Mount Kirishima, Volcanic mountain group in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan
Kirishima stretches across Kagoshima and Miyazaki Prefectures, forming a chain of more than twenty volcanic peaks with craters and calderas. The landscape consists of solidified lava fields, sulfur springs, and forests climbing steep slopes.
The volcanoes have been active since the eighth century, repeatedly ejecting ash and rock. Larger events in the eighteenth century altered the shape of several peaks permanently.
Mount Takachiho within the Kirishima range holds deep mythological importance as the landing site of Ninigi no Mikoto in Japanese creation stories.
Several hiking routes lead through the mountains, with some sections becoming slippery when wet. Hot spring areas nearby offer rest points after longer climbs.
One peak in the area served as a backdrop for filming an international spy film in the 1960s. Mist and volcanic steam still enhance the otherworldly atmosphere today.
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