Fukushima

The first morning of our Michinoku Coastal Trail journey broke over a quiet sea in Soma, blue and endless. We set out northbound—against the usual flow—hoping spring would follow our steps. The day carried us through farmlands and shrines, soft wind and the season’s first cherry blossoms. By evening, tired but unhurt, we reached the foot of Mt. Karou, our next climb waiting. The road ahead stretched north for a thousand kilometers, and it already felt like the beginning of something vast.

Day 2 opened bright and clear as we climbed Mt. Karou, where the summit offered a full circle of mountains, farmland, and the shining sea. Springs and early cherry blossoms eased the way down before the road stretched into flat, sun-baked silence—just heat, wind, and one lonely red vending machine that felt like salvation. Later, the ruins of a seaside school brought the day to a quiet pause, and somewhere beyond that, a small unexpected kindness reminded us that the trail still had surprises waiting.