Kōfu Town, Tottori Prefecture

Taking in Mount Daisen from Kagikake Pass I came for the autumn woods, then couldn't take my eyes off the cliffs

I came to Kagikake Pass to admire the autumn woods. But when I got out of the car and looked up, the southern face of Mount Daisen rose into view, and I couldn't move for a while. Here's the story of an autumn trip spent taking in the forest and cliffs together.

An autumn story about looking up at Mount Daisen from beside my car. Read what happened when the cliffs came into view beyond the forest.

A woman seen from behind stands beside a red convertible, looking toward Mount Daisen's southern cliffs rising beyond an autumn-coloured beech forest. She has her arms outstretched in front of a wooden fence around a paved parking area.

AutumnLate October

I tried to get Mount Daisen in the shot and laughed at just how big it was

When I reached Kagikake Pass and got out of my red car, the first thing I noticed was the autumn forest spread out in front of me. I'd come to see the leaves, so I thought I'd take my time looking around. But the moment I lifted my eyes, a huge cliff face loomed beyond the trees, and I forgot what I was about to say.

The southern face of Mount Daisen stretched above the forest. I looked to the right, then let my gaze travel left, but the mountain kept going. I thought I knew what to expect from photos, but I hadn't imagined I could see it like this from right beside my car. Even standing there in silence was fun.

I stretched both arms out, trying to get the mountain's full width into the photo. I wanted to say, ‘About this wide,’ but my arms didn't come close. I wasn't explaining it to anyone, yet I laughed to myself. When I lowered my arms and looked up again, the mountain seemed closer than before.

When I looked down, a beech forest spread out below the cliffs. I felt I could make out each one better when I took in the forest and the mountain together, rather than looking at them separately. After tracing the autumn branches with my eyes and then following the lines in the rock, I realised how much variety there could be within a single mountain.

I was heading back to the car when I turned around for one last look. Somehow, that ‘one last look’ kept going. First I followed the ridge along the top, then looked back down at the forest, and before I knew it I was taking in the whole view again. I wanted to stay a little longer, doing nothing, instead of hurrying on.

Before I came, the autumn leaves were what I was most looking forward to. By the time I left, the view of Mount Daisen's southern face was what I knew I'd remember. Next time, I'd love to see it from the same spot with the trees in full leaf. I climbed back into the car, looked ahead and took hold of the wheel. The road ahead felt even more inviting after looking up at the mountain.

The story sections are fiction inspired by this location. For accurate information, please consult official tourism and information websites.

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Kōfu Town, Tottori Prefecture · Autumn

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Local specialty

Daisen okowa

Kōfu Town features Daisen okowa made with nuts, wild greens and vegetables. I only found out about it after taking in the mountain, and it made me want to come back and taste something local with that view. Thinking about what to try on my next trip makes me look forward to returning.

Highlights

Beech forest and Mount Daisen's southern face in one view

At Kagikake Pass, you can see the beech forest in the foreground and Mount Daisen's southern face rising beyond it. After getting out of the car, I kept looking from the forest to the cliffs and back again.

Make time to take in the autumn forest

You can enjoy the autumn leaves here from late October. I'd set aside time to look at the mountain here, as well as time for the drive. Even when I was ready to leave, I wanted one more look.

Kagikake Pass details

Kagikake Pass

Car park: 15 spaces (free)
Pass elevation: about 910 m

The pass is at 1531-29 Kagikake, Ōkawara, Kōfu Town. I got out of the car here and took time to look at Mount Daisen's southern face. I loved the shift from driving along the road to stopping and taking in the mountain.

View Kagikake Pass on the map. I'd also make time to take in the forest and cliffs once I arrived.

More Spot Guides

If you enjoyed this story, you might like these places too. I've gone back to each of them in different seasons, again and again.

Hino, Tottori Prefecture Akechi Pass At dawn in November, what I wanted to see from Akechi Pass was a sea of clouds covering the valley and Mount Daisen beyond it. I was so sleepy I’d been hiding my mouth in my sleeve, but when the morning light touched the mountain’s snow, I was wide awake. I took my time enjoying the happiness of having got up early and come all this way.

Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture Akinada Bridge Once we’ve crossed to the island, let’s stop at the Shirasaki Garden before driving farther. In spring, I’d make it our first break, enjoying the flowers beside the paths and the sea together.

Takahashi, Okayama Prefecture Bitchu Matsuyama Castle Sea of Clouds Observatory From a wooden deck on the ridge opposite, you can see Bitchu Matsuyama Castle atop Komatsu-yama. At dawn in November, just the castle roof peeked above the sea of clouds, and I gave myself a little mental fist pump. Those 2 alarms were worth it.

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View Kagikake Pass on the map (opens in a new tab)

Official sources

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