Michinoku coastal trail hiking tour

Japan Adventure Small Group Tour

Oct 25-Nov 1, 2025

Min/Max: 7/12

Moderate

Overview

Join me on a coastal adventure in Japan in 2025! This tour is full of adventure (hiking, biking, and kayaking), Japanese culture, and food! We will be traveling through Tohoku, a relatively unknown region in Japan on the Michinoku Coastal Trail. Going the opposite way of the tourist crowds allow us to connect with the people of Tohoku on a deeper level. All while enjoying the comradery of like minded active people!

The Tohoku region of Japan is made up of the northernmost six prefectures on the main island. The area boasts great natural beauty and an abundance of natural resources, such as delicious fresh seafood.

On March 11, 2011, the Tohoku Pacific Coast area was devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake. After more than 10 years of disaster recovery within the area, you can see the beautiful scenery that has not changed from before the earthquake and witness the lives of local people who have risen up against these adversities as you walk along the Michinoku Coastal trail. The trail was created to help the region heal – emotionally and economically. You’ll be welcomed with open arms as you move along the trail.

Tohoku map Japan

Highlights:

  • Explore Japan’s newest 1000+km hiking trail in the northeastern Tohoku region; hiking, biking and kayaking
  • Experience the beautiful nature around you, from the sea, rivers, villages and mountains, still as magnificent as pre Earthquake
  • Enjoy the freshest local seafood and Japanese cuisine every day!
  • Mingle with locals who have risen from the disaster and continue to strive towards the revitalization of their hometown.
  • Stay in small intimate ryokans where you’ll be exposed to many new Japanese traditions. Also enjoy one night of glamping along the coast
  • Soak in onsens (hot springs) and learn about this important piece of Japanese culture
  • Immerse yourself for a week in a different world through a variety of activities that allow you to become familiar with the nature and culture of the area.

While learning about the disaster and interacting with local residents, this trip offers you a chance to contemplate “life,” not only that of yourself but also of others, as well as life within our natural surroundings. You will also get a new perspective on living with the natural environment in a sustainable way by learning how the locals have lived with nature in everyday life.

Itinerary

Take the Shinkansen (fast train) from Tokyo to Sendai and arrive by noon. We will meet at the Sendai station to begin our tour!

Transfer to Natori Trail Center for orientation on the Michinoku Coastal Trail (MCT). We will start by having an introduction to grasp the concepts surrounding the creation of the route as a whole and learn about the characteristics of the area it covers to set the scene for our adventure that lies ahead.

We’ll learn about how it was built and maintained, pick up your trail passports, and get a look at what you have ahead of you on the giant wall sized map of the trail. This is also a great place to get your MCT souvenirs!

Visit the Arahama Elementary School and learn about how kids, teachers, and locals used the school as a way to escape the tsunami. The school still stands as it was on the day of the tsunami and tells the story of the damage caused by this natural disaster. The school, which was severely damaged by the tsunami that reached the second floor of the building, quietly conveys the power of the tsunami and the stories of each person on that day as a “silent storyteller.”

Enjoy a welcome dinner in Sendai and an original cocktail at Aquarius Bar. This is your chance to experience a a ‘shot bar’ in Japan. The art of making a cocktail is something to experiece in Japan! You’ll meet Jin, the owner, and hear about how he started his comfy little game bar while enjoying a cocktail/mocktail.

Overnight : Sendai Hotel

Hiking: 5.6 Miles, Total Incline 880 ft., Decent 873 ft. Mix of road walking and hiking trails. Relatively flat terrain.

We start the day be taking a ferry on Matsushima Bay that takes us to the beautiful Urato Islands. Here we’ll hike along the MCT on the beautiful Urato Shoto Islands learning about the people and small communities that live on these small islands.

All of the islands offer stunning scenery consisting of oddly shaped rocks eroded by the waves of the Pacific Ocean and pine forests, as well as warm-weather plants such as tabu and yabutsu camellia, which are rare in this region. The islands have not been developed as a tourist destination, and visitors can enjoy the traditional Sanriku island scenery and tranquil scenes, as well as learn about the islands’ history from the various legends, precious ruins, and historical sites that remain on the islands.

