Yanagigamizu trail (due to forest logging work) (as of 2026). Check the latest information before you set out. *The grassland scenery of Tadewara Marshland and Bogatsuru is maintained by the "noyaki" controlled burning carried out each year in March and April. Around the days when it takes place, access to the area and passage along the trails may be restricted, so check announcements from Kokonoe Town, Taketa City and the Chojabaru Visitor Center in advance.

(Sources: the Japan Meteorological Agency's "Volcanic Activity Status (Mount Kuju)" and eruption forecasts, the Ministry of the Environment's Aso-Kuju National Park pages "Tadewara Marshland Walking Course" and "Mount Taisen Course", the Chojabaru Visitor Center's "Trail News", the official Oita Prefecture tourism information website (Visit Oita) information on autumn leaves and Miyama-kirishima azaleas, and Taketa City's "Miyama-kirishima Flowering Information for Reiwa 8 (2026)")

• Contact: Kamenoi Bus Yufuin Station Bus Center 0977-84-3145 / Chojabaru Visitor Center 0973-79-2154