(開聞岳) Mt. Kaimon Hike

The Fuji of the South, this is a hike protruding down Kagoshima, and is close to a sea-to-summit hike. 

I've attempted it March 2020, but it was pouring and I definitely did not have enough warm layers with me. As always, the golden rule for mountains: Never underestimate a mountain. Therefore that was an aborted hike. I attempted it again December 2020, and the forecast was rain too. This time I came prepared, and was finally able to summit. 

Budget: JPY2,620 (~USD25)

• JPY2,620. Train, Kagoshima-chuo Station to Kaimon Station (JPY1,310 one way)

Hike Date / Difficulty (Elevation: 924m / 3,031ft)

• December 24, 2020. I have done this hike as part of a week long Kyushu hikes. 
• Difficulty: 2 out of 5.
• Route below is around 8.0kilometers, with an elevation change of ▲857m/ ▽857m
• PDF Map Link

When to Go
Throughout the year!

Special Notes

• Weather check: English / Japanese
• Trailhead - just one. Google maps pin.
• Train, Kagoshima-chuo Station to Yamakawa Station.
• Train, Yamakawa Station to Kaimon Station. There are only 6 trains a day, so time it well.
• Walk, Kaimon Station to trailhead (1.6km, 30 minutes)
• Kaimon Station is empty. The station is not really a station even, just a single stop of the train and no other facilities, though there is a restroom nearby. Hence, take note that if you cannot be done with your hike by 9:02am, the next train is at 2:15pm. Another alternative is to take the second train, and be at Kaimon Station by 7:57am.
• If via car. If using car navigation, a nearby building's phone number is 0993323113 (開聞総合体育館)

Train schedule, Yamakawa < > Kaimon

• Sidetrip: Sand onsen: Saraku Sand Bath (google maps pin here). There's a unique onsen where they soak the sand from the beach at onsen water, and once the sand is smokin' hot, they bury you under it.

Itinerary (via car)

• 06:30am. Drive, Kagoshima-chuo Station to Kaimon Trailhead.
• 08:30am. ETA: Trailhead. Start hike.
• 11:00am. ETA: Summit. Lunch.
• 01:00pm. ETA: Back at trailhead. Drive to Saraku Sand Bath.
• 01:30pm. ETA: Saraku Sand Bath.
• ~02:30pm. Drive, Saraku Sand Bath to Kagoshima-chuo Station. 

Actual Log

• 06:12am. Drive, Kagoshima-chuo Station to Kaimon Trailhead.
• 07:57am. Arrived at trailhead. There is a stand alone restroom at the parking lot, but not at Japanese standards. There is a facility right across, and I used their restroom. There are also restrooms less than five minutes' walk behind the shop next to the parking lot. 
• 08:13am. Started hiking. We backtracked on the main road to follow the signs to the trailhead (登山口), but there's actually a path behind the shop next to the parking lot. We got into the official trailhead which was Station 2 (２合目), and the summit was Station 10. The stations are not divided evenly, with stations 8-10 pretty close to each other. The one trail (just one) was surrounded by thick vegetation and was a steady ascent with benches per station marker. Starting Station 7, the trail with big rocks start, and it was a fun activity of jumping from one rock to another, but it was hell on the knees going down. It was progressively steeper the closer to the summit we went, and there were two ladder sections (nothing sketchy) next to the summit. 
• 10:29am. Arrived at the summit, which has a great view of the surrounding area. We took plenty of pictures and started descending right about the time it started drizzling. 
• 10:50am. We started our descent, taking the same trail. 
• 12:26pm. Back at trailhead. 
• 12:36pm. Back at the parking lot. 
• 12:46pm. We searched for a restaurant, had lunch, then went to Saraku Sand Bath.
• 04:27pm. Arrived at Saraku Sand Bath, paid JPY1,300 for the fees and the towel required for the sand bath, got ourselves buried in the onsen-heated sand, and soaked our hike away in the onsen. 
• 05:20pm. Drive, Saraku Sand Bath back to Kagoshima. On the way we decided to have the JPY3,000 unlimited yakiniku, then drove back to our hostel.  

The trek starts with walking to the trailhead. 

We were welcomed by a walking stick (?) insect at the trailhead (station 2)

Part of the trail was walking through a gulley. 

Station 5. From here on, there will be a bit of a clearing every now and then where we can see the view. 

After Station 7, the trail consists of mainly rocks. 

One of the ladders near the summit. 

The summit!

The steep descent starts. 

Hopping on rocks. 

After station 5 are these little rocks (?) which is definitely slippery. 

Back at the parking lot! The trail is behind this shop.