This hike has been at the top of my list since I got to Fukuoka. At 955m, it’s the highest I’ve done so far since moving here. It was definitely more physically challenging than the others, in a really fun way, I think my bouldering classes have paid off.
There was a little more snow than I was expecting and a lot more mud. It was a pretty fun slide around near the summit. Raizan has everything; steep climbs, waterfalls, open fields. Snow. Abandoned pools.
View from atop the rock: one of my favourite Japanese scenes, the hazy rolling hills. When we got to the summit it wasn’t always crystal clear but it was still really beautiful.
I have no idea what these things are. Weird orange thing, snowy plants, some interesting mosses.
Of course there are shrines throughout the mountain, including this larger one.
After the summit there is a rest house that is very industrial looking, not like any of the other rest sites I’ve seen in Japan. We found an abandoned camp site, complete with abandoned pool but couldn’t get too close.
We still had some time with the rental car so we raced out to the far side of Itoshima to catch the sunset. Still a little hazy but so beautiful.
It’s easy to see why everyone loves Itoshima so much, you can really get the ocean and mountains easily in 1 day. It was an amazing hike and I would love to go back and see more.
And as always here is my route on Yamap.
Tea, Sweets and Trails 