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Views of Ariake Sea and Unzen
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Mt. Kinbo trail
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Tengudaki Falls
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Reimei Falls
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Downstream of Reimei Falls
Kumamoto Recreation Forest
2636.93ha
Elevation [Mount Kinbou](Lowest)200m (Overall)300―700m(Highest)700m
[Kikuchi Gorge](Lowest)500m (Overall)500―600m(Highest)900m
Explore the mountain paths that Musashi and Soseki once trod and visit Kikuchi Gorge,
an oasis for the people of Kumamoto Prefecture
Explore the mountain paths that Musashi and Soseki once trod and visit Kikuchi Gorge, an oasis for the people of Kumamoto Prefecture
- Newest information
- Area
- Activities
- Overview
- Latest Information
- Usage Guide
- Facility
- Map
- Address
- Access
(Distances and times are
provided as a guide only) - Management office
contact details - Information on Other Local
Tourist Attractions - Official Tourist Information
- Recreation Forest
Management Committee - Supporters
- Other
- Newest information
- Gathering information in advance is important to safely enjoy forest recreation that brings you closer to nature.
・CHECK
・When you go out, please check local tourist and related information and gather information on road closures, weather conditions, etc.
- Video
Drone Footage
- Area
- Kyushu
- Activities
- Flower-viewing Autumn leaf viewing Waterfall viewing(Kikuchi Gorge) Birdwatching Picnics Mountain climbing (Mount Kinbo only/ Includes surrounding area) Kyushu natural trail Cycling Hot Spring(Outside the forest)
- Overview
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- Geographical/topographical features
- Mount Kinbo is a small, but significant double volcano. Mount Kinbo’s lava dome (665 m) is the central volcano, with parasitic cones located on the outer rim of Mount Kinbo’s caldera, including Ninodake (Kumanodake) (685 m) and Sannodake (681 m) on the northwestern side, and Mount Ohagi (420 m) and Mount Arao (445 m) on the eastern side, forming a long massif with a comparatively gentle slope running north to south.
Home to the headwaters of the clear Kikuchi River, Kikuchi Gorge is located between mountains with an elevation of 500–800 m stretching to the northwest of Mount Aso’s outer rim and boasts stunning scenery formed by an array of rapids, deep pools, and waterfalls, both large and small. - Historical/cultural features
- In the Mount Kinbo area can be found Reigando Cave, famous as the place where Miyamoto Musashi wrote The Book of Five Rings, his treatise on the secrets of swordsmanship and strategy. There are also footpaths that provided the setting for Natsume Soseki’s novel Kusamakura (published in English first as The Three-cornered World and subsequently as Grass Pillow) and Toge-no-Chaya Park, which features spots mentioned in Soseki’s book.
The primeval natural beauty of Kikuchi Gorge has made it a popular location for filming TV dramas set in imaginary worlds with an air of antiquity.
The landscape and culture of the Kikuchi River Basin, which originates in the Kikuchi Gorge, was recognized as a Japan Heritage site in Fiscal Year 2017 (Heisei 29). - Climate, flora and fauna
- The annual average air temperature on Mount Kinbo is 16.9°C and its vegetation consists of lower-growing subtropical plants, along with a pure forest mainly made up of sugi, Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) and hinoki, Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa). The subcanopy vegetation takes the form of shrubs such as arakashi, Japanese blue oak (Quercus glauca); kusunoki, camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora); yabunikkei, Japanese cinnamon (Cinnamomum pedunculatum); kunugi, sawtooth oak (Quercus acutissima); and konara (Quercus serrata).
The annual average air temperature in Kikuchi Gorge is 15.6°C and its vegetation consists of lower-growing subtropical plants, with a mixed coniferous and deciduous forest that primarily comprises momi, fir (Abies firma); tsuga, Japanese hemlock (Tsuga sieboldii); akagashi, Japanese evergreen oak (Quercus acuta); keyaki, zelkova (Zelkova serrata); and kuri, chestnut (Castanea crenata), along with yabutsubaki, Japanese camellia (Camellia japonica); shikimi, Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum); and hainoki, Japanese sapphireberry (Symplocos myrtacea). - Attractions
- The summit of Mount Kinbo offers spectacular views, with extensive panoramic vistas of downtown Kumamoto City, not to mention the Ariake Sea, the Unzen, Aso, and Kyushu mountains, and the islands of Amakusa. It is also famous for the splendid views that it offers at night.
Forest Study Center in the former Ohagi Gardens is a municipal facility belonging to Kumamoto City. It consists of two buildings: the study center and the observation center. Interactive classes and other events are held here around twice a month. Check the website (※Japanese only) for information on events. http://shinrin-gakushu.net/
Thanks to its low average temperature of 13°C in summer, Kikuchi Gorge has been nicknamed the “natural cooler,” making it an ideal place to seek refuge from the midsummer heat. Along with the refreshing waters of its diverse array of rapids, deep pools, and waterfalls, Kikuchi Gorge offers the chance to enjoy the changing face of the forest in all four seasons, including the delicate young leaves of spring and early summer, shady nooks at the height of summer, and scarlet and gold foliage in the fall. - Other
- This forest is next to Aso-Kuju National park. Let’s visit and fully enjoy National Parks as well.
