Kirishima National Park (Japan)

...Kyushu and climbing its volcanoes. Kirishima National Park was by far the winner in terms of beauty and satisfaction gained from the climbing. However, it was not the safest adventure I have ever had. I would not recommend other young women to try this climb alone as I did.

I spent a few days climbing up volcanoes and over volcanic chains in the area. I had a few adventures along the way. The first was when I found myself on a crater ...
...I was following because I was unable to see the path, and had to use my compass and map-reading skills to find the right way. Then later on a volcano in the chain I was climbing seemed to start to billow smoke. Unwilling to turn back and climb back over the snowy peak behind me, I carried on. This was a rather crazy decision. It is said that the biggest danger volcanoes present is not to the locals living on and around them, but to climbers who breathe ... more

If you want to get lost in nature, go to Kirishima. It could be the most beautiful place I have ever been to. Being a keen hill-walker, I spent a few weeks in the spring travelling around Japan's island of Kyushu and climbing its volcanoes. Kirishima National Park was by far the winner in terms of beauty and satisfaction gained from the climbing. However, it was not the safest adventure I have ever had. I would not recommend other young women to try this climb alone as I did.

I spent a few days climbing up volcanoes and over volcanic chains in the area. I had a few adventures along the way. The first was when I found myself on a crater rim in the fog and snow, having lost the snow-footprints I was following because I was unable to see the path, and had to use my compass and map-reading skills to find the right way. Then later on a volcano in the chain I was climbing seemed to start to billow smoke. Unwilling to turn back and climb back over the snowy peak behind me, I carried on. This was a rather crazy decision. It is said that the biggest danger volcanoes present is not to the locals living on and around them, but to climbers who breathe in the noxious fumes. I can vouch for this. On the crater rim I grew dizzy and found myself unable to breathe. Knowing that to collapse would be the end of me I took a hold of myself, stopped my panic, and made myself breathe through my clothes and keep going. Of course I survived to tell you this tale and am very glad I did, but please learn from my experience: volcanoes are dangerous and to be safe you really shouldn't go up live ones alone, especially if you suffer from asthma.

The climbing was tough at times but if you're like me you'll find this exhilarating and definitely something to be put on the pros list. In one day's climb, I found myself on a man-made path, a snowy/rocky/foggy crater-rim, a mud-slide of a descent, a bamboo forest, a barren stretch of red rock, a more normal-type-forest, slippery scree, stretches of beautiful grass, and forests of dead trees (quite a bizarre sight actually). This mix was really incredible. No sooner had I gotten used to one kind of landscape than I reached the next summit and was confronted with a completely different type of nature on the other side. It's not something you can experience in the Highlands of Scotland or the peaks of the Lake District, that's for sure!

Apart from the terrain I was travelling over, the scenery was incredible. It felt truly unreal and I sat for a long time just staring at the beauty of nature. Unfortunately my camera didn't like the view and wouldn't take any semi-decent pictures, but to be honest I think even with the most high-tech equipment you couldn't capture that astounding beauty. You have to see it to know it's real.

Aside from the volcanoes and hill-climbing, there's plenty of culture in Kirishima. As in the rest of Japan, you don't have to go far to find some quaint little shrine or temple. You never forget you're abroad. The people are friendly enough in general but don't be surprised if, like me, you go into a shop and the assistant runs away to find someone who doesn't mind talking to a foreigner!

Transport is a problem in this area. There are local trains from Kagoshima which are reasonably frequent and easy to use, but once you get off the train you're a bit stuck. Buses are very rare and you either have to shell out a fortune on a taxi to get to where you are headed, or, like me, hitch a ride with some kind Japanese person. This is very safe compared to other countries - Japan's crime rate has certainly not caught up with the Western world. If you're not happy hitch-hiking it may be an idea to hire a car. It could well work out cheaper than paying for Japan's extortionate public transport system and high taxi fares.

Kirishima. Adventure, nature, and truly a world away from anywhere I've ever seen before - you have to see it to believe it. 

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