Mount Kaimon

Mount Kaimon is a volcano on the southern coast of Kyushu in Kagoshima Prefecture, with a cone-shaped silhouette rising 924 meters above sea level. Rocky paths wind through forest to the top, where hikers find open views of the coastline.

The volcano formed roughly 4,000 years ago and last erupted in the year 885. Tephra and lava from that period still cover much of the surrounding area today.

Der Name bedeutet "Tor des Öffnens", und lokale Fischer betrachten die Form als Zeichen für Wetter und Jahreszeiten. Die rote Farbe des Gesteins wird an klaren Tagen besonders deutlich, wenn Sonnenlicht die Hänge trifft.

The loop trail covers roughly 6.5 kilometers and typically takes three hours to walk, with an elevation change of 730 meters. Visitors should start early to avoid afternoon clouds and wear sturdy shoes for the steep sections.

The mix of andesite and basalt in the rock makes it a geological textbook for volcanologists. Ships have used its shape for centuries as a reference point along the Satsuma Peninsula.

Location: Ibusuki

Inception: 2400 BCE

Elevation above the sea: 924 m

Made from material: andesite, basalt

Part of: 100 Famous Japanese Mountains, New 100 Famous Japanese Mountains, 100 Famous Kyūshū Mountains

GPS coordinates: 31.17996,130.52844

Latest update: December 13, 2025 19:43