COMING SOON
Walking the Michinoku Coastal Trail
A Practical, First-Hand Handbook for International Hikers
I've been walking the Michinoku Coastal Trail since 2017, including one full thruhike and plenty of repeat trips back to different parts of the trail. Over the years, I've picked up a lot of things I wish I'd known at the start: how to plan days realistically, where the awkward transport gaps are, which sections need more preparation, and what actually matters once you're out there. This book brings all of that together in one place. More than anything, I hope it helps more people from around the world discover this part of Japan, spend time in the communities along the coast, and come away loving the trail as much as I do.
By Robin Takashi Lewis, founder of MichinokuTrail.com & Board Member, Michinoku Coastal Trail Association
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Why I Wrote This Book
The MCT is an amazing trail. It's also not always the easiest one to plan. Accommodation can decide how far you walk. Buses and ferries can be infrequent. Some sections that look easy on a map definitely aren't. And quite a lot only makes sense once you've actually walked it. That's one of the reasons I started MichinokuTrail.com. The book is a chance to bring the bigger picture together: the practical stuff, the different parts of the trail, and some of the people and places that make walking this coast so memorable.
What's Inside
This isn't a kilometre-by-kilometre guide, and it's not meant to replace the official maps or GPX files.
It's more about helping you work out what kind of trip you want to do, what to expect, and how to prepare for it.
Plan your journey
When to go, budget, transport, accommodation, maps, navigation, gear and how long you might need.
Choose where to walk
Highlights, shorter recommended routes and a practical overview of the full 1,000+ km trail.
Know what to expect
Terrain, road walking, remote sections, ferries, food, resupply, camping and onsen.
Stay safe
Bears, weather, wildlife, river crossings, earthquakes, tsunamis, solo hiking and emergencies.
Get to know the coast
Local food, Trail Angels, fishing communities, disaster memorials, culture and some of my favourite people and places along the way.
Who’s It For?
You definitely don’t need to walk all 1,000+ km to get something out of this book.
It’s for anyone planning time on the MCT, whether that’s a day, a few days, or the whole trail.
A day on the trail: Planning somewhere like Tanesashi, Jodogahama or the Goishi Coast? Use the book to understand what to expect, how to get there, and how to make the most of your time.
A few days or a week: Pick a stretch that suits your time and interests, then work out the practical bits around accommodation, transport, food and getting on and off the trail.
The whole trail: If you’re thinking about a thruhike, the book helps you see the journey as a whole, plan the bigger logistics, and understand what’s waiting further down the coast.
However much of the MCT you walk, the idea is the same: arrive prepared, then leave plenty of room for the trail to surprise you.
A Little About Me
I first came to Tohoku in 2011, volunteering in communities affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami.
I started walking parts of the MCT in 2017, before the full route officially opened, and I've kept coming back ever since.
Since then, I've walked more than 2,000 km on the trail, including one full thruhike, and spent a lot of time getting things wrong, finding better ways to do them, and learning from people along the coast.
That's really what this book is based on.
One important thing
This is an independent book, not an official Michinoku Coastal Trail Association publication.
For current routes, GPX files, closures and trail alerts, always check the Association's official information.
The book focuses on the things that change less quickly: understanding the trail, planning your trip, and knowing what to expect.
A Few Questions
Is this only for thruhikers?
No. It's for anyone planning time on the MCT, whether that's one day, one week or the whole trail.
Does it include turn-by-turn navigation?
No. Routes and conditions change too often for a book to be the best tool for that. Use the latest official maps and GPX files for navigation.
Is this an official MCT book?
No. It's independently written and published.
When will it be available?
I'm working on the final book now. Join the launch list and I'll let you know when it's ready.