From my home, I can see Mount Sobo standing in the distance. It was one of those mountains I had always thought, “Someday, I want to climb that.” Since I finally had the chance, I decided to take on the challenge.
I casually assumed it would feel like an extension of hiking in Colorado, but that idea disappeared almost as soon as I started climbing.
What saved me was that most of the trail was shaded by trees, along with the refreshing air of May.
There is a mountain hut around the halfway point where hikers can stay overnight without advance reservations. Around that area, a beautiful riverside trail winds through the forest, with waterfalls adding to the scenery. If the hike had ended there, I probably would have walked away thinking, “That was a pleasant mountain trek.”
↑ Shelter hut at the halfway point
↑ Couldn’t resist taking a photo with the waterfall behind us
But beyond that point, the mountain completely changed its character.
The trail toward the summit became much more challenging, with sections requiring ropes and ladders. Thick tree roots twisted across the path, making every step more technical. There were even places where I had to scramble up rocky sections, and it demanded far more energy than I had expected.
After what felt like a long push, I finally reached Kunimi-toge Pass near the summit. In one corner of the open space, a small Jizo statue stood quietly, almost as if it were watching over the hikers passing by.
From here, it was about another hour to the summit. Just one last push.
Made it to the top!
The feeling of accomplishment in that moment was unlike anything I had experienced before. Maybe this is what makes mountain climbing so addictive. Standing at the summit, I looked out proudly over the breathtaking 360-degree panoramic view stretching in every direction.
I sat down, ate the rice balls I had brought with me, and took a moment to enjoy the view. Then reality set back in — it was time to head down.
But the descent was far from easy. My knees started hurting, the trail was slippery, and by the end, simply putting one foot in front of the other felt like a challenge. The thought of soaking in a hot spring afterward became my motivation to keep going, one step at a time.
Including breaks, the round trip took about eight hours. I can’t remember the last time I pushed my body this hard.
This was probably my first and last time climbing all the way to the summit.
But I’d happily come back to explore the trekking trails around the halfway point, maybe next time with friends. I’d love to enjoy the sound of the river and the beautiful waterfalls again — this time at a much more relaxed pace.
For anyone planning to take on Mount Sobo, one thing I learned firsthand is how important preparation is. Even something as simple as having a good trail map app and comfortable hiking shoes can make a huge difference and give you much more confidence on the mountain.
World-wide hiking and trail search app:
AllTrails
Popular hiking and outdoor map app in Japan:
YAMAP
Good hiking shoes also make a huge difference:
mont-bell（モンベル）
Mount Sobo
Route: Kobaru Trailhead → Kunimi-toge Pass → Mount Sobo (round-trip)
⏱ Time: 8:00
📏 Distance: 7.6 km
⬆ Elevation gain: 1,103 m
📍 Miyazaki–Oita region
report by Kayoko B.