Before your hike!
The walk covers a good distance and there are no grocery shops along the way. There are two vending machines near the bus stop at Nibu, where you start your hike. Pack some snacks and drinks with you, and enjoy a delicious lunch or light meal after your hike!
This hiking route is a route with nearly no shade. We recommend going on this trip in the morning, to avoid long hours under the sun. Don’t forget your hat, sunscreen and sunglasses!
The course will bring you through a pasture area. Please keep a polite distance and do not feed the animals.
The bus in Chibu Village runs mainly in the morning. After your hike, you can walk back to Kurii Port, or call and hire a taxi to bring you back.
If you need to store your bags, there are small coin lockers inside Kurii Port Ferry Terminal Building (business hours from 8:30 am). Alternatively, you can store your bags at Chiburijima Tourism Association (business hours from 8:30 am) and pay the storage fee.
Take the bus from Kurii Port to Nibu
There are a few buses in the morning going from Kurii Port to Nibu. Depending on the time of the day, the bus might be an 8-seater car or a smaller 4-5 seater car. Please refer to the pictures.
The vehicle waits for travellers next to the inter-island ferry boarding point, so you should find it easily when you get off the boat at Kurii Port.
Here are the bus options:
8:58 am from Kurii Port:
This bus stops at an area called “Kōri”, and departs at 9:48 am for other areas. If you take this bus, you will reach Nibu at 10:08 am. If you prefer not to wait, you can start your journey at Kōri.
Around 11:30 am from Kurii Port:
This bus will go to Nibu directly after picking up passengers that get off the Ferry Kuniga, which arrives at 11:30 am.
Alternatively, take the 8:06 am bus from Kurii Port to Nibu if you don’t have bags to store. This bus also makes a brief stop at “Kōri”. There is no need to get off the bus; just stay on the bus and continue your trip.
14 mins by bus
Alight at Nibu and let’s go!
After getting off the bus, proceed to walk along the main road, with the sea towards your left. When in doubt, use the map on your smartphone for some help.
There is no pavement on this route. Keep to the right-hand side of the road so that you can see oncoming traffic.
This is the last location with vending machines before you reach Mt. Akahage. There is a vending machine in front of a building near the bus stop. You will find one more machine on the left side of the road as you walk past a residential building next to the bus stop.
This is also the last toilet location before you reach the top of Mt. Akahage! Take a turn left next to the red vending machine and you will see a public toilet on your right, next to a small car park.
Go up the hill
After you reach the outskirts of the residential area, take the road that goes uphill.
After a long climb, you will come to a crossroads. Just go straight and continue your hike!
Say hi to the animal friends along the way.
Do you see the house on top of the mountain? That is the lookout on Mt. Akahage; the place you are going to!
After some twists and turns, you will come to another junction. Take the road on the right and continue your journey.
1 hr on foot
Site of Niburibō Temple
Soon, you will see a stone monument standing in the field on your right-hand side. According to legend, the exiled Emperor Go-Daigo stayed at the temple, which once stood at this location, after his arrival on the island. This also indicates you are getting close to your first stop on Mt. Akahage!
After a bit more climbing, you will come across two junctions; take the road on the right at both junctions.
15 mins on foot
Summit of Mt. Akahage
You’ve made it to the highest point on Chiburijima Island! This is also probably the best location on land to take in the view of Dōzen Caldera. On a clear day, you can also see Dōgo Island, and even Honshu (mainland Japan).
After refuelling, rehydrating and taking a quick toilet break, it’s time to continue your hike to Sekiheki (Red Cliff). You will come across a few junctions on your way to Sekiheki (Red Cliff); take the road on the right. Or simply follow the signs along the road.
55 mins on foot
Sekiheki (Red Cliff)
After reaching the car park of Sekiheki (Red Cliff), walk up the stairs and you will see Sekiheki standing there with a beaming smile.
*The cliff edge is unfenced. Please don’t get too close and keep a close eye on minors.
After enjoying the stunning vista of Sekiheki, it’s time to head back down. On the way back to Nibu, you will come across two junctions again. Take the road on the right and continue down towards the waterfront.
1 hr 10 mins on foot
Back at Nibu
After a half-day workout, it is time to take a break and refuel! If you are visiting on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, drop by Norari Coffee for a cup of coffee and enjoy some homemade cakes. Chibu has a good collection of restaurants and eateries. Check out this article for more options!
Afterwards, head back to Kurii Port on foot. The trip takes around 1 hour. Alternatively, you can also call the tourism association and hire a taxi.
It is a lot of walking in a day; put your feet up!
Travelling to Chiburijima Island from other Dōzen Islands:
If you are visiting from Ama Town (Nakanoshima Island), please take the inter-island ferry Isokaze which leaves Hishiura Port at 7:37 am.
If you are visiting from Nishinoshima Town (Nishinoshima Island), please take the inter-island ferry Isokaze which leaves Beppu Port at 7:46 am.
Travelling to Chiburijima Island from Dōgo (Okinoshima Town):
Take Ferry Shirashima which leaves Saigō Port at 8:30 am, and alight Kurii Port (Chibu Village, Chiburijima Island) at 10:50 am. While waiting at the ferry terminal for the bus that leaves at around 11:30 am, drop by the office of Chiburijima Tourism Association for last-minute sightseeing advice or language support. Alight at Nibu and start your hike.
Take Ferry Kuniga which leaves Shichirui Port at 9:30 am, and alight at Kurii Port (Chiburijima Island) at 11:30 am. Then proceed to take the bus that leaves Kurii Port at around 11:30 am. Alight at Nibu and start your hike. You can pick up some snacks from the snack shop onboard the ferry or make a grocery run the night before you get on the ferry.
Author: Cleo Wong