Michinoku Costal Trail Route Guide　3/50 Taneichi Station(Hirono Town) - Rikuchu-Nakano Station(Hirono Town)

Hello. I live in Miyako City, Iwate Prefecture, Japan.
I work as a guide for the Michinoku Coastal Trail and Sanriku Geopark, also the manager of Guest House 3710 in Miyako City.

タイトル未設定

This article is detailed route guide of the Michinoku Coastal Trail. One of the 50 sections that divide the entire route.
Very detailed and specific introduction of entire route.
Based on experience of actually walking the entire route two times, both southbound(SOBO) / northbound(NOBO).
The article is written as the southbound (SOBO) route. But, there may also be photos and explanations of the northbound (NOBO) route.

If you want to know basic information about the Michinoku Coastal Trail in general, please read the article below first (It's a free article).

Also, before actually walking, be sure to read the Michinoku Trail Club's "Alerts" before starting.
For example, the latest information on detours due to construction is posted.

Alerts | Managing the Michinoku Coastal Trail｜NPO Michinoku Trail Club

(This article is based on information as of June 2024. The information provided is for reference only. Please do your own research, make a plan, and act at your own risk. Please note that I cannot be held responsible for any trouble or accidents that may occur as a result of using this information.)

0. Overview of this area

This time, Introduce the section from Taneichi Station to Rikuchu-Nakano Station in Hirono Town, Iwate Prefecture.

The route is mostly paved, close to residential areas, and you can see the ocean in many places along the route.
This is one of the best areas on the entire Michinoku Coastal Trail route for ocean views.

Hirono Town is trying to increase support for hikers. Signs for hikers are being improved, and support from the private sector is increasing, too.
There are few shops and accommodations, except for the area around Taneichi Station. However, since there is almost no difference in elevation, this is a very easy area to walk on, making it a route for beginners.

However, at the coast near Uge Station on the way, you need to be careful about high tide and the height of the waves. When the waves get high, it becomes dangerous and impossible to walk, requiring a long detour.

There is also a crossing point for the "Kogegawa River" where you enter the next section of Kuji City, and a detour is often recommended there as well.

If you are detouring around Kogegawa River, you will most likely take a longer detour route that also does not pass Rikuchu-Nakano Station.

You need to be careful about those two detours, but overall it's a very easy area to walk around.

• Distance: Approximately 20km (If use detours, it will be longer)

• Maximum elevation: Approximately 90m

• Estimated time required: 4 to 5 hours (If use detours, need more)

• Route difficulty: Very easy (Except crossing Kogegawa River)

• Access to public transportation: Very easy

• Accommodations: Rare (Only around Taneichi Station and Shukunohe Station)

• Campsite: Available (Taneichi Seaside Park Campground)

• Restaurants: Rare (Only near the Taneichi Station and "Kinoko no Eki")

• Stores: Few (Very few, except around Taneichi Station)

1. Taneichi Station - Shukunohe Station

This section starts at Taneichi Station.
There is a free parking lot in front of the station, and there are supermarkets and accommodations nearby, so it's easy to use as a base (Hiking Map Book N-S 54.07).

This statue in front of the station is "Dai-chan", the symbol character of Hirono Town. It is modeled after the diver of Hirono Town's famous "Nanbu Diving".