HIKING THE MICHINOKU COASTAL TRAILChoose a course that fits you.Decide which part of the trail you will hike based on your stamina and experience, the length of the route, and altitude variation.Make your plan carefully if you choose a course with difficult parts. Hike at your own pace.Being safe is based on having good judgment. Don’t strain yourself.You can arrange for a guide to accompany you if you need one or join a group tour. Let’s enjoy hiking the trail safely!Imagine the whole route.First, plan how to get to your starting point, and consider the distance of the whole route and the time required for it. If youalso plan ahead where to eat lunch or have breaks, it will make the long distance easier to manage and more bearable.Make sure to check where the safety evacuation areas are on your map in case of disaster.Look for point that could be dangerous and this about how to handle them.We recommend you check the tide level and wave height in advance if you pass through along the coast.
IIwwaatt
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RRaaiill ww
aayyLakeOgawara
Pacific Ocean
JR Tsugaru LineJR Tsugaru Line
Noheji Bay
Aomori Bay
JR Om
inato LineJR O
minato Line
野辺地野辺地NohejiNoheji新青森新青森
Shin-AomoriShin-Aomori青森青森
AomoriAomori
七戸十和田七戸十和田Shichinohe-TowadaShichinohe-Towada
二戸二戸NinoheNinohe
Aoimori
Aoimori
Aoimori
Aoimori
Railway
Railway
盛岡盛岡MoriokaMorioka
Kamaishi Expressway
Kamaishi Expressway花巻花巻
HanamakiHanamakiいわて花巻空港いわて花巻空港Iwate Hanamaki AirportIwate Hanamaki Airport
Akita ExpresswayAkita Expressway 北上北上KitakamiKitakami
JR Kitakami LineJR Kitakami Line
TonoTono遠野遠野JJRR
KKaa
ii sshh LLiinneeiimm aa
岩沼岩沼
名取名取
松島松島MatsushimaMatsushima
LLiinnee
JJRRKKee
ssee
nnnnuummaa柳津柳津
YanaizuYanaizu
女川女川OnagawaOnagawa
石巻石巻
田野畑田野畑 Riasu Line Riasu LineSanriku RailwaySanriku Railway
South Fudai toTanohata SectionSouth Fudai toTanohata Section
AomoriAomori Expressway
Expressway
Aomori AirportAomori Airport青森空港青森空港
三沢空港三沢空港Misawa AirportMisawa Airport
仙台空港仙台空港Sendai AirportSendai Airport
青森空港有料道路青森空港有料道路
東北自動車道
東北自動車道
弘南線弘南線
奥羽本線
奥羽本線
みちのく有料道路みちのく有料道路
第二みちのく有料道路
第二みちのく有料道路
TToo ookkuuhh nn LLSShh nnii kkaa eenn nnii ee
ssrrii RRaa wwll aayy
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ii
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LakeTowada
JR O
u M
ain
Line
JR O
u M
ain
Line
Tohoku Expressway
Tohoku Expressway
JR Hanawa
JR HanawaLineLine
Hachinohe
Hachinohe Expressway
Expressway
LakeTazawa
JR TazaJR Taza wako Linewako Line
IchinosekiIchinoseki一ノ関一ノ関
JR RikuuJR RikuuEast LineEast Line
RRJ oobb aann
JJLLii nnee
Joban Expressway
Joban Expressway
Abukuma E
xpres
s
Abukuma E
xpres
s
YamagataExpressway
YamagataExpressway
JR SenzanJR SenzanLineLine
SendaiSendai仙台仙台
蒲生干潟蒲生干潟Gamo TidelandGamo Tideland
多賀城多賀城TagajoTagajoTagajo
塩釡塩釡ShiogamaShiogama
JR OfunatoJR OfunatoLineLine
North Kesennuma SectionNorth Kesennuma Section
気仙沼大島気仙沼大島Kesennuma Oshima IslandKesennuma Oshima Island
JR OfunatoJR OfunatoLine (BRT)Line (BRT)
Rikuzentakata SectionRikuzentakata Section
Central to South Ofunato Section Central to South Ofunato Section
盛盛SakariSakari
JJ RR YYaammaaddaa LLiinnee
349
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398
342
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399
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349
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454
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286
457
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45
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104
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284
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397
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107
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455
340
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338
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340
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340
281
395
107
340
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340
45
283
45
45
