In September 2026, the Hitachinokuni Long Trail fully opened in Japan's Ibaraki Prefecture. After seven years of work, the separate trails were united into a continuous loop route about 350 kilometers long — the longest loop hiking route in Japan.
The route passes through six municipalities in northern Ibaraki, connecting mountain forests, river valleys, rural settlements, historic sites and the Pacific coast. The completion of the project made it possible to walk the entire path as a single loop, rather than only exploring individual open sections.
Seven years to connect the trails
The project began in 2019. Existing mountain trails and rural roads were gradually united into a common network, with new sections opening as they were completed. In September 2026, the final segment, about 75 kilometers long, was completed between the city of Hitachiomiya and the town of Daigo. Thus the route closed into a loop.
The full opening took place on 19 September in Hitachiomiya. Local authorities, organizations and volunteers, including members of the Hitachinokuni Trail Club, took part in creating and maintaining the trails.
The route now links Hitachi, Hitachiota, Takahagi, Kitaibaraki, Hitachiomiya and Daigo. These are not 350 kilometers laid from scratch, but the result of many years of work to unite existing paths and create the missing sections.
From mountain forests to the Pacific Ocean
The Hitachinokuni Long Trail passes through the diverse landscapes of northern Ibaraki: forested mountains, river valleys, waterfalls and the Pacific coast. Along the way there are shrines, historic sites, old roads and rural settlements.
Among the natural attractions are Fukuroda Falls, one of Japan's most famous waterfalls, and Mount Yamizo, the highest peak in Ibaraki Prefecture. On certain sections the route offers views of the coast and passes through quiet rural areas where everyday life is closely tied to the surrounding landscape.
Satoyama: nature and the life of local communities
A distinctive feature of the route is satoyama, the traditional Japanese rural landscape in which villages, fields, forests and bodies of water have historically been linked to people's lives. This is not untouched nature far from civilization, but an environment that was shaped and maintained by generations.
Along the way, not only the scenery changes but also the character of the terrain: mountain trails give way to rural roads, forests to fields and settlements. As a result, the route presents northern Ibaraki as a coherent cultural landscape where the natural environment and local history exist side by side.
350 kilometers — a route that can be walked in stages
The full distance does not have to be covered in a single trip. The loop configuration makes it possible to choose individual sections and plan a hike depending on time and fitness. Official maps and guidebooks help to plan the route and find access points.
The completion of the Hitachinokuni Long Trail marked a new stage in the development of Japan's hiking routes. The seven-year project united separate paths into a continuous loop that links the natural attractions and cultural heritage of six municipalities in northern Ibaraki.
