Michinoku Coastal Trail – 7 days

DISTANCE - AVERAGE

Distance training is somewhat a consideration in your overall training program, so take every opportunity you can to walk. As you progress, incorporate longer walks into your training plan. Schedule one or two long walks each week, gradually increasing the distance until you can comfortably cover 16km in a single day. Additionally, also include back-to-back walks to simulate walking on consecutive days. This helps your body adapt to the demands of walking for multiple days in a row. Ensure you can comfortably walk the average distance per day displayed in the graph, at least one month before you undertake your hike.

ELEVATION - ABOVE AVERAGE

Elevation training is a major consideration in your overall training program. You must include walks with serious hill climbs. If you do not have access to hills, it it essential to replicate the elevation level you will be undertaking in any way possible via a treadmill or stair climber. Prioritizing resistance training assumes heightened significance in this context, emphasizing the incorporation of stair climbing whenever feasible. Walking up and down stairs at work, at a local oval with a grandstand, or up and down small hills, boring as that sounds, is incredibly useful. Elevation is the chief walk killer, not distance, as it uses an entirely different set of muscles. If high altitude is a factor, incorporate sessions at a higher altitude to acclimatise your body to reduced oxygen levels ( this may not be possible). Ensure you can comfortably walk the average elevation per day displayed in the graph, at least one month before you undertake your hike.

MOUNTAINOUS / UNDULATING TERRAIN

As terrain associated with mountain climbs is often somewhat uneven and rocky, balancing and core exercises are vital.

Try to also include some form of elevation in more than 50% of your walking and prioritise resistance training, whilst incorporating stairs anytime you can. Walking up mountains or hills, up and down stairs at work, or up and down at a local oval with a grandstand is incredibly useful. Elevation is often where walkers encounter problems not distance, as it uses an entirely different set of muscles to everyday flat walking. Concentrate on doing lots of squats and lunges to build your glute muscles.

UNEVEN TERRAIN

Preparation for hiking on uneven terrain demands a blend of physical and mental readiness.

Begin with balance-enhancing exercises, such as one-legged stands and stability ball workouts, laying a groundwork for stability and coordination. Strengthening the lower body is especially important, achieved through the incorporation of squats, lunges, and step-ups. Gradually increase the complexity of the terrain on which you walk, moving from gravel paths to rocky trails. Cultivate mindfulness during your practice, directing focused attention to both your immediate surroundings and precise foot placement.

The importance of suitable footwear cannot be overstated; prioritise options that offer robust support and reliable grip to navigate varying terrains with confidence. Build endurance through consistent hikes, progressively increasing distance and difficulty.

AVAILABILITY

Autumn months are ideal months to walk weather wise which is when we run our tours currently.

THE WALKING

This is a moderate walk. The tracks are modern and well maintained. Some days have steady elevation however it is worth it for the views. The days walk average 13.4km a day. Please see the fitness guide for more information.

HOW TO GET THERE AND AWAY

Travelling to the Start of the walk

This walk starts in Hachinohe on Day 1 and ends in Morioka. You will need to get yourself to and from the start and end of your walk. The journey from Tokyo to Hachinohe takes around 3.5 hours.  To make it easy, we have collated some useful information that will assist you in planning for your travel.

By rail: Arrive in Hachinohe either by Shinkansen (train) or plane. If you are travelling by train you will arrive at the Shinkansen Station, approximately 20 minutes by taxi from central Hachinohe. You can take the local train instead to central Hachinohe, but it only leaves every hour so it may not be convenient.

Japan has one of the best train systems in the world, so it’s very easy to catch a train to any destination in the country. An express train is the fastest way to travel to the area. Travelling in Japan on trains is a seamless experience, and it is not necessary to always pre-purchase tickets. There’s plenty of Rail staff that speak English well enough to direct you the right way and to converse with you about how to buy your ticket. We can provide more information if you wish, so please ask one of our destination consultants.

You will find the following website Japan Transit Planner useful for catching trains in Japan. You can search train and bus timetables, departure and arrival stations, times, and prices. Otherwise, the app Japan Travel by Navi Time is fantastic. It lets you search train and bus timetables all over Japan. You can choose the departure station, arrival station, and time. The results give you the name of the train, platform number, total cost, duration of journey, total distance, and transfers.

By air: By taking a 1hr flight from Tokyo or 1hr 35mins from Osaka you will arrive at Misawa Airport about a 40-minute taxi ride to the CBD and your accommodation. There’s a nice walk out to a few shrines if you have time, or sit back and relax in one of the cafes or restaurants.

Travelling from the end of the walk

By train: The train from Morioka to Tokyo takes around 2.5 – 3.5hrs

By air: Take the train to a major city and catch a flight from there

JR Rail Pass

Whether or not to purchase a Japan Rail Pass depends on how long you are planning to stay in Japan and what other areas you want to visit. We would recommend roughly calculating your train fares for the trip and comparing this with the JR Pass cost to see if it is worth purchasing for your particular itinerary. The alternative to a JR Pass would be to buy tickets as you go.

Note that the JR Rail Pass cannot be used on many local bus services and cannot be used on non-JR services such as non-JR train networks and the Tokyo metro.

Should I invest in a JR Rail Pass? We highly recommend that you only invest in a JR Rail pass if you are planning to extend your travel in Japan. As mentioned, the cost of train travel is provided when using Japan Transit Planner website, Japan Direct rail app or Japan Travel by NaviTime app (which also allows you to search bus timetables). You can choose the departure station, arrival station, and time. The results give you the name of the train, platform number, total cost, duration of journey, total distance, and transfers. 

WEATHER

As walkers, we believe any time is good for walking, but autumn is best as the weather is ‘perfect’ for walking.

See the weather information about www.holiday-weather.com/morioka/ at different times of the year.

INFORMATION PACK

For over 30 years, we have taken pride in providing seamlessly organised walking holidays, but we know that you’ll have many more questions even with that in mind. You will receive a detailed information pack and itinerary approximately six weeks from departure outlining all the fine details and much more.

INSURANCE

We require that you have adequate travel insurance against potential losses, damage or injury, including cancellation costs and loss of luggage.

For all trips requiring international travel, you must have purchased travel insurance including medical evacuation coverage.

We also charge a cancellation fee if you cancel your walking holiday after we have confirmed it to cover costs incurred by our suppliers and in the office.  See the FAQ section for more information.

CONTACT

If you have any questions, feel free to ask one of our destination consultants, or if you have a very specific track-related question, ask for Brett, who has walked the Michinoku Coastal Trail area a few times. You can contact us via our contact form, email us at info@auswalk.com.au, or call us on +61 3 9597 9767.