If you’re planning a trip to Japan and you want to include distant destinations away from the crowds of Tokyo and Kyoto in your itinerary, don’t forget to pack your hiking boots. In September, the circular Hitachinokuni Long Trail opened, and at 320 kilometers it has become the longest circular hiking path in the country.
The route presents a spectrum of breathtaking landscapes: mountains, rural villages, waterfalls, beaches, and historical ruins in the northern part of Ibaraki Prefecture, all reachable in under two hours by train from the capital.
A loop spanning six towns and Japan’s satoyama
The trail connects six towns: Kitaibaraki, Takahagi, Hitachi, Hitachiota, Hitachiomiya and Daigo. The unifying thread isn’t grand attractions but the satoyama landscape. With this term the Japanese refer to rural areas where communities have lived for centuries in close contact with mountains, meadows, ponds, and rice paddies. It’s a slower, more authentic Japan, one that rarely appears on classic itineraries.
One of the trail’s strengths is that it can be walked year-round. The elevations are modest and, thanks to its location, the area does not suffer heavy snow. This doesn’t mean it’s a stroll. Rest stops along the route are scarce, so it’s wise to start with ample water and supplies.
Some sections are rocky, others feature steep grades. Being a loop, the path has no true starting point: you can choose where to begin based on how much time you have and your fitness level.
The five zones of the trek
The route is broadly divided into five zones, each with its own character.
The central area is the most challenging, with continuous climbs and descents suited for experienced hikers. It sits on the Yamizo mountains at the northern edge of Daigo, and it rewards the effort with the Fukuroda Falls, among Japan’s most famous. Along the way you also encounter the rocky summits of Okukuji Nantaisan and the Ryujinkyo Gorge.
The northeastern area alternates peaks such as the Eizomuro and the Hanazono with coastal stretches, featuring the beaches of Kohama and Sasaki. It is also a journey through history, as this region hosts the Salt Road, an ancient salt-trading route, and the Jikkoku Canal, in use since the Edo period (1603-1868).
To the southeast, in the section inaugurated in 2024, you start from the Hananuki Valley and ascend Tsuchidake Mountain, which offers a broad panorama of the area. The route continues among waterfalls and historic sites such as the ruins of Kitadaimon Castle up to the Kuji River.
The southwest area, in the territory of Hitachiomiya, traverses mountains rich in flora and fauna, including the iwauchiwa, a flowering plant typical of these regions. Here you also pass by what once was a thriving gold mining district. Finally, the northwest area revolves around Yamizo Mountain. Here lie sacred sites such as the Yamizomine Shrine, which tradition traces back to the 1st century. At the summit, a castle-shaped observatory offers a 360-degree view of the Fukushima and Tochigi mountains.
