Mt Kurikoma

Mt Kurikoma (Japanese: 栗駒山) is one of the great autumn mountains of northern Japan. It's a broad, graceful volcanic peak straddling the borders of Iwate, Miyagi and Akita, but most famous for the spectacular foliage that sweeps across its slopes each autumn. When the season peaks, the entire mountain seems to glow in bands of red, orange, and gold, drawing hikers from across Japan to witness one of Japan’s finest natural displays. Deserted at other times of the year, a weekday visit is recommended if you want to avoid the crowds in the foliage season.

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Two main trailheads offer access to Kurikoma, each giving a slightly different perspective on its topography. I climbed using the Sukawa trailhead. This trail approaches from the north, beginning near hot spring country and rising steadily through forest before breaking out onto the open upper slopes. The central Kurikoma trailhead, on the other hand, starts from the south and offers a more direct ascent, climbing quickly into wide, grassy ridges that feel almost alpine in their openness. Both routes share the same essential character: gentle lower forests, followed by broad, rolling highlands that make the mountain feel welcoming and expansive.

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Kurikoma’s topography is distinctive. Its summit is not a sharp peak but a rounded dome, surrounded by sweeping ridgelines and open slopes that catch the autumn light beautifully. Because the upper mountain is so broad, the foliage forms huge coloured patterns that seem to shift with every change in the weather.

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From the summit, the views stretch widely across northern Honshu. On clear days you can see the Ou Mountains running north–south, the distant volcanic forms of Iwate and Akita, and the rolling foothills that lead toward the Sea of Japan. In autumn, the panorama is framed by colour in every direction.

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(All information here is based on personal observations and experiences. Check official sources before planning or starting any hikes.)