Day Hikes & Recommended Sections

See detailed itineraries for day trips and multi-day trips below.

01 Tanesashi Coastline (0.5 - 1 Day)

Pristine lawns, rugged coast, iconic shrines, and long beaches - the Tanesashi Coast hike has got it all, and is truly one of the highlights of the Michinoku Coastal Trail.
Find a full itinerary and highlights HERE.

02 Kuji to Taneichi Hike (2 Days)

Starting off in the town of Kuji, home to the renowned Ama women divers, this section traverses fishing villages, rivers, beaches and mountain passes, and features a memorable blend of blue waters and rugged rocky outcrops.
Find a full itinerary and highlights HERE.

03 Fudai to Tanohata Hike (2 Days)

This section - while undoubtedly challenging - is one of the most memorable parts of the entire trail. From venturing into mysterious hand-dug tunnels to admiring the famous cliffs of Kitayamazaki, this is a section not to be missed.
Find a full itinerary and highlights HERE.

04 TARO TO JODOGAHAMA (1 - 2 DAYS)

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.
Find a full itinerary and highlights HERE.

05 goishi coast & kurosaki senkyo onsen (1 DAY)

Known for its crystal-clear waters, the Goishi Coast spans six kilometers, offering a stunning landscape of rocky beaches and cliffs. This section of the Sanriku Recovery National Park is renowned for its unique smooth black stones that line the coast and is also home to a scenic hot spring, Kurosaki Senkyo Onsen.
Find a full itinerary and highlights HERE.

06 KESENNUMA OSHIMA ISLAND (1 DAY)

A great option for a day of exploration, Kesennuma Oshima has beaches with clear waters, yuzu farms, quaint cafés, viewpoints, and extremely fresh seafood. The slow-paced island is well suited for a day hike and also has a hotel and campsite if you want to take your time and stay the night.

Find a full itinerary and highlights HERE.

07 Kinkasan ISLAND (1 DAY)

Kinkasan, considered one of Tohoku’s most sacred places, offers a unique blend of nature, spirituality, and culture. The island is home to the renowned Koganeyama Shrine, ancient forests, and hundreds of free-roaming deer that are regarded as messengers of the gods.

Find a full itinerary and highlights HERE.

08 Mt. karou (1 DAY)

Mount Karou（鹿狼山）is a relatively easy and popular hike near the town of Shinchi in northern Fukushima. On a clear day, visitors can enjoy views of the Pacific Ocean, the Zao mountain range, and the rolling hills of the Abukuma highlands. There are also two onsen, as well as a Farmer’s market, en route.

Find a full itinerary and highlights HERE.

***More Day Trip Itineraries Coming Soon!***

Full Trail Overview

These videos cover the full length of the trail, in line with the official paper maps provided by the Michinoku Trail Club.

Simulating a Northbound journey (NOBO), the videos start from Soma in the south, winding along the coast to the northern Hachinohe trailhead in Aomori.

If you’re planning to do the full 1,000 km hike, see “Northbound or Southbound?” to help you decide which direction to hike (hint: I’m glad I walked northbound)!

Section 1: Soma to Natori (97 km)

Highlights

• Soma Nakamura Shrine

• Karou no Yu Onsen (Hot Spring)

• Mt. Karo

• Mayumi-Shimizu & Ukon-shimizu Springs (very tasty water, straight from the ground)

• Yamamoto Tsunami Museum

• Mt. Shinzan & Mt. Shiho

• Natori Coast & Natori Trail Centre

Section 2: Natori to Ishinomaki (82 km)

Highlights

• Natori Trail Centre

• Arahama Elementary School (Tsunami Memorial and Museum)

• Shiogama: Shiogama Fish Market (if you can get there early enough). I also recommend staying with SHIOGAMA GUESTHOUSE MINATOMARU if you can, the owner is passionate about meeting MCT hikers.

• The Urato Islands

• Ishinomaki: Hiyoriyama Park has a beautiful viewpoint overlooking the city, and the Minamihama Memorial Park - which includes the Miyagi Tsunami Memorial Museum - is also worth a visit.

Section 3: Ishinomaki to Onagawa (102 km)

Highlights

• Tashirojima (Cat Island) and the Cat Shrine

• Manga Island Campsite (which includes a nice bath)

• Ajishima Island

• Kinka-san Island + Koganeyama Shrine

• Gobansho Park Observatory

• Mt. Dairokuten & Oshika Peninsula Coast

• Onagawa Town

Section 4: Onagawa to Kesennuma (114 km)

Highlights

• Mt. Ishinage

• Ogatsu Bay

• Osuzaki Lighthouse

• Okawa Elementary School Tsunami Memorial

• Minami-sanriku town, including Hotel Kanyo Onsen and Memorial Park

• Mt. Tatsugane

Section 5: Kesennuma to Rikuzentakata (102 km)

Highlights

• Kesennuma City, including the Kesennuma Memorial Park

• Kesennuma Oshima Island and Mt. Kameyama

• Karakuwa Peninsula, including Cape Osaki

• Rikuzentakata, including the Miracle Pine Tree and the Iwate Memorial Museum

Section 6: Rikuzentakata to Kamaishi (129 km)

Highlights

• Kurosaki, including Kurosaki Onsen (Hot Spring)

• Goishi Coast

• Ofunato City

• Mt. Tateishi and Cape Ryorizaki

• Shiome Tsunami Memorial Museum

• Kamaishi City

Section 7: Kamaishi to Yamada (121 km)

Highlights

• Hakozaki Peninsula

• Otsuchi Town, including “The Phone of the Wind” and Houraijima Island & Shrine

• Kirikiri and Namiita beaches

• Mt. Kujira

• Funakoshi Peninsula, including Aragami Beach and Mt. Karogatake

• Yamada Town

Section 8: Yamada to Miyako (106 km)

Highlights

• Omoe Peninsula

• Mt. Gassan

• Miyako City

• Jodogahama Beach

• Sakiyama Blowhole and Anegasaki Campsite

• Taro Town, including Taro Kanko Hotel Disaster Memorial

Section 9: Miyako to Kuji (99 km)

Highlights

• Unosu Cliffs

• Tanohata Town

• Hand-dug Tunnels

• Kitayamazaki Cliffs

• Kurosaki-so lodge, campsite and onsen

• Nedari Coast

• Fudai Town

• Noda Town

• Kosode Coast, including Kosose Ama Divers Centre

• Kuji City

Section 10: Kuji to Hachinohe (93 km)

Highlights

• Yokonuma Viewpoint

• Taneichi Town

• Kofunato Coast

• Mt Hashikami

• Tanseashi Coast

• Osuka Beach

• Kabushima Shrine and Trailhead

🚧 Work in Progress 🚧