Mt. Sobosan (祖母山)

Mt. Sobosan (そぼさん, 1,756m) straddles the borders of Bungo-Ono City / Taketa City (Oita), Takachiho Town (Miyazaki, Nishi-Usuki District), and Takamori Town (Kumamoto, Aso District), within Sobo-Katamuki Quasi-National Park, selected in Kyuya Fukada’s One Hundred Mountains of Japan. As the lord of mainland Kyushu, it is one of the Three Famous Mountains of Bungo (Mt. Sobo, Mt. Yufu, Mt. Kuju).

The Kitatani course (Kumamoto side, most popular) or Koura course (Oita side, Kamoshika-go bus available) is the standard. Intermediate ★★★・distance ~8 km・elevation gain 800 m・action time ~7 hours (day hike). Highlights include virgin forest and akebono-tsutsuji rhododendron (mid-April to mid-May), plus a 360° summit panorama of mainland Kyushu.

*Timetable last checked: 2026年05月22日

Access to the trailhead

1. [Outbound] Tokyo / Osaka → Bungo-Taketa Station (JR + Kyushu Shinkansen)
2. [Outbound / Return] Bungo-Taketa Station ⇔ Koura trailhead (Kamoshika-go Mon-Sat, reservation required)
3. Three trailheads, 9th-Station Hut, suggested plans

Course time (Koura course, day hike, Intermediate, ~7 hours)

Koura trailhead (740 m) → (0:30) → Senkendaira → (2:00) → Kunimitouge Pass (1,320 m) → (1:30) → Mt. Sobo 9th-Station Hut (1,640 m) → (0:30) → Mt. Sobo summit (1,756 m) → descent (2:30) → Koura trailhead

1. [Outbound] Tokyo / Osaka → Bungo-Taketa Station (JR + Kyushu Shinkansen)

Bungo-Taketa Station (JR Hohi Main Line) is the Oita-side gateway for Mt. Sobosan. From Tokyo Station, take JR Tokaido / Sanyo Shinkansen Nozomi → Hakata → Kyushu Shinkansen Sakura → Kumamoto → JR Hohi Main Line approx. 7 hr・¥26,000. From Osaka via Hakata approx. 6 hr・¥22,000. From overseas via Oita Airport or Kumamoto Airport + bus + JR is convenient; Oita Airport to Bungo-Taketa Station approx. 3 hr 30 min. From Fukuoka Airport → Hakata → Shinkansen → Kumamoto → Hohi Line approx. 4 hr.

JR / airport reference :
Tokyo Stn → Bungo-Taketa Stn : JR Nozomi + Kyushu Shinkansen Sakura + Hohi Line ~7 hr・¥26,000
Osaka Stn → Bungo-Taketa Stn : via Hakata ~6 hr・¥22,000
Fukuoka Airport → Bungo-Taketa Stn : Shinkansen + Hohi Line ~4 hr
Oita Airport → Bungo-Taketa Stn : airport bus + JR ~3 hr 30 min

Reference : JR Kyushu ｜ Taketa Tourism — Kamoshika-go
Contact : JR Bungo-Taketa Station ☎0974-63-1311

2. [Outbound / Return] Bungo-Taketa Station ⇔ Koura trailhead (Kamoshika-go Mon-Sat, reservation required)

For the Koura trailhead (740 m), take “Kamoshika-go” (Taketa City-operated shared taxi) approx. 30 min・one-way ¥2,000・Mon-Sat operation (no service Sun and Dec 30 – Jan 3); 2 services per day (outbound 7:00 / 9:15, return 15:30 / 17:30). Reservation required by 15:00 the day before (Taketa City Citizens’ Affairs ☎0974-63-2638); no same-day cancellation. Private car: Kyushu Expressway Kumamoto IC → R57 → R325 → Pref. Rd or Oita Expressway Oita IC → R10 → R57 → Pref. Rd; Koura trailhead parking 25 free spaces. From bus stop to trailhead parking is a 25 min walk uphill (1.5 km, paved road).

Operating period : Mon-Sat (no service Sun, Dec 30 – Jan 3), year-round
Travel time : Bungo-Taketa Stn → Koura ~30 min
Fare : One-way ¥2,000 (cash only, preschool children free)
Frequency : 2 services per day (outbound 7:00 / 9:15, return 15:30 / 17:30)

Bungo-Taketa Stn → Koura (Kamoshika-go, Mon-Sat, hikers, advance reservation required)

Koura → Bungo-Taketa Stn (Kamoshika-go, return, Mon-Sat, advance reservation required)

Note : Kamoshika-go requires reservation by 15:00 the day before (Taketa City Citizens’ Affairs ☎0974-63-2638); no same-day cancellation or time change. The bus stop is 1.5 km before the trailhead parking (25 min walk uphill). No service Sun or year-end; on those days taxi (Bungo-Taketa Station front) or pre-overnight + private car is realistic. After descent, Nagayu Onsen “Gani-yu” or Shichirida Onsen is recommended.

