Mt. Sefuri

Mt. Sefuri (脊振山, 1,055 m), on the border of Fukuoka and Saga, is the highest peak of the Sefuri range and one of the 300 Famous Japanese Mountains and the 100 Famous Kyushu Mountains.
On its summit stand the upper shrine of Sefuri, dedicated to the goddess Benzaiten, and an air self-defense radar dome, with a sweeping view from the city of Fukuoka and the Genkai Sea to the Saga plain. It is a well-loved border peak for the people of Fukuoka and Saga. The usual route is a day-trip loop from Shiihara on the Fukuoka side, up the Kurumadani route to the summit and around to the Shiihara Pass. By public transport you reach Shiihara from Nogo Station by transferring between Nishitetsu buses.

The base is the Shiihara bus stop (about 400 m); from the Kurumadani trailhead you climb the streamside Kurumadani route to Mt. Sefuri, then descend via the Shiihara Pass back to Shiihara — usually a day-trip loop of about 4 hours 30 minutes. The Kurumadani route crosses the stream repeatedly over loose rock, so do not push on after rain or in high water.
To reach Shiihara, take a Nishitetsu bus from Nogo Station on the Fukuoka City Subway Nanakuma Line to the Sawara depot, then transfer to the Shiihara line (No. 3). The Shiihara line is a sparse route of about five services a day, kept running with a subsidy from Fukuoka City, so check the times in advance. It can be climbed year-round, but watch for snow and ice in winter. A road (the Sefuri Skyline) runs up close to the summit, but this article covers the trail from Shiihara.

*Information last checked: June 14, 2026

How to access the trailhead

1. [Outbound] Nogo Station → Shiihara (Nishitetsu bus, Shiihara line)
2. [Return] Shiihara → Nogo Station (Nishitetsu bus, Shiihara line)

1. [Outbound] Nogo Station → Shiihara (Nishitetsu bus, Shiihara line)

To reach the nearest stop, Shiihara, take a Nishitetsu bus from in front of Nogo Station on the Fukuoka City Subway Nanakuma Line to the Sawara depot, then transfer to the Shiihara line (No. 3, Sawara depot–Shiihara). The Shiihara line is a sparse route of about five services a day, kept running with a Fukuoka City subsidy, and takes about 35 minutes from the Sawara depot to Shiihara. As services are limited and times differ between weekdays, Saturdays and holidays, always check the outbound departure times (from the Sawara depot) with Nishitetsu or Ekitan. For an early climb, a night around the Sawara depot or in Fukuoka and the first bus to Shiihara makes planning easier. When the bus times do not suit, you can also take a taxi to Shiihara (or the Shiihara Pass) from Nogo Station or western Fukuoka.

Reference: [Nishitetsu Bus (timetable and fare search)]

2. [Return] Shiihara → Nogo Station (Nishitetsu bus, Shiihara line)

After descending, take the Shiihara line from the Shiihara bus stop back to the Sawara depot, then transfer to a bus toward Nogo Station. The table below shows the holiday departures from Shiihara (return), about 35 minutes to the Sawara depot. As the number of services and times differ on weekdays and Saturdays, plan your descent with time to spare to catch the last bus. By car, use the hikers’ parking around Shiihara; you can also drive up close to the summit on the Sefuri Skyline.

Shiihara-line bus (return, holidays): Shiihara → Sawara depot

Reference: [Nishitetsu Bus (timetable and fare search)]

Route and safety notes

Route (loop from Shiihara via the Kurumadani route): Shiihara bus stop → Kurumadani trailhead (about 20 m) → Kurumadani route / stream crossings → Mt. Sefuri, 1,055 m (about 2 h) → Karajin-no-Mai → Onigahana rock → Shiihara Pass → Shiihara bus stop (about 2 h 10 m). The day-trip loop is about 4 hours 30 minutes. Climbing the streamside Kurumadani and descending the Shiihara Pass route on the Kyushu Nature Trail is the easier way round.

Summit: on the summit are the upper shrine of Sefuri (Benzaiten) and an air self-defense and US radar site (Sefuri sub-base); the buildings block part of the view, but there is a grand panorama over the city of Fukuoka, the Genkai Sea and the Saga plain.

Kurumadani route: along the stream it crosses repeatedly over loose rock, so the crossings are dangerous after rain or in high water. Watch the slippery rock, and switch to an out-and-back on the Shiihara Pass route if conditions are bad.

Shiihara Pass and the Kyushu Nature Trail: the route from the Shiihara Pass to Mt. Sefuri is maintained as the Kyushu Nature Trail and is easy even for beginners. Onigahana rock is a fine rocky viewpoint.

Season and gear: it can be climbed year-round, but in winter there is snow and ice, so light crampons are reassuring. In summer watch for insects and leeches along the stream. Carry rain gear, warm clothing, a headlamp and plenty of water.

In an emergency: call 110 (police) or 119 (fire/rescue).
Check the latest with the Fukuoka and Saga prefectural police.

Photo by Pekachu / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0