Mount Akita-Komagatake in Autumn

Admire the fiery colours of Akita's highest peak

Amber Mezbourian Mar 31, 2015 - 2 min read

If you're lucky, on this hike you'll be rewarded with stunning views of the surrounding peaks, covered in rich autumnal foliage.

Mount Akita-Komagatake is an active volcano, and last erupted in the early 1970s.

The trail leads through an eerie, desolate landscape – a reminder that you are walking through a geothermally-active area.

There is a stark contrast between the tree line and the volcanic slope, where little grows as a result of the sulphur below the ground.

Two hikers scale the rocky path, whilst in the distance Nyuto-san (literally 'nipple mountain') is visible. From here, it's clear how this mountain got its name!

Part of the trail runs around the volcanic Amida Pond. In clear weather, the reflections of the surrounding peaks on the surface are stunning.

A series of wooden steps lead up to Mount Oname, which is the highest peak. From the summit you may be rewarded with beautiful views - or cloud, depending on the weather. This can change within moments so it is important to be prepared.

There is a small shrine at the summit of Mount Oname. At 1637m, this is the highest peak in Akita. Before these clouds suddenly rolled in, the view was breathtaking!

In autumn, the tree-covered lower slopes of Mount Akita-Komagatake are cloaked in fiery colours. There are a number of different trails that you can take in this area, including a longer hike across to Nyuto-san.

Akita is a mountainous prefecture in the north of Japan, offering lots of opportunities for outdoor activities in every season. The highest mountain in Akita is Mount Akita-Komagatake, part of the sprawling Towada Hachimantai National Park which straddles the border between Akita, Aomori and Iwate.

Between June and October, to access the trailhead you must take a bus to the eighth station, at 1305 metres. An easy hiking trail leads you through eerie moonlike scenery and past the volcanic Amida Pond. Climb the wooden steps to the summit, and on a clear day you’ll be rewarded with stunning panoramas of the surrounding mountains and Lake Tazawa, the deepest lake in Japan.

The hike from the bus station to the summit and back can be done in just a couple of hours, with the option to join onto other trails.

From June to August, the mountain is covered in beautiful alpine flowers. It is arguably in late autumn, however, that the scenery is at its most breathtaking. The walking trail rises above the tree line, offering spectacular views of colourful foliage blanketing the lower slopes.

Autumn in Japan

Amber Mezbourian @amber.mezbourian

I spent three years living in Japan as an Assistant Language Teacher on the JET Programme, not knowing what to expect but with images of Tokyo, geisha and Mount Fuji in my mind. I was placed in Yamagata prefecture in a small rural town that I couldn't find in any guidebook. I learnt to sno...