Reference : Taketa Tourism — Kamoshika-go official ｜ Yamasugu — Mt. Sobosan trailheads
Contact : Taketa City Citizens’ Affairs (Kamoshika-go reservation) ☎0974-63-2638 / Takachiho Tourism Association ☎0982-73-1213 / Mt. Sobo 9th-Station Hut, Mr. Kato ☎090-5936-5337

3. Three trailheads, 9th-Station Hut, suggested plans

About Mt. Sobosan
At 1,756 m on the borders of Bungo-Ono City / Taketa City (Oita), Takachiho Town (Miyazaki), and Takamori Town (Kumamoto), within Sobo-Katamuki Quasi-National Park. Selected in Kyuya Fukada’s One Hundred Mountains of Japan as the lord of mainland Kyushu. One of the Three Famous Mountains of Bungo (Sobo, Yufu, Kuju). Virgin forest and the akebono-tsutsuji rhododendron mass colony (mid-April to mid-May) are the highlights; the 360° summit panorama reaches Mt. Aso, the Kuju range, and the Kirishima range.

Trail overview (3 main courses)

• Kitatani course (Kumamoto side, standard, most popular, Intermediate, ~6 hr): Kitatani trailhead → Senkendaira → Kunimitouge → Mt. Sobo summit; shortest, easiest walking; parking 20 spaces
• Koura course (Oita side, Intermediate, ~7 hr): Koura trailhead → Kunimitouge → 9th-Station Hut → summit; Kamoshika-go bus available; parking 25 spaces
• Ohira course (Oita side, Intermediate – Expert, ~8 hr): Ohira trailhead → Kurogane Ridge → summit; many akebono-tsutsuji; parking available

Mountain huts / hot springs (2026 information)
– Mt. Sobo 9th-Station Hut (just below summit, 1,640 m, ☎090-5936-5337 Mr. Kato): Unstaffed emergency shelter since March 2018, lodging free, toilet free, bring own bedding, capacity ~30
– Nagayu Onsen “Gani-yu” (Taketa City, bath ¥500)・Shichirida Onsen “Shimoyu” (post-descent)
– Kitatani trailhead parking: 20 spaces free・toilet・boot-wash water / Koura trailhead: 25 spaces free / Ohira trailhead: parking available

Climbing season / flora: May to November. Mid-April to mid-May: akebono-tsutsuji mass colonies (Ohira-goe – Old Mt. Sobo, Kazaana course, Kurogane Ridge, Miyahara, around Tengu-iwa). October-November: autumn colors. Winter (December-March) has snow / ice; Intermediate-plus only.

Cautions
– Kamoshika-go requires day-before reservation, no Sun service: No same-day cancellation; weekdays recommended
– Akebono-tsutsuji peak weekend parking fills up: Weekdays recommended, or pre-overnight
– 9th-Station Hut unstaffed shelter, free lodging: Bedding / food must be brought
– Water at huts, Kunimitouge: Carrying water essential, at least 1.5 L
– Yamabiru (mountain leeches), hornet sightings: May-October, appropriate gear

Emergency contacts / inquiries

• Taketa City Citizens’ Affairs (Kamoshika-go): ☎0974-63-2638 / Takachiho Tourism Association: ☎0982-73-1213
• Bungo-Ono Police Station (climbing notification / mountain rescue): ☎0974-22-0110
• Mt. Sobo 9th-Station Hut, Mr. Kato: ☎090-5936-5337
• Bungo-Ono City Office: ☎0974-22-1001 / Takamori Town Office: ☎0967-62-1111

Suggested plans (Koura course, Kamoshika-go day hike, recommended, standard)

• Day hike (Koura course, Kamoshika-go, recommended, standard): Day 1 Tokyo → Fukuoka Airport → Shinkansen → Kumamoto → Hohi Line → Bungo-Taketa Station pre-overnight (advance Kamoshika-go reservation required). Day 2 Bungo-Taketa Stn 7:00 → Kamoshika-go → Koura 7:30 → Kunimitouge 10:00 → 9th-Station Hut 11:30 → summit 12:00 → descent → Koura 15:00 → Kamoshika-go 15:30 → Bungo-Taketa Stn 16:00 → return
• 1 night 2 days, 9th-Station Hut shelter overnight (strong hikers, akebono-tsutsuji season): Day 1 Koura → 9th-Station Hut shelter overnight (bedding / food, free). Day 2 early summit (sunrise) → descend toward Ohira (circuit) → return

Reference : Taketa Tourism — Kamoshika-go ｜ Mt. Sobo 9th-Station Hut official

Photo by Raita