National Parks of Japan -Stories to Experience-https://www.env.go.jp/en/nature/nps/park/aso/index.html
- Latest Information
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- Warnings
- ・Please note that hornets (Vespa mandarinia) and mamushi, Japanese pit viper (Gloydius blomhoffii) are found in this area from spring through to fall.
・(Kikuchi Gorge)Watch out for falling branches/rocks.
・(Kikuchi Gorge)Swimming prohibited
- Usage Guide
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- Entrance fee
- Mount Kinbo can be accessed free of charge. At Kikuchi Gorge, high school students and above are asked Donations of ¥300 per person to contribute to the upkeep of the forest.
- Opening seasons and hours
- ・Mount Kinbo can be accessed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
- Facilities
- ・Mount Kinbo: The Forest Study Center is open 9am-5pm from mid-March to mid-November, and 10am-4pm the rest of the year.
・Kikuchi Gorge: Open 8am30-5pm when the gorge is open to visitors (April – November) (There is a gate at the entrance, which is closed out of season). - Accommodation options
- ・Mount Kinbo: Hotels and Japanese inns are available in central Kumamoto City (about 20 minutes by car)
・Kikuchi Gorge: Hotels and Japanese inns are available in the Kikuchi Onsen hot spring district in Kikuchi City (about 30 minutes by car)
- Facility
- Toilets and drinking fountains Toilet (accessible)（Outside the forest） Walking trail Parking lot Observation platform（Mount Kinpo） Vending machine Shop（Outside the forest） Restaurant（Outside the forest） Free public wireless LAN (Wi-Fi)（Outside the forest） Specimen forest / Botanic garden / Museum（Mount Kinbo Only,No foreign languages spoken） Cultural Property (nationally designated) (Outside the forest) Accommodation facilities (Hotels/Japanese inns)（Outside the forest）
- Map
- Address
- (Mount Kinpo) Take, Kawachi-machi, Nishi-ku, Kumamoto-shi / Tensui-machi, Tamana-shi / Harakura, Gyokuto-machi, Tamana-gun, Kumamoto Prefecture
(Kikuchi Gorge) Haru, Kikuchi-shi / Nishiyunoura, Aso-shi
- Access
(Distances and times are provided as a guide only) -
- By public transport
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<Access from nearest railway station / bus stop>
- ・(Mount Kinpo) JR Kumamoto Station (Kumamoto City Tram: 31 minutes) → Honmyoji-denteimae (Sanko Bus: 13 minutes) → Togenochaya bus stop (32 minutes on foot) → Mount Kinbo trailhead
- ・(Kikuchi Gorge) Kumamoto Kotsu Center (Kumamoto Dentetsu Bus: 60 minutes) → Kikuchi-onsen (1 minute on foot) → Kikuchi Gorge (taxi: 30 minutes)
- By car
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<Access>
- ・To Mount Kinbo trailhead (2 parking lots, free of charge)
Kumamoto IC → Towards Fujisakigu-mae (30 minutes)→Pref. Route 1/Kamikumamoto 1 chome (5 minutes)→Pref. Route 1/Togenochaya (10 minutes)→Municipal road/Mount Kinbo trailhead (5 minutes) - ・To the former Ohagi Gardens
Kumamoto IC→Towards Fujisakigu-mae (30 minutes)→Pref. Route 1/Kamikumamoto 1 chome (5 minutes)→ Pref. Route 31/Mitsugumachi (5 minutes)→ Municipal road/Former Ohagi Gardens (10 minutes) - ・To Kikuchi Gorge (4 parking lots in total: 2 pay, 2 free of charge)
Kumamoto IC → Route 57/Ozu-machi Muro → Route 325/Kikuchi-Kitabaru (25 minutes)→ Route 387 → Pref. Route 45→ Kikuchi Gorge (20 minutes) - Kumamoto IC →Route 57/Ozu-machi Muro→ Route 325/Kikuchi-Kitabaru (25 minutes)→ Route 387→ Pref. Route 45→ Kikuchi Gorge (20 minutes)
Ueki IC → Route 3/Ueki-machi Toyoda (3 minutes)→ Pref. Route 53/Towards Kikuchi-city → Route 387 →Pref. Route 45 → Kikuchi Gorge (20 minutes)
- ・To Mount Kinbo trailhead (2 parking lots, free of charge)
- Nearby tourist facilities
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- Reigando Cave, Toge-no-Chaya Park, Kumamoto Castle (Nationally designated important cultural property), Mount Aso
- Management office contact details
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Kumamoto District Forest OfficeTEL：0968-25-2101https://www.rinya.maff.go.jp/kyusyu/kumamoto/index.html
- Information on Other Local Tourist Attractions
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Kumamoto Castle / Mount Aso
- Official Tourist Information
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Tourism Policy Department, Kumamoto City Office [External link]Commerce, Industry, and Tourism Department, Kikuchi City Office [External link]
- Recreation Forest Management Committee
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Kumamoto Recreation Forest Mount Kinpo District Protection and Management CommitteeProtection and Management Committee for Keeping Kikuchi Gorge Beautiful Commerce, Industry, and Tourism Department, Kikuchi City OfficeURL [External link]：https://kikuchikeikoku.com/
- Supporters
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Japan Forest Foundation Kumamoto Branch
- Other
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Japan Heritage: Rice Farming in the Kikuchi River Basin: 2,000 Years of Dedication and Ingenuity [External link]
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