After our island hike we’ll take a ride on a local fisherman’s boat to see the aquafarming and unique rock formations up close. Back on the mainland, we will climb the Otakamori Mt to have a view over the bay.

After the hike, we will transfer north to Kesennuma city. Kesennuma city is one of the leading fishing cities in northern Japan, which boasts the largest catch of skipjack tuna in Japan. Here we will enjoy a special dinner course known by locals as the Kesennuma Brewers Table. This dinner is a pairing dinner that combines sake and local ingredients, which was newly started by a local sake brewer after the restoration of the damaged sake brewery. Experience the history and culture of this land through your own taste while gazing at the calm Kesennuma Bay.

Overnight in Kesennuma

Biking: 15 miles with numerous stops. Cycling along paved roads. Relatively flat terrain.

Today we will start the day with a tour of the famous fish markets at Kesennuma, followed by a local seafood breakfast. The Kesennuma City Fish Market is one of the largest fish markets in Japan. It consists of large halls where trucks and fishing boats bring in their catch to be auctioned off between 6am and 8am everyday.

Transfer to Rikuzentakata City, a coastal town which was devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake. Here we’ll get a chance to go to the Iwate Tsunami Memorial and see the Miracle Pine Tree.

In the memorial building we will see a chronological exhibit of artifacts and photographs documenting the disaster, and hear guides talk about their personal experience on that fateful day. It also includes a large outdoor space where you can walk and ruminate on the power of nature.

Next we will get our Ebikes (Regular cross bikes are also available by request). to bike through the rice fields and out along the rocky coast following the MCT. The biking route is about 15 miles. Cycling will be about 4 hours, plus time for lunch and breaks.

During the cycling ride today, we will meet residents who will tell us about how they miraculously survived the 49-foot tsunami that hit the city that day. We will have lunch in Genki-mura, a vibrant village that overcame the Tsunami through community ties and aims for reconstruction through the power of the community.

Transfer to Kamaishi for a soak in our accomodation’s onsen and a dinner highlighting local specialties.

Overnight in Kamaishi

Hiking: 4.7 miles, total incline 1500 ft., decline 1800 ft. Mostly walking through forests with a large section walking along a creek. Multiple ups and down using a mix of slopes and stairs. There are a few short sections of road.

Today we visit Jodogahama, one of the most scenic spots in the Sanriku area, experience sea kayaking and see the majestic scenery of Sanriku that cannot be seen from land. We will do a 90-minute tour within the area.

We’ll enjoy a local lunch and then put on our hiking boots to hike along the Michinoku coastal trail. This part of the trail has many ups and downs, but many highlights: wading through a mountain stream flowing through the valley, and a view that never gets old. Savor the contrast between dynamic scenes like the cliff sides and Shiofuki-ana, a blowhole which blasts water up to 30 meters during the right weather conditions, and the peaceful waters of Jodogahama.

Overnight in Jodogahama area.

Hiking: 3.4 miles,  total incline 1590ft, decline 2090ft. Large ups and downs along uneven stairs. Trail is mostly through forest. There are 2 hand carved tunnels, large boulders to climb over and use steep ladders in 3 sections

Today we hike the most beautiful part of the MCT – the Kitayamazaki Cliffs.

We start with a hike through the area where poor peasants rebelled after being heavily taxed, know as the “Sanpei Ikki”. We will walk through the pitch-black hand-carved tunnel with the light of traditional fire torches, reviving the heated scene of the day.

Next we tackle the many ups and downs of the Kitayamazaki Cliffs leading us to our goal, Kitayamazaki lookout. Today’s hike is a physically demanding course, but it is well worth the experience and offers us the chance to face the resilient but warm nature of locals. We are also hopeful that it will be filled with beautiful autumn colors!