106
45
455
4
Toho
ku E
xpre
ssw
ay
Toho
ku E
xpre
ssw
ayTo
hoku
Shin
kans
en Li
ne
Toho
ku Sh
inka
nsen
Line
Toho
ku M
ain Li
ne
Toho
ku M
ain Li
ne
JR Senseki LineJR Senseki Line
JR Ishinomaki
JR Ishinomaki Line Line
Watari to Yamamoto SectionWatari to Yamamoto Section
Ishinomaki North Oshika Peninsula SectionIshinomaki North Oshika Peninsula Section
Onagawa SectionOnagawa Section
Ishinomaki South Oshika Peninsula SectionIshinomaki South Oshika Peninsula Section
久慈久慈KujiKuji Kosode CoastKosode Coast
小袖海岸小袖海岸
Kuji SectionKuji Section
JR HachinoheJR HachinoheLineLine
金華山金華山Kinkasan IslandKinkasan Island
万石浦万石浦MangokuuraMangokuura
Minamisanriku SectionMinamisanriku Section
South Kesennuma SectionSouth Kesennuma Section
Kirikiri CoastKirikiri Coast吉里吉里海岸吉里吉里海岸
Kamaishi SectionKamaishi Section釡石釡石KamaishiKamaishi
盛岡IC
九戸IC
安代JCT
盛岡IC
盛岡南IC
九戸IC
安代JCT
水沢IC
一関IC
Hirono SectionHirono Section
Hashikami SectionHashikami Section
Hachinohe SectionHachinohe Section
蕪島蕪島
階上岳階上岳Mt. HashikamidakeMt. Hashikamidake
Kabushima IslandKabushima Island
Sanriku Fukko Nationa Park Officially OpenComing Soon
Watari to Yamamoto Section
※DISTANCES, TIMES AND ELEVATIONS ARE ESTIMATES FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY.
Police English Service ・・・03-3501-0110
Railway, BusJR East Info Line ・・・050-2016-1603 (English/Korean/Chinese languages are available.)
Taxis
JNTO (Japan National Tourist Organization) Telephone Inquiry Service (nationwide number) ・・・03-3201-3331 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily
Fire Station (Fire/Ambulance) ・・・119
Tourist Information
Police (Traffic Accident/Crime) ・・・110 Emergency Services (24/7/365)
Yamamoto Industry Development Section ・・・0223-37-1119
Watari Tourism Association ・・・0223-34-0513
Sendai Tourist Information Center・・・022-222-4069 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from December 31 to January 3
Leave what you find—take only pictures and memories with you. Asian black bears live in some areas around the trail. We recommend carrying bear bells to avoid an encounter.
Cherish our nature.TRAIL ETIQUETTE AND RULES
Please be considerate of other hikers and local people so that everyone can enjoy the trail. Be mindful of other people on the trail.
Smoking may cause a forest fire, so please do not smoke on the trail. Also only start fires in designated places. Refrain from smoking and be responsible with fire.
Animals can die from eating garbage or harm people while feeding. Bring your garbage back home with you,along with your memories.
Bring garbage with you.
Do not enter the forests, fields and private property that are not on the trail course. Stay on the trail.
If you like, try saying hello to people you meet! Many people can understand English “hello,” oryou can try Japanese. Hello: Konnichi wa, Good evening: Konban wa, Good morning: Ohayo gozaimasu,
Say hello.
Trail MarkersThe Michinoku Coastal Trail is marked with stickers, posts, and signboards which have this logo on themto help hikers stay on the correct route. You can resteasy if you see them while hiking the trail. ※The frequency of trail markers varies by section, so use other landmarks to check where you are.
やませ海道編海のアルプス編Watari to Yamamoto Section
Godochosha No. 5, Kasumigaseki 1-2-2,Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8975, Japan.Tel: +81-(0)3-3581-3351
ABOUT THE MICHINOKU COASTAL TRAIL
The Michinoku Coastal Trail is a longdistance footpath along the Pacificcoast of the Tohoku region betweenHachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture andSoma City, Fukushima Prefecture. The trail is for walking; through forests,countryside, beaches, and villages.
By traveling on foot, you can learnabout many things; the threat of naturelike tsunamis and seasonal winds calledYamase, the unique culture that is deep-rooted in the region, and the warm hospitality of people.
We can feel our connection to natureand with each other as human beingsthrough walking the trail.
Let’s start walking for new excitingdiscoveries!
