高千穂峰 - Takachiho - Kirishimayama Volcanic Group - 3/8/2025

My Experience: After departing Unzen (Heisei Shinzan), I took the same route I took previously about 1.5 year before heading to Taira Station 多比良駅 which is the ferry terminal over to Kumamoto. Easy ferry ride over with a short nap along the way, then drive south to arrive (and stay) in Kirishima at the APA HOTEL KAGOSHIMA-KOKUBU アパホテル〈鹿児島国分. As usual, great easy stay at APA, however was disappointed they did not have a public bath.

The next morning I left early at around 630 AM and after stopping for gas, arrived at Takachiho-gawara 高千穂河原 which is the starting point or trailhead for the Mt. Takachiho 高千穂峰 and Ohachi 御鉢 hike. After more driving than hiking this trip, I hiked roughly 6km top to bottom in about 2 hours 30 minutes pretty much running the trail to the top.

It was a mix of sleet and wet snow at first until I arrived at higher elevation. The first part of the trail is stone walk way with steps which ends after about maybe 400-500 meters where you will arrive at very loose volcanic pumice and gravel. around this section it was all snow and very little visibility which I will show more once I publish the Youtube video.

The bronze spear at the peak of Mount Takachiho-no-Mine is said to belong to Ninigi no Mikoto—the grandson of the Sun Goddess in Japanese mythology (this are is roped off by-the-way so no access). He reportedly thrust it into the ground following his descent from the heavens. The spear is a treasure of Kirishima-Higashi-jinja Shrine, located at the foot of the mountain. The spear is mentioned in Sakamoto Ryoma's Kirishima Climbing Records, and in other writings by famous literary figures of the Edo Period (1603-1867).

My hike path is locate here: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/morning-hike-at-mount-karakuni-onami-ike-crater-lake-loop-d395771

There are some routes that show looping around Ohachi crater however it was roped off (likely because of snow and visibility). I will defintiely one day return to hike the area from end-to-end.

Demographics:

• Volcano No.- K09
• Volcano name - Kirishima Yama
• Volcano No. **K09
• Geologic code **Q3m
• Main activity period - Chibanian (Middle Pleistocene) - Holocene
• Activity period / recent activity ***From 0.3 Ma.
• Latest eruption: AD 2018
• Volcano type - Composite (compound) volcano, Pyroclastic cone, Lava dome, Maar
• Representative rock type - Intermediate
• Main rock type ****Andesite, Dacite
• Height above sea level- 1700 m (Karakunidake)
• Location (Prefecture)KAGOSHIMA, MIYAZAKI N. Latitude (WGS84)31.9342E. Longitude (WGS84)130.8614
• Active volcano name by JMA - Kirishimayama
• Record of eruption & disaster... 

- 788: Subplinian eruptions (Ohachi): Lava flows and pyroclastic flows.

- 1112, 1167, 1184: Eruptive activity (Ohachi).

- 1235: Subplinian eruptions (Ohachi): Lava flows and pyroclastic flows.

- 1524, 1554: Eruptive activity (Ohachi).

- 1566: Eruptive activity (Ohachi): Many fatalities.

- 1574, 1576-1578, 1585, 1587, 1588, 1598-1600, 1613-1614, 1615-1618, 1628, 1637-1638, 1659-1661, 1662-1664, 1677-1678: Eruptive activity (Ohachi).

- 1706: Eruptive activity (Ohachi).

- 11 Mar 1716: Phreatic eruptions (Shinmoe Dake): Ash fallout and lahars.

- 9 Nov 1716-13 Feb 1717: Subplinian eruptions (Shinmoe Dake): Pumice fallout. Pyroclastic flows resulting in 6 fatalities. Ca. 730 houses burnt.

- 19 Sep 1717: Subplinian eruptions (Shinmoe Dake): Pumice fallout and pyroclastic flows.

- 1768: Eruptive activity (Ohachi), Collapse at Karakunidake.

- 1771-1772: Subplinian eruptions (Shinmoe Dake): Pumice fallout and pyroclastic flows.

- 12 Jan 1822: Subplinian eruptions (Shinmoe Dake): Pumice fallout and pyroclastic flows.

- 20 Apr 1832: Eruptive activity (Shinmo Dake?).

- Sep 1880: Eruptive activity (Ohachi).

- May 1887, Feb and 5 May 1888: Eruptive activity (Ohachi).

- Dec 1889, Jun 1891, Nov 1891, Feb 1894, Jul and 10 and 18 Dec 1895: Eruptive activity (Ohachi): Ash fallout.

- 16 Oct 1895: Eruptive activity (Ohachi): Ash fallout resulting in 4 fatalities. 22 houses burnt.

- 18 Dec 1895: Eruptive activity (Ohachi): Ash fallout.