The hike is worth it because you’ll get to eat like royalty tonight! A highlight of the tour, we will be having dinner at L`Oreole Tanohata. Located right on the MCT, the beautifully designed restaurant with all wood accents is perched on the coast, giving it incredible views and a rugged feel. But it’s the food of Chef Ito that will be what you remember most. This is a multicourse experience showcasing local ingredients done in the French style.

Hike 3 miles elevation of 2,200 ft. up and 1,824 ft down

Overnight in Tanohata with a chance to take a sauna and onsen soak

Hiking: 4.2 miles, total incline 1000 ft, decline 860ft. Mostly hiking through forest trails, with a few short stretches of road. There are a couple short but steep ups and downs in some sections.

Today we hit the trail again and hike through the beautiful forests and amazing rock formations of Samurai Rock. We’ll hike through quaint fishing villages and along beaches enjoying the coastal views and rocky outcrops.

After the hike, we’ll get a ‘real’ local experience – we’ll stop at a local public bathhouse to experience the sento culture. Here we can clean up and relax with the locals before heading to our glamping site for the night!

Another trip highlight – glamping along the MCT trail! Fall asleep under the stars and wake up to crashing waves. The Tanesashi Natural Lawn is a rare coastal grassland where lush green grass grows naturally right up to the edge of the Pacific Ocean. This blend of vibrant green fields and the deep blue sea creates a breathtaking, almost surreal landscape. Here we’ll enjoy a BBQ dinner cooked by a local chef. The tents have comfortable cots and bedding as well as heat if needed.

Overnight at Tanesashi Campgrounds

Hiking: 5.6 miles, total incline 545 ft, decline 246 ft. walking along well maintained walking paths and some road sections. There is also some walking along the sandy beach.

Start your day watching the sun rise over the Pacific Ocean. After a delicious breakfast at the glamping camp, we take off right from the camp to do our last hike.

The final section at the northernmost end of the trail offers the dramatic landscape of sandy beaches and rugged reefs from the Sanriku Coast. We hike through the pine forest, and you can see the dramatic landscape of the coast through the towering trees.

We’ll celebrate as we arrive at the Northern Trail head at Kabushima Shrine and get our final passport stamps.

Transfer to Hon-Hachinohe area to enjoy a local dinner followed by a Michinoku Coastal Trail cocktail at the local bar Prince.

Overnight Hachinohe

After breakfast, check out and head on to your next destination via Bullet Train from Hachinohe Station.

Details

This tour is run by Michinori Travel Tohoku company in Japan. I have worked with them to create this custom tour for my readers. This tour is completely operated by them, therefore the booking is done by them. I adhere to their rules and guidelines since they are responsible for the tour.

Our guide, Katy, works for Michinori Travel Tohoku and she’s superb! She’s an Australian who has been living in Japan for over 15 years. She speaks/reads/writes fluent Japanese and lives in Iwate in the Tohoku prefecture. She knows the area well and has lead numerous trips on the MCT. She is one of the main reasons why I wanted to offer this tour to my readers! She works with local guides from each area to organize our experiences and she’ll be with us the entire time.

What’s Included
  • All B, L, D during the tour except no breakfast or lunch day 1, no lunch or dinner day 8
  • All lodging during the tour
  • Entrance fees
  • MCT Passport booklet
  • Local Guide with Knowledge of the region
  • Packing List
  • Group call before the tour
What’s Not Included
  • Airfare to Japan
  • Shinkansen Train (fast train) tickets. You will need to purchase your own transportation Sendai and return transportation when we end in Hachinohe
  • Alcoholic beverages (except for the Kesennuma Brewers Table Dinner, and cocktails at Aquarius Bar)
  • Travel Insurance is required. I use and recommend Allianz Travel Insurance. More info here.
  • Gratuities
  • Personal expenses
  • Medical expenses
Map of Route

Booking

Booking

  1. Send me an email at info@Ottsworld.com letting me know about your interest. We will set up a call to discuss any questions you have. This will be on a first-come, first-served basis – there are only 12 spots available on this tour.
  2. I will then provide you a link where you can put down your deposit and reserved your space with Michinori Travel Tohoku – the local company I’m working with to deliver the tour.
  3. A minimum of 7 people are required for the tour to run. Please wait to purchase airfare until we can confirm seven guests.

