After moving from North Carolina to Okinawa in 2022, my family was overwhelmed but fascinated by our surroundings. One familiar monument made us feel right at home: McDonald's two golden arches.
21.07.2023 - 07:57 / roughguides.com
Hachinohe is known for its spectacular scenery, with towering sea cliffs, sandy bays, wildflower meadows and dazzling sunsets. Hachinohe is located on the most north-eastern part of the main Japanese island of Honshu, nestled in between Misawa and Kuji in Aomori Prefecture.
Hachinohe’s Pacific coastline offers up a series of fantastic hikes. From traversing the beloved Tanesashi Coast to walking to the ancient Pyramid of Shingo, there’s no better way to get the feel of a destination than by exploring on your own two feet. We have chosen some of the most exhilarating and beautiful routes to bring you five jaw-dropping hikes in Hachinohe.
Hachinohe’s most famous hiking routes trace its spellbinding coastline, combining to form part of the mighty Michinoku Coastal Trail. This trail extends roughly 1000km connecting Hachinohe in Aomori with Soma in Fukushima Prefecture. Indeed, Hachinohe’s fabulous coastline is well represented on our list, but there’s plenty more besides. Whether you’re an experienced hiker or after a relaxed stroll, there’s something for everyone in Hachinohe. Lace up your walking boots and get started!
The Tanesashi Coast is a staggeringly beautiful section of the Japanese coastline, stretching for 12–13km along Hachinohe’s Pacific shores. Part of the new, long-distance Michinoku Coastal Trail, the Tanesashi Coast offers varied walking, with craggy cliffs, sweeping beaches, pine forests and wildflower meadows – at their best in the summer, when the flowers are in bloom.
This day-long route is easily accessible from Hachinohe Station, where trains depart for Same Station (the startpoint) and Okuki Station (the endpoint). Natural highlights along the way include Kabushima, near the day’s start, a nesting site of a sizeable black-tailed gull population; Yodo Pine Grove, home to a collection of 100-year-old trees; and Nakasuka, full of coastal plants and Alpine flowers. The area’s bountiful flora gave Tanesashi its nickname, the Coast of Flowers. Towards the end of the route, the Tanesashi Natural Lawn is the perfect place to take a break. Be sure to pause at the Hamagoya, too, an old straw-thatched fishing hut where you can learn how fishermen lived in days gone by.
The Tanesashi Coast is – walking poles down – one of the best hikes in Hachinohe. Don’t forget to stop every now and then to gaze out over long coastal views; viewpoints like the Ashigezaki and Takaiwa scenic overlooks give tremendous panoramas. The route can easily be extended – just continue along the Michinoku Coastal Trail.
View of Ashigezaki Observatory on the Tanesashi Coast © Terence Toh Chin Eng/Shutterstock
Shingo is an incredibly spiritual place. It is home to the Pyramid of Shingo, the focus of this hike, and is also
After moving from North Carolina to Okinawa in 2022, my family was overwhelmed but fascinated by our surroundings. One familiar monument made us feel right at home: McDonald's two golden arches.
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