The Hitachi Country Long Trail, a 350-kilometer circular route spanning six cities and towns in northern Ibaraki Prefecture, officially opened on September 19. The trail is currently the longest of its kind in Japan, designed to showcase the region’s natural landscapes, history, and culture by connecting mountain paths and rural villages.
The project began in the 2019 fiscal year, led by the Ibaraki prefectural government in collaboration with the volunteer group Hitachi Country Trail Club. Development proceeded in stages, starting with a 14-kilometer section between Shimonomiya and Fukuroda Falls in Daigo in March 2021. By the end of the 2024 fiscal year, two-thirds of the trail was complete. The final 75-kilometer segment, connecting the former post town of Takabe-juku in Hitachiomiya to Mount Yamizo in Daigo and ending at JR Suigun Line Shimonomiya Station, was finalized during the 2025 fiscal year.
An opening ceremony was held at the Miwa Regional Center in Hitachiomiya, attended by approximately 300 people, including Ibaraki Governor Kazuhiko Oigawa, local government leaders, and lawmakers. Following the ceremony, participants, including the governor and professional adventure racer and trail ambassador Yohei Tanaka, hiked to the summit of Mount Shakujo to mark the trail’s opening.
Over the course of the eight-year project, more than 5,000 volunteers contributed to clearing paths and removing fallen trees. Ikukuro Wada, president of the outdoor retailer Namche Bazaar, who proposed the trail concept to the prefecture, emphasized that the route is intended to offer a lasting experience rather than a one-time event. Wada noted that the trail highlights the region’s history, including sites associated with Tokugawa Mitsukuni, and provides visitors with a connection to local rural life.
The Ibaraki prefectural government plans to focus on promoting the trail to domestic and international tourists and improving visitor infrastructure to support regional development in the northern part of the prefecture. Governor Oigawa stated that the trail is intended to serve as a symbol of the future and hope for the region.
Article source: ibarakinews.jp | Image credit: ibarakinews.jp