Please note – Travel Insurance is required by Michinori Travel Tohoku. It is a condition of booking, that the sole responsibility lies with the guest to ensure that they carry the correct comprehensive travel and medical insurance to cover themselves, as well as any dependents/traveling companions for the duration of their trip in Japan. This insurance should include cover in respect of, but not limited to, the following eventualities: cancellation or curtailment of the tour, emergency evacuation expenses, medical expenses, repatriation expenses, damage/theft/loss of personal baggage, money and goods.

Cancellation Policy
Final payments are due 90 days before departure – July 27, 2025. At this time it will become non-refundable.
Cancellations after this date will incur 100% of the tour cost.
Cancellations before this date can be made but the deposit is non-refundable.


Is this tour for you?

Fitness: This tour is active, you must be able to comfortably hike 7 miles on rough terrain with ups and downs. Please note – some of the MCT trail is along roads, it is not all hiking trail – few long distance trails are all trail. You must be able to ride a bike for 12 miles. In Japanese onsens, it is required that you use them naked. They are always segregated between men and women. If you intend on using an onsen, then you must follow the traditional rules they have.

Food: Japanese food is a big part of this tour. This tour is for the adventurous eater. We will be eating Japanese food every day. However, Often there are western options for breakfast and there are plenty of 7-11’s where you can get snacks. You should be open to trying new things, sometimes foods that you aren’t familiar with, and foods that you don’t know what it is. There will be an abundance of seafood on this tour, however if you do not like seafood, we can find other options.

Dietary Requirements: If you have allergies such as buckwheat, nuts or seafood, we can accommodate these needs at every meal as long as we know in advance. Furthermore, we can also accommodate for vegetarian (specifically lacto-ovo vegetarian) or pescatarian options for each meal as well with notice. Unfortunately, we cannot cater specifically for gluten-free, halal, kosher or vegan options on this particular tour.

Weather: We will be there in autumn and if we are lucky, we should have beautiful fall colors to hike and bike through. This region has an abundance of trees and is very popular in autumn for local Japanese travelers. However – autumn leaves are tricky – so nothing is guaranteed. It will be cooler fall weather – great for being active. You’ll want a heavier jacket at night (a light puffy would be perfect), and of course rain/wind gear. And the onsens will feel so good!!
Daytime temperatures are typically 61–68°F (16–20°C) in the lowlands, and 46–57°F (8–14°C) on high passes. Evenings are usually 39–54°F (4–12°C)

Extra Add-Ons

Extra Days in Tokyo – Even though this tour doesn’t include Tokyo, most guests will fly into and out of Tokyo. So why not spend a few days in the World’s largest city! I’m more than happy to help you organize your time there at some off the beaten path sites and my favorite neighborhoods! Also – if you want to see the ‘Cat lovers’ side of Tokyo – I have an entire itinerary for that too! Just ask me and we can organize a great extra few days in this vibrant, fascinating, quirky city!

If you have extra time, I suggest that you go explore a few other regions of Japan. In addition to a couple of days in Tokyo, I would also recommend going to Shikoku Island, Kyoto, or Hokkaido. Here’s a few ideas for you. However I’m happy to talk to you and help you plan an extra week in Japan seeing the popular and lesser known sites!

Japan Rail Pass – if you want to go to other regions of Japan, then I highly recommend getting a Japan Rail Pass. These are special passes/deals for tourists visiting Japan. These passes will allow you to include unlimited transportation options around the country, including airport transfers and fast Shinkansen trains (including the one that will get you to the start of this MCT tour)! They are offered in different durations and regions. You can learn more about Japan rail passes here.

Get more info on my Itinerary planning assistance here

Reviews

Oct 25-Nov 1, 2025

$4,200USD


$840 USD Deposit

$94 Single Occupancy


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