Mt. Hiko (Hikosan)
Open by month
Open in January. No seasonal closure recorded. New Year (Dec 29 – Jan 3): open.
Open in February. No seasonal closure recorded.
Open in March. No seasonal closure recorded.
Open in April. No seasonal closure recorded.
Open in May. No seasonal closure recorded.
Open in June. No seasonal closure recorded.
Open in July. No seasonal closure recorded.
Open in August. No seasonal closure recorded.
Open in September. No seasonal closure recorded.
Open in October — at its best. Autumn leaves (late October to mid-November).
Open in November — at its best. Autumn leaves (late October to mid-November).
Open in December. No seasonal closure recorded. New Year (Dec 29 – Jan 3): open.
Checked against the official site on 2026-10-15.
A sacred mountain about 1,200 m high on the Fukuoka–Oita border, one of Japan's three great centers of Shugendo mountain worship. The Hoheiden hall of Hikosan Jingu, rebuilt in 1616, is an Important Cultural Property and can also be reached by slope car.
Important Cultural Property (Hoheiden hall, bronze torii)
Nearby
- Mameda-machi, Hita ≈ 45 min by car
- Akizuki Castle Town ≈ 50 min by car
- Ukiha Inari Shrine ≈ 50 min by car
- Ao-no-Domon Tunnel (Yabakei) ≈ 55 min by car
- Tsuzura Rice Terraces ≈ 1 h by car
Travel times are rough estimates by car.
- Best time
- October, November — Autumn leaves (late October to mid-November)
- Getting there
- From Hikosan Sta. (Hitahikosan Line BRT), Soeda town bus about 22 min to Jingu-shita
Few buses — check times or join a tour - Fee
- Slope car return: adults ¥700, children ¥350 (one way ¥500/¥250)
- Good to know
- The slope car runs daily (may stop in bad weather), uphill about every 20 min from 9:40 to 16:40, with a change at Hana Station. Town buses keep different timetables on weekdays and on weekends/holidays
- Time needed
- 3 h
Checked against the official Japanese website on 2026-10-15. Report outdated info