Takachiho-gawara — Attraction in Kirishima

This is the area where you park and get started on the hike for Umanose. Second time back, and instead of Umanose, we tried the other two hiking trails available (many routes within each trail). The visitor centre area also has clean public toilets, a nice coffee shop, a restaurant/souvenir shop, and an enclosed resting area. Parking can get full in the day when it’s a public holiday. Visitor centre has some great interactive displays about the surrounding landscape and can advise on the hikes you want to do and also sell souvenirs of the...

WARNING! Hiking to Nakadake and Shinmoedake is not allowed due to volcanic activity as of 2011! Sucks, I know. But I love the feeling of this place, despite the limited activities. Walking up to the ancient Kirishima Shrine (destroyed in the 13th century) is a must. I've hiked up to Takachiho Nomine and that's arduous and awesome. And there is a Nature Trail loop with various extensions that is nice. The Visitor Center has some good displays on the topography and birds, but no english, so...

We visited early one Sunday morning in early November. The 10-minute drive up the winding road from the main road was scenic, and we lucked out with empty parking spots for a 500-yen fee. It was freezing! The visitor centre had tons of info on display, and we caught a short movie about the area's geology and history. We checked out the old Kirishima shrine and the Takachiho no mine trail nearby, where we watched people summiting the mountain – breathtaking views all around. What a...