Mount Kurokami

What?
Mount Kurokami (黒髪山), a modest 516m peak, stands out from the surrounding hills with its striking cliffs and exposed rock faces, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape and the Arita Dam. During cherry blossom season, Chimachibo Park (乳待坊公園), located at one of the trailheads, provides a picturesque vantage point to admire the mountain from below.
Where?
Mount Kurokami is a small peak located in Saga Prefecture (佐賀県), Kyushu. I chose to start climbing from the trailhead near the Chimachibo Park which is only accessible by car. You can however reach the peak from the other side, by starting at Arita Station (有田駅). You will however have a longer approach and will not be able to enjoy the simple beauty of the park.
URL
Sagamichi

I had been dragging a stubborn cold with me for almost a month—not severe, but lingering far longer than I’d hoped. The sudden drop in temperature, a week of relentless rain, and a reckless evening of drinking with a long-time-no-see buddy only made things worse.
Blocked sinuses and shivers running through my body forced me to scale back my original plan. I decided to keep it simple: ascend Mount Kurokami, then head toward Hanabusa Rock, skipping the nearby peak of Mount Seira to avoid overexertion.

Just like the day before, rain poured relentlessly during my drive to the trailhead—then, as I opened the car door, it suddenly stopped. Thank you, fickle weather gods.
The approach to the peak followed a crumbling road, which soon gave way to an overgrown series of broken stone steps, weaving through boulders both small and massive. The damp landscape only added to the eerie atmosphere, with unseen frogs croaking in the shadows, their guttural calls echoing through the forest.

This steady ascent led me to the Mikaeri Pass, where the misty, almost ethereal surroundings gave way to a proper mountain trail.
I first headed for the peak of Kurokami. Given my lingering cold and my memory of Mount Nagusa, I was surprised at how manageable the climb felt. It was a steady incline, but never too steep or exhausting. Although boulders and tree roots dotted the path, footing was rarely an issue.
Just before the summit, a short exposed section featured a few chains and ladders—adding a little thrill, though nothing too daunting. Many hikers were resting near the top, but when I arrived, the broad, bald summit was mine alone, offering a breathtaking 360-degree panorama.

Mount Kurokami is a small but popular peak, and on this relatively dry Saturday, I encountered plenty of fellow hikers. However, as I continued toward Maekurokami, the crowd quickly thinned. The hike became a peaceful ridge walk through the forest, punctuated by large rocky platforms that opened up stunning views—Arita Dam spread out below, and just behind me stood the peak of Kurokami, where I stood mere minutes before.

You can't hear the frog concerts on this picture.

Small thrills.

Perfect view from the top.

The view on the way down was a little bit more scary.

I pressed on toward Mount Hanabusa, with Hanabusa Rock as my turnaround point. Up until then, the trail had been well-marked with ribbons, but between Hanabusa’s peak and the rock, the markers became sparse. I wondered why—until I reached the rock itself.
The final approach was a massive, exposed rock slab with a sheer 50-meter drop. No ropes, no chains—nothing to offer a handhold or a sense of security. I stepped forward a few meters but ultimately decided against continuing. I wasn’t feeling particularly courageous nor foolhardy. I imagine many others think the same, which might explain why this short 10-minute stretch between the peak and the rock sees far less foot traffic.

Originally, I had planned to return to Mikaeri Pass and continue toward Mount Seira—an additional hour and a half, by my estimate. Though the hike had been easier than expected and I wasn’t feeling especially drained, I didn’t want to risk running out of energy mid-trail or being too exhausted to safely drive back to my lodging for the night.

While not reaching Hanabusa Rock was a slight disappointment, Mount Kurokami more than made up for it. The hike offered breathtaking views, a few chains and ladders for fun, a tranquil walk through the forest, and, ultimately, a fantastic day out.