Miyagi Olle – Zao / Togatta Hot Spring Trail Course

The Zao/Togatta Onsen Trail Course begins at the Zao Town Tourist Information Center, which is situated in the heart of Togatta Onsen, a hot spring town which has flourished since the Edo period
The trail leads you past the welcoming shops of Zao-dori Shopping Street, to a superb viewpoint overlooking the Zao peaks and the hot spring district.
From Togatta Onsen's iconic Kokeshi Bridge, you will reach the riverside Matsukawa Cycling Road. In spring, the juxtaposition of cherry blossom trees lining the road and lingering snow on the Zao Mountain Range creates a stunning vista.
Traditional kokeshi dolls, a craft that developed within the Tohoku region, are displayed at the Miyagi Zao Kokeshi Museum. To the west of the museum, the trail passes through the “Forest of Relaxation”, which is maintained by students of Miyagi Ogawara Industrial High School as part of their practical training program, before continuing on to "Kokeshi no Sato" (Kokeshi Village), a historic settlement of woodcraft artisans.
This area is one of the oldest to produce kokeshi dolls in Tohoku, and you can enjoy its historic atmosphere at Koretaka Shrine, which is dedicated to the ancestors of the woodcraft artisans.
Follow the trail alongside fields and farmland, feeling connected with nature and the local lifestyle, before arriving at Zao Heartland. Located at an elevation of roughly 550 meters, you can stroll through the vast pastureland and enjoy 360-degree panoramic views that overlook the Zao Mountain Range and Togatta Onsen.