JAPAN ECO TRACK
Miyagi-Kennan Hamakaido Get off the beaten track and explore rural Japan
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n 2011 the largest earthquake in Japan’s recorded history—known as the Great East Japan Earthquake— destroyed much of the coastal Tohoku Region. The area has been rebuilding since and local business have been revitalized as travelers return to this beautiful part of the country. The Miyagi-Kennan Hamakaido Road, in southern Miyagi Prefecture, connects the cities of Natori and Iwanuma, as well as Watari and Yamamoto towns. Travelers can start their hike or cycling from Sendai Airport and take in the coastal views while enjoying some of Japan's finest seafood.
HIKE The most popular route, the Michinoku Coastal Trail, is the best way to experience the reinvigorated coastal towns, mingle with locals and sample the local fare—after all, this region boasts the world's third largest fishing grounds. “Michinoku” is the ancient name of the Tohoku area. The trail follows the Pacific coast from Hachinohe in Aomori Prefecture to Soma in Fukushima Prefecture. Part of it runs through Miyagi, where you can navigate ancient roads, follow the Sanriku Beach Highway, which flourished as a trade route, and hike along the peninsula with the nation's largest rias coastline. Further inland is the Shiga Kogen, Mt. Sotoyama and Mt. Goshazan Trail, designated as Miyagi's nature conservation area and a green-region environmental preservation area. It only requires four to five hours scaling three small peaks (Mt. Sanpozuka, Mt. Sotoyama and Mt. Goshazan), all within the 300-meter range. Keep an eye out for the wide and rare variety of flowers here like the katakuri lilies and kuzu arrowroot plant. The Watari Mountains Trail near the castle town of Watari starts at Wariyama Pass near Daioji Temple (founded in 1604). Continue on to Mt. Kuromori, Mt. Shihozan and Mt. Shinzan for panoramic views stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the mountains around Zao. The trail takes five hours excluding stops at the nearby Watari Local History Museum and Yamamoto Town Museum of History and Folklore. BIKE The Miyagi-Kennan Hamakaido Cycling Route spans nearly 115 kilometers, starting at Sendai Airport in Natori City. You'll head north as you follow the Teizan Canal, the longest canal in Japan. Named after Teizan Ko, the posthumous Buddhist name of famous daimyo Date Masamune, the canal flows from Iwanuma City at the estuary of the Abukuma River at Sendai Bay along the cities of Natori, Sendai, Tagajo, Shichigahama and Shiogama. Your first stop is the Great East Japan Earthquake Memorial Monument in Yuriage. Memorials on both sides contain an inscription as well as the names
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