AreaNear Miyagi
Mt. Karou
鹿狼山 | Mt. Karou
Enjoy a bird's-eye view of a sunrise over the Pacific
Photo by Roger Smith
AreaNear Miyagi
鹿狼山 | Mt. Karou
Enjoy a bird's-eye view of a sunrise over the Pacific
Photo by Roger Smith
Photo by Sarah F. Jones
Photo by Sarah F. Jones
Photo by Sarah F. Jones
Situated right on Miyagi’s southern border, Mount Karou is a charming and popular landmark that overlooks the town of Shinchi. Hiking from the trailhead near Karou no Yu to the summit takes about an hour at a leisurely pace, culminating in a sweeping view of the ocean to the east and the vast Zao mountain range to the west.
Shortly after the trailhead, marked by a wooden torii gate, the path diverges into two separate routes to the top, both similar in length and difficulty. For variety, take a different trail each way. At the end of the hike, reward your effort with a stop at the hot springs near the trailhead. Karou no Yu (鹿狼の湯) is notable for its outdoor bath, which offers a tremendous view of the sea and town.
I recommend joining in the tradition of watching the first sunrise of the year from the summit! Arrive at least an hour before sunrise and hike Mount Karou on the dawn of New Year’s Day with hundreds of others. All those who watch the first sunrise from the summit of Mount Karou are said to be blessed with good luck for the entire year.
ADDRESS
Suginome, Shinchi-machi, Soma District, Fukushima Prefecture 979-2706
ACCESS BY PUBLIC TRANSIT
12 minutes by taxi from Shinchi Station or Komagamine Station (Joban Line)
LANGUAGES
Japanese only
HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE
No
HOURS
Always open
CLOSED DAYS
None
TATTOO POLICY
Karou no Yu: OK as long as they are concealed