Japan is a country of stunning natural beauty, blessed with mountains that stretch on forever and forests that one could drown in. The heartbeat of nature is something many of us could dream of hearing as a perfect getaway from the stresses of daily life. Thankfully, many convenient avenues do exist for us to experience such an adventure through camping and hiking activities available in Miyagi Prefecture (宮城県 Miyagi-ken), the central prefecture of the Tohoku Region (東北地方 Tōhoku-chihō).
Located only 90 minutes away from Tokyo by shinkansen, Miyagi Prefecture boasts no small amount of famous natural landmarks, such as Mount Zao (蔵王山 Zao-san) and Matsushima Bay (松島湾 Matsushima-wan).
Beyond its capital city of Sendai (仙台) lies a wealth of easily accessible hiking trails and nature reserves, as National Parks make up nearly a full quarter of the entire landmass of Miyagi Prefecture.
To get a clearer idea of what to expect before you set out, here are our six recommended hiking trails to blaze through and enjoy a fresh view on the resplendent natural beauty of Japan!
1. Michinoku Coastal Trail
The Michinoku Coastal Trail (みちのく潮風トレイル) is a 900km+ long trekking route running from Fukushima to Aomori Prefecture, traversing the coast of Miyagi along the way. There are campgrounds, inns, and public transportation access points conveniently located near the trail at intervals.
The trail is also broken up into shorter sections manageable as day hikes, each with their own unique characteristics. English maps for each section are available for download. One of the most convenient day hikes is the Onagawa Section, accessible from Onagawa Station (女川駅 Onagawa-eki).
The Northern Kesennuma Section is another charming day hike to try. It follows the scenic rocky coastline, passing by such sights as the imposing Ogama Hanzo Monolith (巨釜半造・折石 Ōgama Hanzo Oreishi) and Dairiseki Coast (大理石海岸 Dairisekikaigan), a natural shoreline composed of marble.
Michinoku Coastal Trail (みちのく潮風トレイル)
Address: 5-300-31 Yuriage, Natori-shi, Miyagi 981-1204
Nearest stations (in Miyagi Prefecture): JR Onagawa Station (女川駅) (Refer to website for full list of trailhead starting stations)
2. Kesennuma-Karakuwa Olle Trail
The concept of Olle trails originated on Jeju Island in South Korea. In the island’s local dialect, “olle” (オルレ) refers to “a narrow path between the street and one’s doorstep.” With support from Jeju after the 2011 tsunami, Miyagi now has four Olle trails—one in Kesennuma, one in Naruko, one in Tome, and one in Oku-Matsushima. All are well-marked hiking trails rich in history and scenery.
As a continuation from the Northern Kesennuma Section of the Michinoku Coastal Trail, head for this unique hiking trail that passes through both inhabited and natural areas of the Karakuwa Peninsula (唐桑半島 Karakuwa Hantō). Karakuwa is known for its rugged coast with waves that crash against uniquely shaped rocks, including the pillar-like Oreishi. As the trail passes from coast to forest to local villages, hikers will be given a chance to acquaint themselves with the seafaring local culture.
The 10km-course begins at the Karakuwa Visitor Center (唐桑半島ビジターセンター). It passes by the 1,000 year old Osaki Shrine (御崎神社 Osaki-jinja), which sits in the middle of a thick laurel forest. The shrine is believed to help bring good catches of fish. Nearby stands a whale monument dedicated to these creatures, considered divine messengers, and shrine records note that they’ve once even helped a ship get back to shore during a storm.
The trail continues by Cape Osaki (御崎岬 Osaki-misaki) and its breathtaking ocean views, and then on to the Kannokura Tsunami Stones (神の倉の津波石), massive 150-ton rocks ripped from the seafloor and washed up here by the force of the 2011 tsunami.
Other highlights include the Sasahama Fishing Harbor (笹浜漁港 Sasahama Gyokō), a protected inlet used for fishing, the oreishi stone column rising up dramatically in the midst of the open ocean, and a variety of spring flowers including lilies and daisies. Hiking the entire course takes four to five hours and is rated moderate to difficult.
Karakuwa is a journey through Miyagi’s wild coastal heart. Walking through this rough, jagged landscape gave me a new respect for the people who have braved dangers and made their livelihoods from the sea for centuries. Support them by trying local seafood, particularly oysters in winter and sanma (saury) in autumn.
Kesennuma-Karakuwa Olle Trail (宮城オルレ気仙沼・唐桑コース)
Address: 4-3 Karakuwachō Sakihama, Kesennuma-shi, Miyagi 988-0554
Nearest station: Kensennuma Station (気仙沼駅)
Access: From Kesennuma Station, walk to Kesennuma City Hall (気仙沼市役所). The Kesennuma Shiyakusho-mae (気仙沼市役所前) bus stop is just outside. From the Shiyakusho-mae bus stop, board Osaki Line (御崎線) bus bound for Osaki (御崎). Alight at Karakuwa Visitor Center (唐桑ビジターセンター). Timetables here (weekdays) and here (weekends & holidays).
3. Oku-Matsushima Olle Trail
The Oku-Matsushima Olle Trail is a scenic 10km loop hike packed with points of interest. The trail winds through the nature surrounding a small but modern community on the eastern edge of Matsushima Bay.
Highlights along the trail include Cape Shinhama, Otakamori, and Tsukihama Beach. Cape Shinhama (新浜岬 Shinhama Misaki) is a distinctively shaped natural jetty of smooth, barren rock said to resemble a horse’s back. Otakamori (大高森) is a 106m tall mountain home to one the “Four Best Views of Matsushima Bay”, the Sokan (壮観 “Magnificent View”). Tsukihama Beach (月浜海水浴場 Tsukihama Kaisuiyokujō) is popular with locals, a relaxing place to swim or picnic.
