Mt. Adatara (Adatara-yama) - hiking Bandai-Asahi National Park's Volcano Trail

Mt. Adatara comprises several active volcanoes across its broad, forested massif. The highest peak rises to 1,728 metres (5,669 ft) and is surrounded by hot springs and fumaroles. Its grandeur means it has been chosen as one of Japan’s top 100 mountains and it has been the subject of poetry, notably by Kōtarō Takamura who helped to make the mountain famous.

This hike makes use of the Adatarayama Sancho Ropeway to give easy access to the summit region. Once you’ve checked out the cafe, ascend west from the top station, heading for Mt. Adatara’s highest point. Autumn is a particularly special time to explore the slopes, when you can expect beautiful red leaves.

From the summit, head northwest to the Numa no taira crater, the most emblematic on the massif. Its orange hues and dynamic fumaroles make it a spellbinding place to explore. Descend to the east, before turning north towards the burgeoning Yu River and the Kurogane-goya Mountain Lodge.

The lodge makes for an atmospheric accommodation option and overnight guests are treated to a famously good curry. Even if you are not planning to stay, you can still take a break and relax in the public hot spring.

From here, the path descends east across broad ground, before zigzagging down to the bottom station of the Mt. Adatara Ropeway. From here, you can take the shuttle bus down to the village of Dake Onsen for accommodation and places to eat and drink. Interestingly, the village was once an independent state known as “the Republic of Smile.”

To get to Mt. Bandai, for the next stage of the Volcano Trail, you can take a bus from Dake Onsen to Nihonmatsu Station and catch Tohuko Line train to Koriyama. Here, change onto a Ban-Etsusai Line train to Inawashiro, before taking a bus to Urubandai Kogen Hotel. From the hotels here you can take a shuttle bus to the Urbubandai Ski Resort to begin the hike up Mt. Bandai.