Since living in Tohoku, I’ve had many chances to indulge in what nature has to offer. Iwate Prefecture has some of the most stunning mountains; one I particularly like is Mount Kurikoma which can be hiked from Ichinoseki!

Mount Kurikoma (1,626m) also known as Mt. Sukawadake in Iwate, is a volcano that borders three prefectures – Iwate, Akita and Miyagi. It boasts some of the most spectacular autumn foliage in the region and in spring/summer, is a hot spot for alpine flora. In May, when the mountain reopens after the winter, you can hike on the left-over snow. Mount Kurikoma is for everyone. Not only does it have multiple courses which vary in difficulty, the seasons bring a variety of splendors. I highly recommend this mountain to flower and bird enthusiasts!

Mt. Kurikoma Calendar

May: On the 3^rd Sunday of May, the mountain reopens for hikers. Trek up the snow and check out the wonderful alpine landscapes. Wildflowers (check list below)

“Yamabiraki” – the day the mountain opens

June – September: You can enjoy seeing the wildflowers – their peak’s in July. In late September, the peak of the mountain starts to have some autumn foliage

October: early October, peak of the autumn foliage

November~May: From late November, some roads are closed off due to snow. December to February: Ski slopes can be accessed from the Akita side of the mountain.

Mt. Kurikoma Floral Calendar

As one of Japan’s top 100 most famous peaks for flowers, there are too many species to name here, but this is a list of the main flowers you can see and the time of year that they bloom.

Bird Watching

The swamps and lush forests make Kurikoma a bird oasis. There are over 50 types of birds to spot including the common cuckoo, brown dipper, meadow bunting, grey wagtail, willow tit and turtle dove.

Let’s head up the mountain!

There are nine routes up this mountain which vary in difficulty, but the major trails are:

Chuo Course (3km 中央コース ): beginners and families (2hrs)

Higashikurikoma Course (4km 東栗駒コース): for beginner to intermediate (2.5hrs)

Sukawa Course (4km 須川コース): for beginners and families (2hrs)

The Sukawa trail is a course that I recommend for first time visitors. It’s a beginner course which has a variety of landscapes and some incredible hot springs known for their various health benefits. I chose to hike at the start of October to catch the autumn foliage.

**NOTE (Autumn 2019): A part of the Sukawa trail is currently closed at the moment, but a detour is available that will still take you to the summit.

What to bring (recommended)

-Backpack, bag cover (if it rains), map/compass, watch, camera, food, 1L of water, plastic bag, tissues, towel, wet tissues, sunscreen, rainwear, cellphone, radio

-Emergency kit, emergency foods, health insurance card

What to wear

Hat, long sleeved shirt, pants that are easy to move in, leggings (protection from bugs), socks, layers, hiking shoes

Side note: I wore sneakers which were okay for the most part, but there are puddles of water which were hard to avoid and if you don’t have waterproof shoes your feet will get wet. It gets muddy and slippery so make sure your shoes have grip! 

The Hike

You can follow along with the Google map above. We parked our car at the Sukawa Visitor Center and started our ascent from here. Start from this iconic point and follow the path up ①須川高原温泉 (sukawa kougen onsen).

Check out the foot springs and Sukawa Onsen Shrine

Next destination on the path is ② 名残ヶ原 (nagorigahara). What I enjoy about the Sukawa Course is that although there is general path, much of it feels open and untouched. For example, this spacious meadow, and further on you’ll pass through forests, walk alongside steaming valleys of sulfur and over streams of water flowing down from the mountain.

Nagorigahara

The third part of this walk is ③苔花台（taikatai). This part showcases the stunning multicolored foliage that Mt. Kurikoma is famous for. You will also walk alongside the dynamic ‘Hell Valley’ (jigokudani) which has exposed baron rocks steaming with sulfur.

Taikatai

Now we have arrived at one of the most impressive spots on this trail, the bright blue Showa Lake (④昭和湖) – the color contrast of the autumn leaves makes it extra special.

Showa Lake

⑤天狗平（tengudaira): Not long until we reach the summit now. Be sure to remember which path you have taken up because there are many ways down the mountain from this point. If you are uncertain, there is a sign which can guide you ↓

If you want to make it back to the place you started follow 須川温泉 (Sukawa Onsen). The way up to the summit is marked as 栗駒山頂 (Kurikoma Summit).

You’re now 1,626m up! Congratulations! You have reached the summit of Mt. Kurikoma ⑥, the heart of the Ou Mountain Range. On a clear day you will be able to see Mount Choukai, Mount Zao and Mount Gassan.

A quick reminder before you head out

Mt. Kurikoma is not an active volcano at the moment, but since Japan is such a seismically active country, that could change someday. Just to be safe, always check the Japan Meteorological Agency’s volcanic warnings on their website before you go on a hike on any mountain in Japan.

Japan Meteorological Agency’s volcanic warnings for Tohoku