The hike starts and ends at Aomina (あおみな), a small sightseeing complex housing a local products shop and diner. Visitors looking for a sea-bound perspective can take a short sightseeing cruise from here to see the rugged Sagakei Gorge (嵯峨渓). While surrounded by beautiful natural scenery, hikers are never far from the comforts of civilisation, making the Oku-Matsushima Olle trail a good option even for those wary of straying too far into the wilderness of a foreign country.
The Olle Trail also passes by the Oku-Matsushima Historical Museum of Jomon Village (奥松島縄文村歴史資料館), a museum and historical park built on the ruins of a prehistoric settlement. The must-see there is an ancient shell mound which has been designated a National Historic Site, but there’s so much to see and do here that history lovers will find it justifies a separate trip.
Oku-Matsushima Olle Trail (宮城オルレ 奥松島コース)
Address: 5-1 Kawahara, Miyato, Higashimatsushima, Miyagi 981-0412
Nearest station: Nobiru Station (野蒜駅)
Access: Take a 10-minute taxi ride or a 5km rental bicycle ride from Nobiru Station to Aomina Visitor Center
4. Omoshiroyama Gorge Hike
The Omoshiroyama Gorge (面白山 Omoshiroyama) trail is a flat, narrow hiking course near the bottom of a gorge with steep, rocky walls. Parts of the trail are carved into the rock face. Elsewhere, delicately arched bridges span the stream below, like a sumi-e (済ー絵) landscape painting come to life.
The hiking course itself takes about 1.5 hours one-way. At the end of the trail, hikers can either turn around and head back the way they came, or extend their hike by following the small road from where the trail ends to Yamadera (山寺).
Omoshiroyama Gorge Hike (面白山紅葉川渓谷ハイキングコース)
Address: 8387 Yamadera, Yamagata-shi, Yamagata 999-3301
Nearest station: Omoshiroyama-Kōgen Station (面白山高原駅)
Access: Trail starts a short walk away from Omoshiroyama-Kōgen Station
5. Mount Kurikoma Hike
Mount Kurikoma (栗駒山 Kurikomayama) is a favourite hiking and fall color destination, a day hike suitable for any reasonably fit hiker. The effort-to-payoff ratio is fantastic—after just a little over an hour’s climb along the Higashi Kurikoma route, the trail breaks the treeline and flattens out onto a plateau revealing a vast panorama of distant peaks piercing through a sea of clouds.
The second and final leg of the ascent to the 1,626m high summit is steep but seduces with unbroken views of the mountainous panorama from an ever-higher perspective. Following the Sukawa Trail (須川 Sukawa tozan-dō) down off the summit takes hikers down the Iwate (岩手) side of the mountain. The unbroken panoramas persist until the trail descends below the treeline, into volcanic terrain and, in autumn, a blaze of fall foliage. The trail ends at Sukawa Onsen (須川温泉).
The route described here is a through-hike ascending from Iwakagamidaira (いわかがみ平) via the Higashi Kurikoma Trail, then descending into Sukawa Onsen via the Sukawa Trail. That route is convenient during fall color season, the only time of year the bus to Iwakagamidaira is in operation.
The bus running between Sukawa Onsen and Ichinoseki Station (一ノ関駅 Ichinoseki-eki) operates the entire green season (late April through early November), so spring and summer hikers wishing to use public transportation can opt for a loop hike starting from and finishing at Sukawa Onsen.
Those with a car can do a loop hike on the Miyagi side of the mountain, as a day-trip or with an overnight stay at the Yubama Onsen Miura Ryokan (湯浜温泉 三浦旅館) hot springs inn.
Mount Kurikoma (栗駒山)
Address: Koeihigashi Kurikomanumakura, Kurihara, Miyagi 989-5371
Nearest stations: Kurikomakogen Station (栗駒高原駅)
Access: 70 minutes by bus from Kurikomakogen Station (栗駒高原駅). Board a Kurikomayama Koyogo (栗駒山 紅葉号) bus bound for Iwakagamidaira (いわかがみ平). Alight at Iwakagamidaira, the final stop. The Koyogo Bus runs weekends & holidays during fall color season (late September–late October) only. See timetable here.
6. Mount Taihaku Hike
Mount Taihaku (太白山 Taihaku-san) is a low mountain with a delightfully conical shape standing on the western outskirts of downtown Sendai. During the Edo Period, Sakuma Dogan (佐久間洞厳), a Confucianist painter and calligrapher, described the mountain as being inhabited by giants and sennin (仙人 immortal mountain hermits). Though there are few sightings of giants or immortals nowadays, a small shrine at the peak stands testament to a holy presence on the mountain.
The forested trails here make hikers feel much farther from civilisation than they actually are, and a short chain climb near the peak adds to the sense of adventure. A round trip between bus stop and peak takes about four hours.
Mount Taihaku (太白山)
Address: Moniwa, Taihaku-ku, Sendai-shi, Miyagi 982-0251
Nearest stations: Yagiyama-Zoological Park Station (八木山動物公園駅)
Access: 56-minute walk from Yagiyama-Zoological Park Station to start of trailhead
Closing
Experiencing the outdoors can give you a sense of joy and adventure that you’d be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. Whether it be your first time shuffling in outdoor activities into your holiday or the umpteenth patch added to your wilderness explorer’s sash, a trail through Miyagi will most certainly make for a trail to be remembered. So pack your bags, lace up your hiking shoes, and make sure to drink plenty of water!
This article is adapted from Miyagi Prefectural Government.
Header image credit: Visit Miyagi Japan
