Northern Miyagi

Mt. Kurikoma Hiking

栗駒山 | Mount Kurikoma

Incredible vistas, fall foliage, and hot springs

Photo by Wesley Keppel-Henry

Photo by Roger Smith

Photo by Wesley Keppel-Henry

Photo by Wesley Keppel-Henry

  • Wesley Keppel-Henry

    Writer &
    2019–2021 Editor-in-chief

    Last Update
    October 15, 2019

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  • Mount Kurikoma is a favorite hiking and fall color destination, a day hike suitable for any reasonably fit hiker. The effort-to-payoff ratio is fantastic—after just a little over an hour’s climb along the Higashi Kurikoma route, the trail breaks the treeline and flattens out onto a plateau revealing a vast panorama of distant peaks piercing through a sea of clouds.

    The second and final leg of the ascent to the 1,626-meter-high summit is steep but seduces with unbroken views of the mountainous panorama from an ever-higher perspective. Following the Sukawa Trail down off the summit takes hikers down the Iwate side of the mountain. The unbroken panoramas persist until the trail descends below the treeline, into volcanic terrain and, in autumn, a blaze of fall foliage. The trail ends at Sukawa Onsen (須川温泉).

    The route described here is a through-hike ascending from Iwakagamidaira (いわかがみ平) via the Higashi Kurikoma (東栗駒) Trail, then descending into Sukawa Onsen via the Sukawa (須川) Trail. That route is convenient during fall color season, the only time of year the bus to Iwakagamidaira is in operation. The bus running between Sukawa Onsen and Ichinoseki Station operates the entire green season (late April through early November), so spring and summer hikers wishing to use public transportation can opt for a a loop hike starting from and finishing at Sukawa Onsen. Those with a car can do a loop hike on the Miyagi side of the mountain, as a day-trip or with an overnight stay at the Yubama Onsen Miura Ryokan hot springs inn.

    A dip in the rustic open-air bath at Sukawa Onsen is a must before catching a bus back to town!

    WEBSITEhttps://www.kurihara-kb.net/publics/index/25/

  • Northern Miyagi

    Tags

    Autumn Kurihara & Tome Nature Northern Miyagi Onsen Hot Springs Outdoor Sports & Activities Summer

Details

ADDRESS

Kurihara City, Miyagi Prefecture

ACCESS BY PUBLIC TRANSIT

To Iwakagamidaira

95 minutes by bus from Ishikoshi Station (石越駅) or 70 minutes by bus from Kurikomakogen Station (栗駒高原駅). Board a Kurikomayama Koyogo (栗駒山 紅葉号) bus bound for Iwakagamidaira (いわかがみ平). Alight at Iwakagamidaira, the final stop. The Koyogo Bus runs weekends & holidays during fall color season (late September–late October) only. See timetable here.

To Sukawa Onsen trailhead

90 minutes by bus from Ichinoseki Station (一ノ関駅). Board Sukawa Onsen Line (須川温泉線) bus bound for Sukawa Onsen (須川温泉). Alight at Sukawa Onsen, the final stop. Bus runs late April–early November. Timetables here.

ADMISSION

Free

HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE

No

HOURS

Always open

CLOSED DAYS

Winter season is early November–late April. Please refrain from hiking during this time without proper winter mountaineering equipment and experience.

TATTOO POLICY

Sukawa Onsen: Generally OK, but bathers may be asked to conceal their tattoos with a towel.

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