- 15 Mar 1896: Eruptive activity (Ohachi): 1 fatality.

- 1896-1899: Sporadic eruptive activity (Ohachi).

- 16 Feb 1900: Eruptive activity (Ohachi): 2 fatalities.

- Aug and Nov 1903: Eruptive activity (Ohachi).

- Nov 1913-Jan 1914: Three eruptive activities (Ohachi): Ash fallout.

- 1923: Eruptive activity (Ohachi): 1 fatality.

- 17 Feb 1959: Phreatic eruptions (Shinmoe Dake): Ash fallout.

- Dec 1991-Feb 1992: Ash cloud: Minor ash fallout.

- 22 Aug 2008: Phreatic eruptions (Shinmoe Dake): Ash fallout.（new small craters and fissures were formed inside and wesitern slope of Shinmoedake Crater)

- 30 Mar, 17 Apr, 26 Jun, 5 and 10 Jul 2010: Very minor phreatic eruptions (Shinmoe Dake): Ash fallout.

- 19 Jan 2011: Magmatophreatic eruption (Shinmoe Dake): Ash fallout.

- 26 and 27 Jan 2011: Eruption (Shinmoe Dake): Subplinian eruptions: Pumice fallout and minor pyroclastic flows.Vulcanian eruptions (8 times) from 27 Jan to 3 Feb. 28 Jan: Lava inside the crater. Vulcanian eruptions (6 times) and ash eruptions (14 times) from 4 Feb to 18 Apr.

- From May to Oct 2011: Ash eruptions (non-exposive, 6 times).

- 26? Apr 2017: A new fumarole formed (Io Yama): Minor mud ejection.

- 11-17 Oct 2017: Ash eruption (Shinmoe Dake): Ash fallout.

- From 1 Mar 2018: Ash eruption (Shinmoe Dake): Ash fallout.

- From 6 Mar 2018: Vulcanian eruptions and appearance of lava inside the crater (Shinmoe Dake), 9 Mar: lava overflowed from the NW crater rim (until the end of March, lava flow stopped).

- 25 Mar & 5 Apr 2018: Small-scale pyroclastic flows.

- 19 and 25 Apr 2018: Very minor phreatic eruptions (Io Yama).

-14 May, 22 & 27 Jun 2018: Vulcanian eruptions (Shinmoedake): Ash fallout.

Additional comments - The Kirishima Volcano Group comprises several volcanoes including Karakunidake, Shinmoedake and Takachihonomine. Ohachi, Shinmoedake and Ioyama are active during historic time. (Source: GSJ)

About:

Kirishima Mountains (霧島山, Kirishima-yama) are a 1700 meter high active volcano group in Kagoshima Prefecture and Miyazaki Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan. Numerous eruptions have been recorded since 742. Very strong eruptions happened in 788, 1716 and 1717. Augite-hypersthene andesite is the dominant rock type.

The highest peak is Karakuni-dake (韓国岳, Karakunidake) (1700 m). Its name literally means "Korea Peak"; it was once believed to be so high that the Korean Peninsula could be seen from its summit. Other peaks include the sacred and often fabled in national foundation mythology, Takachiho-no-mine (高千穂峰) (1573 m) as well as Shinmoedake (新燃岳), both active volcanoes. They are part of Kirishima-Yaku National Park near Kirishima City. Legend via oldest extant texts state the summit of Takachiho was stuck the mysterious spear Ama-no-Sakahoko, by the legendary Ninigi-no-Mikoto.

Mount Kirishima is considered one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains. The area is often foggy, and it is believed that the name Kirishima comes from the mountain looking like an island in the fog.

The Kongō-class battlecruiser Kirishima of the Imperial Japanese Navy, and the Kongō-class guided missile destroyer Kirishima of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force were both named after this mountain.

Shinmoedake is the most active of the Mount Kirishima volcanoes, having erupted in January 2011, March 2011, October 2017, and April 2018.

The region as well as areas downstream is in the path of expanding Meiyu front from the continent, during the East Asian rainy season, potentially unleashing flash flooding and landslides during this time. (Source: Wikipedia)

Geologic Summary:

Kirishimayama is a large group of more than 20 Quaternary volcanoes located north of Kagoshima Bay. The late-Pleistocene to Holocene dominantly andesitic group consists of stratovolcanoes, pyroclastic cones, maars, and underlying shield volcanoes located over an area of 20 x 30 km. The larger stratovolcanoes are scattered throughout the field, with the centrally located Karakunidake being the highest. Onamiike and Miike, the two largest maars, are located SW of Karakunidake and at its far eastern end, respectively. Holocene eruptions have been concentrated along an E-W line of vents from Miike to Ohachi, and at Shinmoedake to the NE. Frequent small-to-moderate explosive eruptions have been recorded since the 8th century. (Source: Global Volcanism Program)