This map is a reproduction of the 1:25,000 Scale Topography Map publishedby the Geospatial information Authority of Japan.（Authorized Number : 平28情使、第307-GISMAP38379号）
North to Central Ofunato Section North to Central Ofunato Section
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov DecEarliest Sunrise Time 6:42 6:10 5:24 4:42 4:16 4:13 4:17 4:39 5:06 5:32 6:02 6:33Earliest Sunset Time 16:27 16:59 17:30 17:59 18:27 18:53 18:47 18:09 17:22 16:39 16:18 16:17
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov DecPrecipitation 38.5 45.0 70.8 95.5 107.4 143.8 172.4 162.5 198.1 140.0 67.9 32.2Highest Temperature 6.0 6.4 9.6 15.1 19.4 22.0 25.5 27.7 24.4 19.5 14.1 9.0Average Temperature 1.6 1.9 4.8 10.1 14.8 18.2 21.9 23.9 20.3 14.8 9.1 4.4Lowest Temperature -2.5 -2.4 0.1 5.2 10.5 15.0 19.1 20.9 17.0 10.6 4.5 0.1
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Watari TownAverage Temperature and Precipitation
Michinoku Coastal Trail Watari to Yamamoto Section1 Shinzan Chinkon no Kane (Bell of Requiem)
5 Tazawa Magaibutsu (Buddhist figures carved in rock face)
Mt. Shinzan is on the ridgeline of the Abukuma Mountains, offering a good view of its village and woodland surroundings. Both of the nature trails leading to its peak at 287 meter elevation are easy to hike and beloved by locals. At the top, look out over the rice fields of Yamamoto Town and the Pacific Ocean in the distance. The bell was built at Mt. Shinzan’s peak using donations from all over the country by town residents, who wanted to appease the souls of those who died in the tsunami. You can get information about the nature trails at the nearby Shinzan Sanroku Shonen no Mori Park (Hishinuma no Sato).
Hours:Monday to Saturday10:00 a.m. ‒ 4:00 p.m.（Thursdays Closed）
Sundays and holidays（morning market days) 6:00 a.m. ‒ 1:00 p.m.
■Abukuma Mountains Course : One Day Course （Distance：Approx. 15.0km）
2 Mt. ShihoThis 272 meter mountain is at the borderline between Kakuda City, Watari Town and Yamamoto Town. An antiaircraft gun and tower were installed at its peak during World War II. From the observation deck, get your fill of the vast stretches of Pacific Ocean in the east and the rugged peaks of the Zao mountain range in the west. This view was chosen as one of the “36 Views of Miyagi Zao.”
3 Watari-Date Clan Mausoleum (Daio-ji Temple)This mausoleum on the grounds of Daio-ji Temple houses the eternally slumbering souls of thirteen generations of lords and masters of the Watari-Date clan, including the mausoleum of Date Shigezane, which is a designated prefectural cultural treasure. Date Shigezane’s mausoleum is open to the public twice a year on January 16th and August 16th.
4 Shomyo-ji Temple Chinquapin TreeThere is a huge chinquapin tree on the grounds of Shomyo-ji Temple, which was founded with a principal image of Amida Nyorai Buddha that is a prefectural designated cultural property. This approximately 14 meters tall, 11 meters to 7.5 meters wide tree is estimated to be 700 years old and is a designated national natural monument. Another kind of chinquapin tree towers nearby, estimated at 300 years old and designated natural monument of Miyagi Prefecture.
■Historical Road Course : Half Day Course （Distance：Approx. 10.0km）
These Buddhist figures carved in the rock face hanging over Abukuma River are also called rock jizo figures. People were once ferried over the river nearby at “Inaba-no-watashi” pier as part of the Azuma Kaido, an ancient important road. The Buddhist figures are thought to be closely related with this ferry, carved to pray for safety while crossing. Hidari Jingoro was said to have carved these figures while waiting for a ship.
http://tohoku.env.go.jp/mct/english/
Otsuchi SectionOtsuchi Section
JR KesennumaJR KesennumaLine (BRT)Line (BRT)
TanohataTanohata
前谷地前谷地MaeyachiMaeyachi
恋し浜恋し浜KoishihamaKoishihama
AAkk
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SShh
kknn
ssnnLin
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気仙沼気仙沼KesennumaKesennuma
Rikuzen-AkasakiRikuzen-Akasaki陸前赤崎陸前赤崎
陵里陵里RyoriRyori
0m
100m
0m
200m
300m
400m
100m
200m
300m
400m
Shinzan Sanroku Shonen no Mori (Park)Shinzan Sanroku Shonen no Mori Bus Stop
One Day CourseYork Benimaru-mae Bus Stop
0m
10m
0m
20m
30m
40m
10m
20m
30m
40m
Half Day Course
大船渡大船渡OfunatoOfunato
Approx. 6.2 km(Approx. 3 h 30 min)
Approx. 6.2 km(Approx. 3 h 30 min)
Approx. 1.2 km(Approx. 20 m)Approx. 1.2 km(Approx. 20 m)
Kaminomachi Bus StopWatari Station
※DISTANCES, TIMES AND ELEVATIONS ARE ESTIMATES FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY.
