Hakushū Kitahara (北原 白秋, Kitahara Hakushū, 25 January 1885 – 2 November 1942) is the pen-name of Kitahara Ryūkichi, a Japanese tanka poet active during the Taishō and Shōwa periods of Japan. He is regarded as one of the most popular and important poets in modern Japanese literature.

Kitahara (written: 北原) is a Japanese surname. Notable people with the surname include:

Kitahara Station (北原駅, Kitahara-eki) is a passenger railway station on the Jōmō Line in Maebashi, Gunma, Japan, operated by the private railway operator Jōmō Electric Railway Company.

Kana Kitahara (北原 佳奈, Kitahara Kana, born December 17, 1988) is a Japanese football player. She plays for Mynavi Vegalta Sendai. She played for Japan national team.

Satoko Kitahara (22 August 1929 - 23 January 1958) - later known as Elisabeth Maria (also Erizabe-To Maria) - was a Japanese Roman Catholic and member of the Militia Immaculatae. Kitahara was descended from aristocrats and samurai warriors; she worked in an airplane warehouse during World War II and became disillusioned after she and others learnt of Japanese atrocities during the conflict. But she soon discovered Roman Catholicism and after a period of being exposed to churches decided to learn catechism so she could be baptized.