Oku Japan has expanded its tour offerings along the Michinoku Coastal Trail, adding new guided and self-guided adventures to its original self-guided itineraries.
Spanning more than 1,000 kilometres along Japan’s northeastern coast, this trail offers a journey through local landscapes and traditional fishing villages while showcasing the resilience of a region – and particularly of its people – that continues to rebuild following the devastating damage sustained during the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.
“Our tours along the Michinoku Coastal Trail are more than just hikes – they are journeys into the heart of this region’s resilience and natural beauty,” said Hiroshi Kawaguchi, Oku Japan’s General Manager.
“We at Oku Japan are proud to work with the Michinoku Trail Club and local communities here to develop all of our itineraries and offer our guests the opportunity to connect with this remarkable place in a way that is both sustainable and deeply personal.”
Oku Japan’s collection of tours here focus on the northern and central sections of the trail, located in an area known as the Sanriku Coast.
All the tours feature curated hikes through some of the most intriguing sections of the trail, stays at small, locally run guesthouses, and meals featuring fresh seafood throughout.
Jōdogahama Beach, named after the Buddhist paradise
Michinoku: Life with the Sea
On this new small group guided tour (consisting of no more than 13 travellers plus the guide), guests will spend 10 days exploring the Sanriku Coast and learning about the unique way of life in one of Japan’s most remote regions.
Starting from Kabushima Shrine, the Michinoku’s northern trailhead, the group will travel south, hiking through forests and alongside rocky cliffs – the tallest of which can reach more than 200 metres above sea level.
After the walk to Jōdogahama, a beach named after the Buddhist paradise, the cliffs give way to a ria coastline that winds intricately alongside the Pacific Ocean.
In addition to Oku’s licensed bilingual guide, local guides and members of the community will spend time with the group to share stories and information about the industries that are key to life here.
Guests will visit an abalone seedling farm for a tour that delves into sustainability, take a guided tour through the bustling Kesennuma Fish Market, visit the town of Fudai, which is known for its incredible story of survival during the 2011 tsunami, check out Ranbōya Gorge and Thunder Rock, and take in a unique performance with roots in Shintō and folk culture.
Ryōri-tōge Pass, once an important trade route
“We are particularly proud of this new guided tour as it offers our guests the opportunity to connect directly with locals, hear their stories and learn about their way of life in a very immersive and intimate way,” continues Kawaguchi.
“For anyone who really wants to learn about this area in an in-depth, comprehensive way, this tour – and our guides – offers a very clear window to the area and the people who make it so special.”
There are two departures available in 2025: June 9-18 and August 18-27. The tour is priced from $US4,055 (approx. $AU6,530) per person.
When it comes to Oku Japan’s selection of self-guided tours, the company’s original self-guided Michinoku Coastal Trail tour, which features six- and seven-day options, starts in the city of Hachinohe, located in the northern third of the trail.
Like the guided tour, guests begin their walk at the Kabushima Shrine and travel down to the “paradise beach” of Jōdogahama, before diverting to the final stop in Morioka City.
While the new ‘Rugged Rias of the Michinoku’ self-guided tour (which also features two options), starts at Jōdogahama and continues south to Kesennuma, a city known for its robust fishing industry.
Authentic, remote and perfect for those seeking a challenge, this is an area of the region that sees few travellers as it has historically been cut off from major population centres.
Going deeper into Japan’s rural wilderness, with walking days that alternate between coastal, mountain and forest hikes, guests will visit secluded fishing hamlets, walk along cobblestone beaches and climb to the top of a mountain to look out over the unique ria coastline.
The tour also includes a visit to the lively Kesennuma Fish Market, which offers a unique look at the beating heart of this region – its fishing industry.
Available as either a five- or six-day adventure, this new self-guided tour explores the central portion of the Michinoku that features more rugged, less-populated areas and as such it is recommended for more seasoned hikers and/or those who have already seen the northern part of the trail.
The six-day tour also includes a walk through Rasei-tōge Pass to the village of Okirai, where guests will be able to see many monuments that stood long before the 2011 tsunami.
The evocative Iwate Tsunami Memorial Museum
This includes a cedar tree that is several millennia old and a community centre built from the debris of the disaster – it is an intimate look at the past, present and future of the region, built and told by its own people.
Departures are recommended from April through October. The five-day version of the tour starts from $US1,400.00 (approx. $AU2,255) per person. The six-day version of the tour starts from $US1,615.00 (approx. $AU2,601) per person.
