Recommended Section Hike:
Taro to Jodogahama

Taro to Jodogahama Section Hike (Iwate)

walk through BEaches, FORESTs, disaster memorials, observatories, the "SAkiyama blowhole”, and finish at the famous jodogahama, a beautiful beach with a white pebble shoreline and clear, calm waters punctuated by rocky islands.

Start Point: Shintaro Station（新田老駅）
End Point: Jodogahama Visitor Center （浄土ヶ浜ビジターセンター）
Length: ~22.5 km
Time: 1-2 days
Difficulty: Intermediate
Elevation: 920m Ascent, 900m Descent
Elevation Profile

Taro Town

Begin your hike in Taro, a town known for its vast sea walls and the unique Taro Kanko Hotel tsunami monument. Built to protect against tsunamis, these walls stretch over 2.4 kilometers (it was likened to the Great Wall of China). However, the 2011 tsunami overpowered these defenses, causing horrific damage and loss of life.

Taro now plays an important role in telling the story of the 2011 tsunami; most famously, the Taro Kanko Hotel remains semi-destroyed in town as a reminder of what happened and a means to share lessons with future generations. The hotel's lower floors were completely destroyed, but fortunately, there were no casualties as the hotel was empty on the day. It is open to the public with free tours organised by Miyako city; if you sign up for a tour, you can view dramatic video footage of the tsunami's arrival, captured from the hotel's sixth floor by the former hotel president.

Grab some provisions and look around at Taro's michi-no-eki (roadside station). If you want to try the local delicacy, head to Zensukeya Shokudo (善助屋食堂). It’s a popular spot run by a friendly group of locals famous for its Donko Don - fried fish (donko, or “dark sleeper”) served up on rice with a soft boiled egg.

Sagabe Viewpoint, Kashinai Beach and Miyako Country Club

From Taro, the trail will take you through forests, along the coast, and past small beaches until you reach Miyako Country Club. Here, you'll walk through a golf course, which is quite an interesting experience…! Keep an eye out for stray balls.

Next, visit the Tsunami Memorial Park Nakanohama. The park has English-language signs and a pleasant view point too.

Anegasaki

From there, head up towards Miyako Anegasaki Campsite, the Kyukamura Rikuchu-Miyako Hotel and the Anegasaki viewpoint. You can either stay the night here if you want to break it up into two days, or head onwards towards the Sakiyama Blowhole.

Sakiyama Blowhole

The Sakiyama Blowhole in Sanriku Fukko National Park is the largest blowhole in Japan and a National Monument. When the wind and waves are strong, this natural attraction shoots water up to 30 meters high through a small opening in a cave, making for an impressive sight.

You'll then walk along the coast and through forests with gentle ups and downs until you arrive at Jodogahama.

Jodogahama

Jodogahama Beach, located just outside central Miyako City, is a picturesque destination known for its white pebble shore and clear, calm waters. Part of Sanriku Recovery National Park and regarded as one of Japan's top beaches, it draws visitors with its serene setting and views of rugged, rocky islands. The beach's beauty is so profound that it's named after the Buddhist concept of paradise, "Pure Land".

The beach area is well-equipped for tourists, featuring a rest house with amenities like showers, changing rooms, and dining facilities. Although damaged in the 2011 tsunami, these facilities have since been rebuilt.

Head to the free museum at the visitor center, highlighting the local coastline and natural features.

Walking trails lead to various viewpoints and a fishery museum, offering insights into local fishing methods.

For a unique experience, you can also join a boat cruise, including the Umineko-maru for coastal views, and smaller boats for intimate tours of the nearby Blue Cave, known for its striking blue waters. These cruises often include the company of local seagulls, adding to the charming coastal experience.

From Jodogahama, you can either continue walking towards Miyako City or take a bus to the city centre, where there are several accommodation options, restaurants, and good transport connections.

This marks the end of the Taro-Jodogahama section of the Michinoku Coastal Trail!