Many precious species of plants grow on Taradake including natural forests of Japanese evergreen oak and skimmia japonica, and even clusters of miterwort (Saxifragaceae family), which can only be seen here in Kyushu. There is a camping ground at the entrance to the mountain climb. Taradake is popular amongst outdoor enthusiasts such as mountain climbers and hikers. The Taradake Yokodan Rindo is a nature road which you can drive along and sense the changing expressions of the four seasons. Taradake is an old conical volcano from the Quaternary Period and is one peak of the Taradake Volcanos with an altitude of 996 meters. In "Hizen Fudoki" (description of the culture and climate of Hizen province), it is referred to as Taranomine. It has a complicated shape due to the frequent changes characteristic of volcanos and has been revered as a sacred mountain since ancient times. At Taradake's summit is a temple to worship the god of Taradake built in the Wado Period (708-715), and even today a sacred atmosphere can be felt here. It takes around one hour to reach the summit from the camping ground at the mountain climb entrance.
● Access:
From train station: Get on a bus bound for Nakayama at Tara Station on the JR Nagasaki Main Line, and get off at “Nakayama” stop
Car: 90-minute drive from Nagasaki Expressway Takeo-Kitagata IC
● Contacts:
Tara Tourist Association, Tel: +81-954-67-0065
Division of Planning, Commerce and Industry, Tara City Office, Tel: +81-954-67-0312
