Kurihara: Mountains, Railway History and Nature

Kurihara Between Mountains, Railways and Nature

Hiking on Mount Kurikoma, railway history and nature at Izunuma offer different ways to spend time in Kurihara. Several attractions are located within the municipality; a mountain panorama and a described traverse are part of the wider region. If you are looking for hotels in Kurihara, you can start planning your trip based on whether you are most interested in mountain trails, technological history or the natural environment of a lake.

Mount Kurikoma: Hiking Trails and Summit Panorama

Mount Kurikoma, a 1,626-meter-high conical volcano, extends across Miyagi, Iwate and Akita prefectures. In the municipality, you can hike and trek on the mountain from spring through autumn. The trailhead at Iwakagamidaira has a parking lot and a rest house, as well as nine hiking trails for different experience levels. Season, starting point and your own hiking experience are useful planning considerations. Seasonal conditions may vary.

From the summit of Mount Kurikoma, you can see Mount Gassan, Mount Chōkai, the Zao Mountains, Mount Akita-Komagatake and Mount Hayachine, as well as the Pacific Ocean in the distance. In the wider region, the described traverse climbs from Iwakagamidaira to the summit via the Higashi-Kurikoma Trail and descends to Sukawa Onsen via the Sukawa Trail. The summit views and the route of this traverse offer two concrete points to consider when deciding what to focus on during a trip to the mountain region.

Railway History and Nature by the Lake

At the Kuriden Museum in Wakayanagi, you can see and touch vehicles from the Kurihara Den’en Railway, which closed in 2007. The KD12 driving simulator uses an original driver’s cab. You can take a seat, move the brake handle and levers, and sound the Kuriden horn. The railway experience ranges from viewing and touching historic vehicles to operating the controls of a simulator. For travelers interested in technological history, the museum combines looking and trying things out.

The Miyagi Izunuma-Uchinuma Sanctuary Center is located on Lake Izunuma, which is known as a resting place for swans and other waterfowl. The center has exhibits about the lake’s natural environment. It also holds nature-experience courses about the Izunuma and Uchinuma area about once a month. The center offers a different focus from the mountain trails, centering on lake ecology and nature. If you would like to attend a course, check the current schedule in advance.

Local Iwana Farming and Char Dishes

Iwana farming in Kurihara City began in 1968 at the initiative of Kazumata Kazuo, who aimed to revitalize the region; it continues to this day. A description updated in 2023 identifies 岩魚の館 as a business run by the second-generation couple headed by Sadawo Kazumata. According to the description updated in 2023, char dishes were offered there; Sadawo is also involved in managing the fish farm. This connects the history of local fish farming with a specific culinary offering. If you are interested in local fish farming and char dishes, this topic adds another dimension to the nature and railway experiences.

You can also plan around the timing of the available activities: hiking on Mount Kurikoma is possible from spring through autumn, while nature-experience courses at the Sanctuary Center are held about once a month. Check seasonal conditions and course dates before making specific plans.

Discover more destinations: Miya, Tagajō, Ishinomaki, Matsushima, Watari, Zao, Misato, Kesennuma

For the broader travel overview: Miyagi Prefecture.