The concept of Olle trails originated on Jeju Island in South Korea. In the island’s local dialect, “olle” refers to “a narrow path between the street and one’s doorstep.” With support from Jeju after the tsunami, Miyagi now has four Olle trails, one in Kesennuma, one in Naruko, one in Tome, and one in Oku-Matsushima. All are well-marked hiking trails rich in history and scenery.

The Oku-Matsushima Olle trail is a scenic 10-kilometer loop hike packed with points of interest. The trail winds through the nature surrounding a small but modern community on the eastern edge of Matsushima Bay. Highlights along the trail include Shinhama Misaki, Otakamori, and Tsukihama Beach. Shinhama Misaki (新浜岬) is a distinctively shaped natural jetty of smooth, barren rock said to resemble a horse’s back. Otakamori (大高森) is a 106-meter tall mountain home to one the Four Best Views of Matsushima Bay, the Sokan (lit. “Magnificent View”). Tsukihama Beach is popular with locals, a relaxing place to swim or picnic.

The hike starts and ends at Aomina (あおみな), a small sightseeing complex housing a local products shop and diner. Visitors looking for a seabound perspective can take a short sightseeing cruise from here to see the rugged Sagakei Gorge. While surrounded by beautiful natural scenery, hikers are never far from the comforts of civilization, making the Oku-Matsushima Olle trail a good option even for those wary of straying too far into the wilderness of a foreign country.