# Mount Kaimon

> A near-perfect 924-meter volcanic cone at the southern tip of the Satsuma Peninsula, called Satsuma Fuji. The trail winds around the mountain in a spiral, about 5 km and 3 hours from the foot to the top, with Sakurajima, Lake Ikeda and on clear days Yakushima in view.

- Prefecture: Kagoshima
- Type: Mountain
- Address: Ibusuki, Kagoshima, Japan
- Official site: https://www.kagoshima-kankou.com/guide/10691

Drive south through Ibusuki and the mountain keeps appearing at the end of the road: a lone cone, 924 meters high, rising straight out of farmland and sea. It is a double volcano, a lava dome sitting on a stratovolcano, and its last eruption is recorded in 885. The climb starts at Kaimon Sanroku Fureai Park on the north side, about 20 minutes on foot from JR Kaimon Station, and the trail does something unusual: it circles the mountain in a spiral, so you walk all the way round the cone on the way up. It is about 5 km and roughly 3 hours to the summit, by the prefecture's tourism guide. The lower half is shaded forest with few views; the sea and the coast open up only higher on the spiral, where the ground turns rocky. From the top on a clear day you can pick out Kirishima, Sakurajima and Lake Ikeda to the north and Yakushima to the south. Trains on the Ibusuki Makurazaki Line are infrequent, so check the return times before you set off. The view of the whole cone is best from below: nearby Nagasakibana cape and the fields around Nishi-Oyama Station are the usual spots.

## FAQ

### How long does it take to climb Mount Kaimon?

The prefecture's tourism site gives about 5 km and roughly 3 hours from the foot to the summit. Allow most of a day for the round trip, plus time for the walk from Kaimon Station.

### Can I get to the trailhead by train?

Yes. The trailhead at Kaimon Sanroku Fureai Park is about 20 minutes on foot from JR Kaimon Station on the Ibusuki Makurazaki Line. Trains are infrequent, so plan around the timetable for the return.

### What can I see from the summit?

On a clear day, Kirishima, Sakurajima and Lake Ikeda to the north and Yakushima to the south. The lower part of the trail is in forest, so the views come mainly near the top.

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Source: Mount Kaimon — Japan Voyage