Takehara HiroshimaTourism Guide

Mt. Kurotaki (226 m) is known for its religious artifacts and is a symbol of Tadanoumi, a historic Takehara port town on the Seto Inland Sea. The mountain offers panoramic views of the islands of the Seto Inland Sea and Shikoku, the smallest of Japan’s four major islands. In the distance is Shimanami Kaido Bridge, which connects Hiroshima Prefecture on the main island of Honshu to Ehime Prefecture on Shikoku.

The trail to the summit features various scenic spots overlooking the Seto Inland Sea. Along the trail are 33 stone Kannon statues that were placed there around 1820, but it is not known who made them.

Rai Sanyo (1780–1832), a prominent local Confucian scholar, historian, artist, and poet, is known to have climbed the mountain. He coined the expression sanshi suihaku (purple mountains; light shimmering on the water) to describe the scenery of the Seto Inland Sea from Takehara at dusk.

Trekking is a scenic experience in all seasons. There is a rest stop at the trailhead called sakurado (cherry tree hall), which features a grouping of cherry trees that blossom in the spring, creating a “hall.” The route also offers views of azalea blossoms in spring, vivid green foliage in summer, and Japanese maples in fall. A group of unusual rock formations at the summit are accessible for climbing.

The sakurado rest stop at the trailhead is about a 30-minute walk from Tadanoumi Station. The hike from the trailhead to the summit takes around 40 minutes.