Explore Unzen, Japan’s Hidden Gem for Hiking and Hot Springs

The Best Hiking Trails on Unzen

At 4,458 feet tall, Fugendake is one of Unzen’s main peaks. It is a popular destination for those who want to get close to its formidable neighbor and see the towns sprawling out to the sea below. A practical point, if you’re visiting from overseas and are relying on AllTrails to navigate your way around (local tip, YAMAP is the Japanese and much more detailed equivalent), then Fugendake is also the best recorded and well-marked.

Before trekking up the mountain, it is worth swinging by the Unzen Visitor Center in town to pocket a few loose maps and collect some pointers from the local experts. Conversations with locals, experts included, may require a little Google Translate if you don’t speak Japanese, so get that data roaming. The trailhead starts from near the car park and is situated a short drive up the mountain. To get there, punch “Nita Pass” into the GPS.

As you head up the mountain, one major trail splits off as you get close to the peak, although it’s an out-and-back route. There are little backroads, routes for locals, and one key route that gets you to the top. A note: according to Uznen locals, the parks put in a few small “toilet trails” that shoot off the main track to offer a little public privacy when nature calls. You should not be adventurous and assume these unmarked trails are secret trails because, according to the local park rangers you wouldn’t be the first person to get lost. I was told that a man called the police after thinking he was lost, but he was only about 20 meters from the trail. As you can assume, it was talk of the town for a week or so.

The difficulty level of the hike can vary depending on the routes you decide to take, but it is generally considered to be moderate to challenging. The biggest challenge is uneven terrain, steep slopes, and dipping clouds that can impair your views.

Legth-wise, though, it’s what the Japanese would call “asameshimae” (translate: “a piece of cake” or more literally “before breakfast” as in it’s so easy you can get it done “before breakfast.” Leave by around 10am and you’ll make it for lunch up top.

Source: https://www.fieldmag.com/articles/mount-unzen-onsen-japan-hiking-guide