Mount Sanbe Higashinohara Loop

The Higashinohara Loop climbs Mount Sanbe (Osanbe, 1,126 m), the highest peak in the Mount Sanbe volcanic group in Oda City, Shimane Prefecture. The trailhead is reached via bus from JR Odashi Station to the Higashinohara or Sanbe Onsen stop (about one hour), with a small gravel parking area at the trailhead for those driving; no permit is required. The loop covers roughly 9.5 km with about 850 m of cumulative elevation gain, taking most hikers four to five hours round trip. The lower third follows a dirt forest path through beech and Japanese oak, offering shade and firm footing; above the tree line the trail becomes rocky pumice and volcanic scree, exposed to wind, with sections of loose footing that require care in wet weather. Technically the climb is non-exposed but sustained, with a steep push in the final kilometer to the crater rim. Along the way hikers pass the Sanbe Nishinohara grassland, views over the Sanbe volcanic crater group, and a marked junction near the Osanbe summit where the loop can be shortened by descending directly rather than completing the full ridge circuit -- a useful turn-around point in poor visibility or late afternoon. From the summit, clear days reveal the Sea of Japan coastline to the north and the Chugoku mountains inland. There are no water sources or refuge huts along the loop itself, though the Sanbe Onsen hot spring village at the trailhead has lodges, a visitor center, and restaurants where hikers can refill bottles before setting out. Snow can linger above the tree line into early spring, and the volcanic soil above the treeline drains poorly after rain, so trekking poles and waterproof boots are recommended for the descent.