I’ve been thinking about starting the Higo Journal mountain climbing club for a year now, but I still haven’t found anyone to climb with me. I climbed Mt. Nekodake last year, and this year I headed to Mt. Takadake and Mt. Nakadake, aiming to conquer all five peaks of Aso!

The Trailhead: Sensuikyo

Sensuikyo is a popular spot for tourists, especially in May when the Miyama Kirishima (Kyushu Azaleas) are in full bloom. Miyama Kirishima are beautiful alpine flowers found in the volcanic areas of Kyushu that thrive in the wild at altitudes exceeding 1,000 meters. From 1964 to 2010, a ropeway took visitors to the Nakadake Crater, but now only the pillars are left standing.

The large parking lot has restroom facilities available.

You can find the registration form for mountain climbing here. Make sure to fill it out before you start your climb.

A signboard indicates the path to ascend Aso’s five volcanic peaks. Today, I am going to hike up Mt. Takadake and Mt. Nakadake.

Due to volcanic activity, there are times when access within 1 km of the crater is restricted, so please be sure to check in advance.

It wasn’t possible to get within 1 km of the crater today, I decided to take the route marked by a pink line, which ascends “” and then descends along “”.

The weather is nice, but we can see that there are some clouds forming around the peak. Be cautious, since the mountain weather is unpredictable.

Heading to Mt. Takadake

“” begins at this bridge.

Moving forward from this point, you won’t have the opportunity to admire the crystal-clear water.

Take the grassy trail that is indicated by the red cone.

I followed the yellow arrows spray painted on the rocks and made my way up to the summit.

After a certain point, the mountain becomes very rocky, so please remember to bring a gloves with you, and also a hat would be good to protect from the sun. 

Be cautious of the stones spraypainted with the Japanese characters “止まれ” meaning STOP. These indicate that there are dangerous areas beyond that point and instruct climbers to avoid going past them, with the arrow indicating the proper direction. It’s important to follow these warnings to stay safe.

I just kept going up and up. Be sure to wear sturdy shoes like hiking boots as there are plenty of rocky outcrops.

 I follow the spraypainted stones that indicate the directions up the path. 右 (migi) indicates to go right, and 左 (hidari) left.

I’ve been climbing for two hours and…

The stone ahead lets me know I’ve only reached the halfway point (中間点, chūkanten). I still have a long way to go.

 Turning around, I was greeted with a spectacular panoramic view of the Uchinomaki Area.

When you get closer to the summit, you’ll see a change in the soil’s hue.

Once you’ve made it up the rocky terrain, you’ll find a trail that leads to the peak of Mt. Takadake.

I made it to the top of Mt. Takadake! It took me around 3.5 hours. There were clouds at the peak, but on a sunny day, you can see both the Uchinomaki and Takamori areas.

Be mindful of the warning signs that indicate hazardous areas and avoid them

Time to Cimb Mt. Nakadake

 As I left Takadake and began to approach Nakadake, I was able to catch a glimpse of Aso City through a gap in the clouds.

I reached the top of Mt. Nakadake after a 20-minute hike. You can see smoke billowing out of the crater.

Beyond the crater lies Kusasenri. The sight of the crater from above is incredibly striking.

I’ll make my way down from the peak of Mt. Nakadake by taking the Hinoo Pass(Suzume-Iwa) Route. As I descended, I admired the stunning rock formations…

and made use of theropes placed along the path.

Look out for indicators that will assist you in getting around.

The journey from the summit of Mt. Nakadake to the Sensuikyo parking lot lasted about two and a half hours.

The round trip usually lasts around 6 hours, so it’s best to begin your climb in the morning, considering the time of sunset.

Wrap Up

Throughout the journey, I stumbled upon numerous fascinating finds, such as a rock that resembled a cat? Or was it a lion? It’s essential to stay hydrated, have enough food to regain your energy, and wear appropriate clothing to protect yourself from any falls, ensuring you have a great time on your climb!