Michinoku Coastal Trail: Kuji Station - Itsukushima Shrine
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.
Route Detail
Distance: 21.58km out & back from Kuji Station
Total elevation gain: 449m
Time: 4h 20m (total time with breaks 4h 34m)
Difficulty: Moderate
Miscellaneous
Food ¥371
