Michinoku Coastal Trail - Kuji Station to Itsukushima Shrine - Iwate, Japan
Sometimes, knowing when to quit is important—today was one of those days. Nothing went as planned. I started my hike in town, following a trail through various shrines before heading out of Kuji. With temperatures at -15°C with windchill and snow falling, parts of the trail were icy. Some sections had chains at the trailhead, forcing me to take detours that added distance.
By the time I reached Itsukushima Shrine, it was almost 1 PM, and I still had 16km left. With the snow and wind picking up, I decided to turn back toward Kuji Station. The walk back was brutal—facing strong headwinds and snow blowing in my face.
I stopped at a convenience store to refuel since my packed snacks weren’t enough. Eventually, I made it back to Kuji Station, exhausted from battling the wind. We’ll try again some other time.
Getting There
From Tokyo, take the Shinkansen to Hachinohe, then transfer to the local Hachinohe Line, which will take you directly to Kuji Station.
Route Overview
Distance: 23.58 km out & back (Kuji Station)
Total elevation gain: 449 m
Duration: 4 hr 20 min (with breaks 4 hr 34 min)
Difficulty: Intermediate
Cost Breakdown
Food: ¥371
