🗺️ Mount Takara高良山

The earthen Nō mountain range extends from the southern part of Fukuoka Prefecture to the border with Oita Prefecture. At the westernmost side, Mount Kōra, with an elevation of 312 meters, is also home to Kōra Shrine, which is famous as the Ichinomiya of Chikugo Province. Starting from JR Kurume Daigaku-mae Station, the hiking route via the mountain trails to JR Oi Station (Kyushu Olle Kurume - Kōra Mountain Route) allows you to experience the breath of history and nature within a walking time of 3 to 4 hours. A must-visit is Kōra Shrine, which has a history of over 1600 years and holds a prestigious position in the area. The shrine building, constructed during the Edo period, is the largest in Kyushu and is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. There is also an inner shrine in the mountains, which many climbers choose to visit as well. The literary giant Natsume Sōseki incorporated his experiences of visiting Kurume and climbing Mount Kōra multiple times into his representative work "Kusamakura." A stone monument inscribed with verses by Natsume Sōseki can only be found on Mount Kōra. From the summit, you can overlook the Chikugo Plain and the Chikugo River, and along the way, you will pass through the Kurume Forest Azalea Park, which is home to about 100 species and 6,100 azaleas, as well as one of the only four sites in the country featuring a bamboo grove of Moso bamboo (a natural monument), along with the seasonal natural beauty of cherry blossoms in spring and autumn leaves in fall.

Located in Kurume City, it is the site of Takeda Shrine, the Ichinomiya of Chikugo Province. Along the way, there are popular hiking routes featuring energy spots, Takeda Shrine, and Okumi (the inner shrine) (Kyushu Olle Kurume - Takayama Route). From the mountaintop, you can overlook the Chikugo Plain. The charming seasonal scenery includes the azalea park in spring and autumn foliage. There are many stone monuments with verses by Natsume Sōseki throughout the mountain.