Approx. 4.2 km(Approx. 1 h 40 min)
Approx. 4.2 km(Approx. 1 h 40 min)
Approx. 3.6 km(Approx. 1 h 30 min)
Approx. 3.6 km(Approx. 1 h 30 min)
Approx. 2.2 km(Approx. 50 m)Approx. 2.2 km(Approx. 50 m)
IshinomakiIshinomaki
吉浜吉浜
三陸三陸
ToniToni唐丹唐丹 Riasu Line Riasu Line
Sanriku RailwaySanriku Railway
YoshihamaYoshihamaSanrikuSanriku
八戸八戸HachinoheHachinohe
本八戸本八戸
八戸IC
Hon-HachinoheHon-Hachinohe
IwanumaIwanuma
Kitayamazaki Kitayamazaki 北山崎北山崎
NatoriNatori
Noda toNorth Fudai SectionNoda toNorth Fudai Section
1 Shinzan Chinkon no Kane (Bell of Requiem)
CliffsCliffs
5 Tazawa Magaibutsu (Buddhist figures carved in rock face)
Rikuchu-NodaRikuchu-Noda陸中野田陸中野田
堀内堀内HorinaiHorinai
普代普代FudaiFudai
CapeCape Riasu Line Riasu LineSanriku RailwaySanriku Railway
とどヶ崎 とどヶ崎TodogasakiTodogasaki
2 Mt. Shiho
3 Watari-Date Clan Mausoleum (Daio-ji Temple)
4 Shomyo-ji Temple Chinquapin Tree
6 Sanjusangendo Government Offices Site7 Kashima Amatarashiwake-jinja Shrine
8 Watari Park
9 Yurikan
ShinchiShinchi新地新地
SomaSoma相馬相馬
MatsukawauraMatsukawaura松川浦松川浦
Shinchi SectionShinchi Section
Soma SectionSoma Section
Natori to Iwanuma SectionNatori to Iwanuma Section
浄土ヶ浜浄土ヶ浜Jodogahama BeachJodogahama Beach
OmotoOmoto小本小本
宮古宮古MiyakoMiyako
South Iwaizumito North MiyakoSection
South Iwaizumito North MiyakoSection
North to CentralMiyako Section North to CentralMiyako Section
Maruwa Kots ・・・0223-34-1300Yamashita Taxi ・・・0223-34-1523Yamamoto Taxi ・・・0223-37-0042 Hagino Taxi ・・・0223-37-0505Wakabata Taxi ・・・0223-37-1100Tsubame Taxi ・・・0223-23-1611
Approx. 6.8 km(Approx. 4 h)
Approx. 6.8 km(Approx. 4 h)
7 Kashima Amatarashiwake-jinja ShrineThis shrine was recorded in the Heian period shrine register Engishiki Jinmyocho. It was first built at the top of Mt. Mitsumon, relocated to Kitakashima in 941 AD, and was moved into its current location in 1686 by Date Saneuji, fifth head of the Watari-Date clan. Its front shrine built in 1790 is now the Shinyoko, where the portable shrine is stored.
6 Sanjusangendo GovernmentOffices Site
The Heian period Mutsu Province Watari District Office once stood here. This is a well-preserved, valuable site that acts as a reference for local government and political systems of the time. In 1992, it was designated as a national historic site.
8 Watari ParkThis park is filled with flowers that reach full bloom in different seasons including cherry trees, irises, pansies, and marigold so you can enjoy beautiful scenery at any time of year. There are paths throughout so you can enjoy a walk while looking at the gardens. The baseball grounds, tennis courts and play/athletic equipment provide fun for all ages (usage fee for baseball grounds and tennis courts).
9 Yurikan (Local Museum and Library)
Yurikan is a multipurpose facility shaped like a castle containing a library and local museum, and is a well-known Watari Town building. This place isn’t just for history buffs: there’s a corner for listening to Watari Town folk tales. Get a full view of the entire town from the 5th floor observation hall at the top of Yurikan.
