Mt. Kinugasa Hiking Trail

The trail to the top of Mt. Kinugasa at 870 meters is the most accessible hike from Unzen Onsen Town and has been popular for over a century. In the late nineteenth century, Western vacationers climbed it so often for sunset views over Tachibana Bay that it became known as Sunset Hill. After sheep grazing ended post-World War II, forest reclaimed the old pastures. The summit observation deck rises above the treeline with 360-degree views: volcanic peaks and hot springs to the east, the bay to the west. At the foot of the mountain, Shirakumo Pond dates to the Edo period, with a stone washbasin and old cypress trees suggesting past religious use.