[Image1]Beginner-friendly! Hike Mt. Kuradake from the 9th stationMt. Kuradake sits in Kyokushi, Kikuchi City
[Image2]Beginner-friendly! Hike Mt. Kuradake from the 9th stationMt. Kuradake sits in Kyokushi, Kikuchi City
[Image3]Beginner-friendly! Hike Mt. Kuradake from the 9th stationMt. Kuradake sits in Kyokushi, Kikuchi City
[Image4]Beginner-friendly! Hike Mt. Kuradake from the 9th stationMt. Kuradake sits in Kyokushi, Kikuchi City
[Image5]Beginner-friendly! Hike Mt. Kuradake from the 9th stationMt. Kuradake sits in Kyokushi, Kikuchi City
[Image6]Beginner-friendly! Hike Mt. Kuradake from the 9th stationMt. Kuradake sits in Kyokushi, Kikuchi City
[Image7]Beginner-friendly! Hike Mt. Kuradake from the 9th stationMt. Kuradake sits in Kyokushi, Kikuchi City
[Image8]Beginner-friendly! Hike Mt. Kuradake from the 9th stationMt. Kuradake sits in Kyokushi, Kikuchi City

Beginner-friendly! Hike Mt. Kuradake from the 9th station

Mt. Kuradake sits in Kyokushi, Kikuchi City, Kumamoto Prefecture.
Its appeal is that you can drive up to the 9th station and reach the summit in about a 30-minute walk, making it an easy outing.
The mountain takes its name from the saddle-like shape you see from the foothills.

There are several routes to suit different abilities, including the Forest Course, the Panorama Course, and the East Trailhead Course (9th station).
Hikers from beginners to advanced enjoy this mountain.

From the summit you get a 360-degree panorama.
You can take in sweeping views of the Five Peaks of Aso, the Kuju Mountains in Oita, and Unzen in Nagasaki.

Wildflowers bloom along the way, offering seasonal variety.
Signposts and markers make the route relatively easy to follow.

Relax at the summit with a packed lunch or a cup of coffee.

It’s also a great spot to watch the first sunrise of the year on New Year’s Day.

https://kikuchikanko.ne.jp/archives/featured/kuratake...

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御来光を望むのにも最適!360度の大パノラマ!9合目から行ける鞍岳登山 | 菊池観光協会
熊本県菊池市旭志にある「鞍岳」。御来光を望むのにも最適です。9合目まで車で行くことができ、歩いて30分ほどで頂上に行けるお手軽登山ができる山です。標高は1,118m。
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Nov. 2, 2025
Mindfulness tourism was held at Kikuchi Gorge in Kikuchi City, Kumamoto Prefecture. We offered the ultimate retreat in nature’s clear streams to maximize mental and physical performance. Away from everyday noise, participants enjoyed a special experience that sharpened the five senses while feeling the breath of nature. The program featured mindfulness walking incorporating meditation and breathing techniques. Participants walked through Kikuchi Gorge together with a resident priest. At each spot, people quietly faced nature—lying on rocks, sitting in zazen, or otherwise pausing in reflection. In the calm atmosphere, attendees refreshed their minds and bodies and seemed to find new insights. On the first day, we held “Mindfulness Walking and a Tea Ceremony.” A tea master conducted a tea gathering within Kikuchi Gorge. The water of Kikuchi Gorge was used for the tea. In the silent morning space, guests settled their minds and quietly enjoyed delicious tea. On the second day, participants experienced “Mindfulness Walking and a Breakfast Gathering.” They ate breakfast in the crisp morning air while sensing the surrounding nature. They enjoyed their meal in a relaxed, peaceful state. The dishes used the soft water from Kikuchi Gorge, offering clay-pot rice and meals made with local Kikuchi ingredients. Everyone seemed to enjoy the experience in their own way. By walking and touching nature in the morning, many said they were able to forget work worries and busyness. The matcha tea ceremony eased tired bodies, and the sound of the clear stream sharpened both hearing and taste. Meditating in nature with the murmur of the river and the cool air felt pleasant. Freshly cooked rice in a clay pot and nameko mushroom soup warmed body and soul; the dishes were elaborate, truly delicious, and left guests very satisfied. These were among many comments we received. It was a luxurious time to experience Kikuchi’s food, nature, and moments of self-reflection with the five senses. Instead of letting a day pass by unnoticed, participants seemed to appreciate spending time in nature solely for themselves.