Access
NAVIGATING THE MICHINOKU COASTAL TRAIL
Getting to Hachinohe and the northern trailhead
While the Michinoku Coastal Trail offers opportunities to get well off the beaten track and experience both local culture and stunning natural surrounds, getting to the northernmost trailhead in Hachinohe City is relatively quick and easy from Tokyo. The high-speed shinkansen (bullet train) makes the journey north from Tokyo Station to Hachinohe Station multiple times daily in 2 hours 50 minutes (¥16,590 one way). From Hachinohe Station, the trailhead at Hachinohe’s Kabushima Shrine is a 30-minute bus ride (taking the Umineko service to Kabushima Kaihin Koen bus stop) or a 23-minute ride on the JR Hachinohe Line (getting off at Same Station).
Navigating from Hachinohe to Miyako
From the Kabushima trailhead, this northernmost 150-mile stretch of trail to Miyako City runs through varied terrain, taking roughly five to seven days to through-hike. That doesn’t mean you have to walk all of it. Thanks to local JR train services that run from Hachinohe along the coast to Kuji and the Sanriku Railway’s Rias Line from Kuji to Miyako (and beyond), it’s possible to pick and choose sections for one-day, weekend, or several-day hikes. Just be aware that while these local rail services operate daily, the number of trains per day is infrequent: plan your schedule in advance. You can check train timetables in English at the Japan Transit Planner website.
Pick up a map
Whichever parts of the northern Michinoku Coastal Trail you decide to hike, it’s well worth taking a map. You can download free English-language maps and trail section guides from the Ministry of the Environment’s official Michinoku Coastal Trail website. Each one also outlines trail safety, manners, essential gear, and emergency contact information.
Google Maps to Key Stations
Same Sta. in Hachinohe
Rikuchu-Nakano Sta.
kuji Sta.
Fudai Sta.
Tanohata Sta.
Miyako Sta.
How to Call A Taxi
There are areas where there are no taxi companies and taxi companies that close early.
We recommend that you make a reservation in advance.
*Travel times and taxi fares are estimates as of December 2022. Please use this as a guide only, as it may vary depending on the route, time of day, etc.
Toll road charges and late-night surcharges are not included in the price.
section | Base Point Location | departing and arriving station | Distance | the time required | Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hachinohe City, Aomori Route | Kabura-shima (Kabura-shima Shrine) | Same Station (JR Hachinohe Line) | 930.7m | 2 min. | 670 yen |
| Hachinohe Station (JR Hachinohe Line) | 7,900m | 23 min. | 3,070 yen | ||
| Hachinohe Station (JR Hachinohe Line) | 15,100m | 33 min. | 5,500 yen | ||
| Tanesashi Coast Information Center | Tanesashi Kaigan Station (JR Hachinohe Line) | 500m | 1 min. | 730 yen | |
| Kuji City/Hirono Town route, Iwate Prefecture | Hirono Fisheries Hall Unique | Taneichi Station (JR Hachinohe Line) | 585.6m | 3 min. | 670 yen |
| North Samurai Beach Campground | Rikuchu-Nakano Station (JR Hachinohe Line) | 4309.7m | 17 min. | 3,220 yen | |
| Kosode Divers Center | Rikunakanoda Station (Sanriku Railway Rias Line) | 6380.7m | 18 min. | 3,300 yen | |
| Rikuchu-Natsui Station (JR Hachinohe Line) | 6809.7m | 18 min. | 3,240 yen | ||
| Mogulampia Aquarium | Rikuchu-Natsui Station (JR Hachinohe Line) | 2561.2m | 6 min. | 1,140 yen | |
| Noda Village and Fudai Village Route, Iwate Prefecture | Roadside Station Noda | Rikunakanoda Station (adjacent) | — | — | — |
| Marine Rose Park Noda Tamagawa | Noda-Tamagawa Station (Sanriku Railway Rias Line) | 1001.6m | 2 min. | 600 yen | |
| inn Eboshoso | Horinai Station (Sanriku Railway Rias Line) | 1347m | 4 min. | 860 yen | |
| Southern part of Fudai Village – Tanohata Village – Northern part of Iwaizumi Town, Iwate Route | Kitayamazaki Visitor Center | Tanohata Station (Sanriku Railway Rias Line) | 5250.8m | 19 min. | 3,240 yen |
List of taxi companies by the municipality
| Company Name | Dispatch TEL | Location | Areas and airports where vehicles can be dispatched |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miyago Transportation Co. | 057-008-0385 | Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture | Hachinohe City, Ito Town, Gonohe Town, Hachinohe Town |
| Bunka Taxi Co. | 0178-22-1000 | Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture | Hachinohe City, Ito Town, Nanbu Town, Hashikami Town |
| Company Name | Dispatch TEL | Location | Areas and airports where vehicles can be dispatched |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taneichi Taxi | 0120-65-2330 | Hirono Town, Iwate Prefecture | Hirono Town, Iwate Prefecture |
| Oono Taxi | 0194-77-2525 | Hirono Town, Iwate Prefecture | Hirono Town, Iwate Prefecture |
| Company Name | Dispatch TEL | Location | Areas and airports where vehicles can be dispatched |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rikuchu Kanko | 0120-00-4321 | Kuji City , Iwate Prefecture | Kuji City , Iwate Prefecture |
| Hikari Sogo Kotsu | 0194 -52-3333 | Kuji City , Iwate Prefecture | Kuji City , Iwate Prefecture |
| Kuji Taxi | 0120-52-3131 | Kuji City , Iwate Prefecture | Kuji City , Iwate Prefecture |
| Mikawa Kotsu Kanko | 0194-53-6161 | Kuji City , Iwate Prefecture | Kuji City , Iwate Prefecture |
| Company Name | Dispatch TEL | Location | Areas and airports where vehicles can be dispatched |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomoe Taxi | 0194-78-3131 | Noda Village, Iwate Prefecture | Noda Village, Iwate Prefecture |
There is no taxi company in this town.In Tanohata Village, there is a convenient sightseeing shared taxi.
→ Click here for the timetable
*Please make a reservation by phone at least 1 hour before departure.
| Company Name | Dispatch TEL | Location | Areas and airports where vehicles can be dispatched |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tanohata Kanko Taxi | 0194-33-2121 | Tanohata Village, Iwate Prefecture | Tanohata Village, Iwate Prefecture |