This is a hidden gem.
If you're not a fan of adventure, please come by sea.
By land, you certainly can't reach it lightly.
It's a big mistake to think you can get there by walking along the coastline.
From the ferry terminal, it's 9km away, with an elevation gain of 540m, and takes 3 hours to walk.
There are no steep climbs, but the repeated small ups and downs mean you'll essentially gain the same elevation as climbing Mount Misen.
After the tunnel at the back of Miyajima Public Aquarium, there are almost no people around. Be careful of unfamiliar animals like antlered deer and wild boar. There are some sections where you have to push through the bush, and you'll be covered in ticks.
30% of the road is paved, 60% is a hiking trail, and 10% is a trail that's hard to tell if it's a road or an animal trail. You'll also cross several streams.
Please take measures to avoid getting lost, such as using a hiking app instead of Google Maps.
When you arrive here, the place will be all to yourself.
Taking the paved road route from the direction of Omoto Park makes it a fairly easy journey. The mountain trail is also fairly well-maintained, and red tape and ribbons guided me along the way. Be careful, as there are some sections where you have to push through ferns. I went as far as the end of Nagaura, and on the way back, I saw a raccoon basking in the sun.
When I went there after descending from Mt. Mitoko, it was already evening and getting late, so I couldn't stop by. This time, I was able to go easily in the morning.
I reached a shrine at Mitokoura after going from Iwafune-dake to Yamashiro-san, then to Kawagozaki (Kawagozaki Cape), then to Nagaura, and finally along a forest road. The shortest route is to simply follow the trail from the Natural Science Research Institute of Hiroshima University Graduate School. However, there is a high risk of getting lost, so be sure to wear heavy equipment and make full use of Yamareco (a Japanese mountain climbing app).
