The Michinoku Coastal Trail fully opened in June 2019, after years of sections opening one by one, starting with the trail from Kabushima, Hachinohe in Aomori Prefecture to Kosode, Kuji, in Iwate Prefecture on November 29th, 2013.
We are working day by day to maintain and promote use of the Michinoku Coastal Trail because we believe that hikers coming to visit Tohoku will help this area recover and grow.
We want to thank the many hikers who have already come to visit this trail, from the bottom of our heart.
We have been distributing trail maps made by the Ministry of the Environment to hikers. These maps were made when that particular section of the trail was completed. In total, about 70,000 of these maps have been distributed to hikers.
Meanwhile, March 11th of next year will mark ten years since the 2011 tsunami, and the national government’s 10 year intensive reconstruction period will end. The Michinoku Coastal Trail, which started as a national project to support recovery, will also enter a new stage of sustainable management, relying not only on the national government but working with civil recovery projects and regional planning.
This is why we have made new Michinoku Coastal Trail Hiking Map Books, which we will start selling on October 1st. These new map books will replace the Ministry of the Environment trail maps. The map books were produced by Michinoku Trail Club (our organization), which serves as the headquarters of the MCT, and were 100% made with private, non-governmental funds.
We will continue to distribute the remaining Ministry of the Environment trail maps for free until March 31st, 2021.
The new hiking map books were made and edited by hikers who have walked the entire trail. The new maps show information hikers need: the distances between points on the trail, elevation changes, places to make turns and directional information. We think these maps will really help hikers plan their hikes.
The mapbooks are in both Japanese and English, with the exception of detailed markings (area names, etc.) on the map.
You’ll notice that information usually found in guidebooks, like points of interest and tourist attractions are less prominent or omitted so the maps are easier to read. We’re planning to publish a guidebook next fiscal year or later while consulting with local people. The guidebook will introduce those points of interest, tourist attractions, and information about private businesses that we weren’t able to list before like lodging facilities, restaurants and stores. With the map books and the upcoming guidebook, you’ll be able to enjoy your hike even more.
We are very sorry that we are not able to continue to distribute free maps. The profits from selling these maps will be used for the work needed to sustainably manage this 1000 km-long trail, so it will continue to be walkable into the future: personnel expenses, maintenance work, and other activities that will make hiking even more enjoyable for local people and hikers.
We would love for you to buy these Michinoku Coastal Trail Hiking Map Books, our new creations, and we would also really appreciate your opinion on how we can improve these maps even further.
We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support and understanding.
About the Hiking Map Books
Release date: Maps will be sold starting Thursday, October 1st (Thursday)
Where to buy:
Michinoku Coastal Trail Natori Trail Center (Natori City, Miyagi Prefecture)
Kitayamazaki Information Center (Tanohata Village, Shimohei-gun, Iwate Prefecture)
Jodogahama Visitor Center (Miyako City, Iwate Prefecture)
Minamisanriku Marine Visitor Center (Minamisanriku Town, Motoyoshi-gun, Miyagi Prefecture)
Hiker’s Depot (Mitaka City, Tokyo)
※Maps will also be for sale at other satellite facilities and map distributing facilities at a later date, as soon as each facility is ready.The Michinoku Trail Club’s online shop will be up and running in November. If you want to order the hiking map books via post before the online shop is open, please contact us at:
TEL：022−398−6181 MAIL：info@m-tc.orgPrice: 1,500 yen per map (tax not included) / 1,650 yen per map (tax included)
Full set of 10 maps: 13,500 yen (tax not included) / 14,850 yen (tax included)
Sections:
Book 1 Kabushima to Kuji Station (Hachinohe to Kuji), 93 km
Book 2 Kuji Station to Settai Station (Kuji to Miyako), 99 km
Book 3 Settai Station to Rikuchu-Yamada Station (Miyako to Yamada), 106 km
Book 4 Rikuchu-Yamada Station to Kamaishi Station (Yamada to Kamaishi), 121 km
Book 5 Kamaishi Station to Rikuzentakata Station (Kamaishi to Rikuzentakata), 129 km
Book 6 Rikuzentakata Station to Motoyoshi Station (Rikuzentakata to Kesennuma), 102 km
Book 7 Motoyoshi Station to Onagawa Station (Kesennuma to Onagawa), 114 km
Book 8 Onagawa Station to Ishinomaki Station (Onagawa to Ishinomaki), 102 km
Book 9 Ishinomaki Station to Natori Trail Center (Ishinomaki to Natori), 82 km
Book 10 Natori Trail Center to Matsukawaura (Natori to Soma), 97 km
(Japanese post https://m-tc.org/news/information/1167/)