chuo_IMG_7437

【Trail entrance】 Iwakagami-daira(Numakura, Kurikoma, Miygagi Pref.)
【Distance】 approximately 2.9km
【Altitude of trail entrance】 1,113m
【Altitude difference】 513m
【Total altitude difference】 approximately 517m
【Difficulty level】 physical endurance ★☆☆☆☆  technique ★☆☆☆☆  risk ★☆☆☆☆
【Other information】 No drinking water available on trail  No dangerous places
【Phone reception】 Docomo strong signals  au and Softbank weak signals

【General guide】
There are nine trails that lead to the summit of Mt Kurikoma. The easiest trail is the Central (Chuo) trail. The ascent to the summit only takes 90 minutes from the starting point to the summit.
The first part of the trail is a gentle slope up forested path, while the second part offers a great view of breathtaking scenery. This path may become crowded in the peak season for viewing the autumn leaves.
The trail is paved. It is easy for beginner hikers, children, and families, and is the most commonly used trail with one of the best evacuation routes. Although many people use the Higashi Kurikoma trail the whole way around Mt Kurikoma, taking the Higashi Kurikoma trail for your ascent and the Central (Chuo) trail for descent is another good option.

【Time】 Ascent 90 minutes Descent 70 minutes
Ascent(Descent)
1.Iwakagami-daira ~50 min.(40 min.)~ 2.Peak 1,408 ~30 min.(23 min.)~ 3.Trail junction of the Central (Chuo) and the Higashi Kurikoma trail ~ 10 min.(7 min.)~ 4.Summit
chuo_map

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Iwakagami-daira Trail Entrance
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Iwakagami-daira parking lot from an altitude of 1,113 meters
Iwakagami-daira parking lot, Altitude of 1,113 meters
The road to the parking lot is opened to traffic around Golden Week
The road to the parking lot is opened to traffic around Golden Week
There are 3 parking lots at Iwakagami-daira
There are 3 parking lots at Iwakagami-daira
You can see a wonderful view from Iwakagamidaira
You can see a wonderful view from Iwakagamidaira
Public restrooms on the left, an evacuation hut on the right
Public restrooms on the left, an evacuation hut on the right
Buildings are covered with snow in winter
Buildings are covered with snow in winter
The Higashi Kurikoma trail entrance is in front of the Chuo trail entrance
The Higashi Kurikoma trail entrance is in front of the Central(Chuo) trail entrance
The parking lots may be full in the early morning during peak season
The parking lots may be full in the early morning during peak season
You can get food and take a rest at the mountain hut
You can get food and take a rest at the mountain hut
Don't forget to post your hiking plan
Don’t forget to post your hiking plan
The Chuo trail entrance is next to the mountain hut
The Chuo trail entrance is next to the mountain hut
Trails are covered with snow in early spring
Trails are covered with snow in early spring

 

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
1.Iwakagami-daira trail entrance ~50min.(40min.)~ Peak 1,408
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

You slowly ascend the steep slope
You slowly ascend the steep slope
Trails are sometimes covered with snow after its spring hiking season
Trails are sometimes covered with snow during the spring hiking season
The Chuo trail is easy to hike. There are some big rocks on your left
The Chuo trail is easy to hike. There are some big rocks on your left
You can see both peaks on the big rock. (In Spring)
You can see both peaks on the big rock. (In Spring)
You can see both peaks on the big rock. (In Autumn)
You can see both peaks on the big rock. (In Autumn)
There is still some unmelted snow in early spring
There is still some unmelted snow in early spring
The first part of the trail is gentle slope and a slightly dull
The first part of the trail is gentle slope
You can see where you are thanks to signposts
You can see where you are thanks to signposts
You can see the summit around the small peak
You can see the summit around the small peak
The trail is crowded with a lot of hikers in peak season
The trail is popular with a lot of hikers in peak season
A part of the mountain trail is broken
Be mindful sudden changes on the path
There is enough space around the small peak
There is enough space around the small peak
chuo150_IMG_4791.jpg
Anise magnolia
Menziesia multiflora
Menziesia multiflora
Ixeris dentata
Ixeris dentata
Viburnum furcatum
Viburnum furcatum
Japanese alpine Cherry (Prunus nipponica)
Japanese alpine Cherry (Prunus nipponica)
Rhododendron albrechtii
Rhododendron albrechtii

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
2.Peak 1,408 ~30min.(23min.)~ Trail junction of the Central (Chuo) and the Higashi Kurikoma trail
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

There is a sign at the peak of 1,408m. It’s often very windy here!
There is a sign at the peak of 1,408m. It’s often very windy here!
You can see some unmelted snow shaped like a horse
You can see some unmelted snow shaped like a horse
The trail restarts with a gentle slope from peak 1,408m
The trail restarts with a gentle slope from peak 1,408m
You can enjoy the beautiful autumn leaves
You can enjoy the beautiful autumn leaves
Many hikers take a photo around here
Many hikers take a photo around here
Impressive view at the beginning of October
Impressive view at the beginning of October
Japanese alpine cherry and the new green shoots of spring
Japanese alpine cherry and the new green shoots of spring
The trail is rough in places
The trail is rough in places
In Summer
In Summer
In Autumn
In Autumn
At the beginning of October in peak season
At the beginning of October in peak season
The trail is rough at the junction of the Central and the Higashi Kurikoma trails
The trail is rough at the junction of the Central and the Higashi Kurikoma trails
Ugo thistle
Ugo thistle
Flowers in Spring
Flowers in Spring
Flowers in Spring
Flowers in Spring
False Snowparsley (Tilingia ajanensis)
False Snowparsley (Tilingia ajanensis)

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
3.Trail junction of the Central (Chuo) and the Higashi Kurikoma trail ~ 10min.(7min.)~ Summit
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Trail junction of the Chuo and the Higashi Kurikoma trail
Trail junction of the Central and the Higashi Kurikoma trail
Trail junction of the Chuo and the Higashi Kurikoma trail
Trail junction of the Central and the Higashi Kurikoma trail
You can see some mountains from the summit
You can see some mountains from the summit
There are still some unmelted snow until June
There is still some unmelted snow until June
View of a grassland around the Shin Yuzawa
View of grassland around the Shin Yuzawa
Please stay on established trails so as not to damage the flora here
Please stay on established trails so as not to damage the flora here
The trail is narrow and steep
The trail is narrow and steep
After climbing a steep slope, you can reach the summit
After climbing a steep slope, you can reach the summit
Nephrophyllidium (Nephrophyllidium crista-galli)
Nephrophyllidium (Nephrophyllidium crista-galli)
Dactylorhiza (Dactylorhiza aristata)
Dactylorhiza (Dactylorhiza aristata)

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
4.Summit
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

The summit of Mt Kurikoma with the pole
The summit of Mt Kurikoma with the markers
A stone triangulation marker
A stone triangulation marker
View of east (Iwate and Miyagi) from the summit
View of east (Iwate and Miyagi) from the summit
View of west (Akita and Yamagata, Mt Chokai) from the summit
View of west (Akita and Yamagata, Mt Chokai) from the summit
View of south (Kurihara, Miyagi) from the summit
View of south (Kurihara, Miyagi) from the summit
View of north (Ichinoseki Iwate, Mt Yakeishi) from the summit
View of north (Ichinoseki Iwate, Mt Yakeishi) from the summit
The summit is crowded with a lot of hikers in high season
The summit is popular with a lot of hikers in high season
The summit just before hiking season
The summit just before hiking season