Hike Up to Mt. Tsurumi from Matogahama

The starting point for this hike is Matogahama Park, a “spa beech” that looks out onto Beppu-wan Bay. Take a moment to touch the water where the waves crash on the shore and then get started with your hike.

Walk along Route 10 in the direction of Hinode, then cross a bridge, take a left turn, and follow the footpath that runs along the left bank of the Sakai-gawa River. When you get to pedestrian bridge called Inachus Bridge (Inakosu-no-hashi), cross back over to the right bank of the river, and continue on through Minamitateishi Park.

Pass through the Horita-tenman-jinja Shrine, located at 250 m above sea level, and pass under the expressway. There is a road called the “Yamanami Highway” which links Beppu City with the Beppu Ropeway and also a hiking trail running alongside it. Traverse the grassy slope and pass under the Yamanami Highway to reach the Beppu Ropeway’s Beppu Kogen Station. In total, it’s about a two hour and 40 minute walk from your starting point of Mato-ga-hama Park.

Continue on through a forest of Japanese cedars and climb a steep series of stone steps. In about 30 minutes you will come to a shrine called Otake Gongen-sha (Shrine). Follow a ridgeline path through a wooded area, turn right at the junction and hike up a steep, zigzagging section of trail until the surrounding trees thin out near the summit. From Otake Gongen-sha, it takes about an hour and 20 minutes to reach the peak of Mt. Tsurumi. From the west side of the mountaintop, you should be able to see the two horn-like points of Mt. Yufu (Yufu-dake)’s peak.

From the peak of Mt. Tsurumi, head down the footpath for about 10 minutes and pass through the torii gate to reach the Beppu Ropeway, Tsurumi Sanjo Station. Take the ropeway down the mountain to complete your descent.