Mt. Sumitsuka

Mount Sumitsuka (Sumitsukayama, 1,009 m) stands in the Muro volcanic group in Soni Village, Nara Prefecture. One of the 100 Famous Mountains of Kansai (and the Kinki 100), it is climbed from the Byobu-iwa Koen park — home to the great columnar-jointed rock wall of Byobu-iwa — and can be combined in a loop with neighbouring Mount Kunimi (1,016 m), making it a noted peak of the Muro range.

*Timetable last checked: unverified

How to access the trailheads

1. [Outbound] Nabari Station → Nagano bus stop → (on foot) Byobu-iwa Koen
2. [Return] Byobu-iwa Koen → (on foot) Nagano bus stop → Nabari Station

1. [Outbound] Nabari Station → Nagano bus stop → (on foot) Byobu-iwa Koen

Trailhead = Byobu-iwa Koen (approx. 790 m), about a 60-minute walk (approx. 3.3 km) from the Nagano bus stop.
From the west exit (stop No. 1) of Nabari Station on the Kintetsu Osaka Line, take the Mie Kotsu bus “bound for Yamakashi-nishi (via Taraji)” and get off at the Nagano bus stop. From there, walk the prefectural and forest roads to Byobu-iwa Koen.

Fare: ¥860
Ride time: approx. 51 min
Operating period: year-round (about 5 services a day)

Bus TimetableBus timetable from Nabari Station to Nagano

Reference: [Mie Kotsu]

2. [Return] Byobu-iwa Koen → (on foot) Nagano bus stop → Nabari Station

After the descent, walk about 60 minutes from Byobu-iwa Koen back to the Nagano bus stop, then take the Mie Kotsu bus “bound for Nabari Station” back to Nabari Station. The ride is about 51 minutes and the fare ¥860.

There are also only about 5 inbound services a day, so allow plenty of margin between your descent and the last bus. Check the exact Nagano departure times in advance with Mie Kotsu or NAVITIME. Because the walking section is long, it is safest to plan backwards from the bus times.

Reference: [Mie Kotsu]

3. Climbing route and estimated trail times of Mount Sumitsuka

The starting point for Mount Sumitsuka is Byobu-iwa Koen. From the park you climb to the Ichinmine col and follow the ridge to Mount Sumitsuka. Combining it with neighbouring Mount Kunimi via Kumatawa is the classic loop of the Muro volcanic group.

● Standard route (Byobu-iwa Koen → Ichinmine col → Mount Sumitsuka, out and back)
Byobu-iwa Koen → (forest climb) → Ichinmine col → (ridge) → Mount Sumitsuka summit. From the top spread views of Byobu-iwa, the Soni peaks and the Muro volcanic group.

● Loop with Mount Kunimi
Byobu-iwa Koen → Mount Sumitsuka → Zeniyatawa → Mount Kunimi → Kumatawa → Byobu-iwa Koen — a varied ridge walk of about 4 hours.

Standard trail times for the main sections (snow-free guide)

• Byobu-iwa Koen → Ichinmine col → Mount Sumitsuka: about 1 hour
• Mount Sumitsuka → Byobu-iwa Koen (out and back, descent): about 50 min
• (loop) Mount Sumitsuka → Mount Kunimi → Kumatawa → Byobu-iwa Koen: about 2 h 30 min

The out-and-back to Mount Sumitsuka is about 2 hours, and even the loop with Mount Kunimi is about a 4-hour day hike.

Highlights
Byobu-iwa is a great columnar-jointed rock wall about 200 m high and 2 km wide, designated a national natural monument. Byobu-iwa Koen is known for cherry blossom (mid-to-late April) and autumn leaves (early-to-mid November), and from the Sumitsuka–Kunimi ridge you can enjoy a superb view looking down over that rock wall.

4. Season and emergency contacts

Best season and gear

• The best season is spring to autumn. Byobu-iwa Koen has parking and toilets. Water sources are scarce, so carry plenty of drinking water.
• In winter there is snow and ice, requiring light crampons and good judgment.

Emergency contacts

• Nara Pref. Police, mountain rescue / Uda Police Station: 0745-82-0110
• Soni Village tourism: 0745-94-2106 (Soni Village Planning Division)
• In an accident or distress: 110 (police) / 119 (fire & rescue). File a climbing plan.

Photo by Alpsdake