Take Shell Mound and Trailhead

In front of the gas station in Sakurajima-Take-cho, there is a sign that reads “Monument (Historic Site) Take Shell Mound”《記念物（史跡）武 貝塚》. Nothing resembles an archaeological site, just a sign. A shell mound that had been used about 4,000 years ago was excavated here. There were also bones of monkeys and wild boars. People have lived in Sakurajima since very ancient times and food seems to have been abundant.

 

A little further on, around the bus stop “Take-Tozanguchi”《武登山口》, please look under an orange curve mirror on the right side of the fork in the road that splits off to the right from the main road. There is a small stone monument with “Ontake trailhead”《御嶽登山口》 written on it. If you look carefully, you can notice it. “Ontake” refers to Kitadake, one of the mountains of Sakurajima, with an elevation of 1,117 meters. It was actually possible to climb Mt. Sakurajima in the 1900s. However, it was banned after Sakurajima suddenly erupted in 1955, killing and injuring climbers.