Team Members
Manabu Itaya
Born June 1, 1962
I decided to spend the entire year of 2019 traveling in a camper van and hiking Japan’s mountains and trails.It all began in February, when I had just made that decision and started preparing for the trip. I happened to attend “Long Distance Hikers Day,” where I heard Mr. Tsuchiya and Mr. Hasegawa from Hiker’s Depot speak passionately about the Michinoku Coastal Trail. I felt strongly that I absolutely had to hike this trail and that, as a Japanese hiker, I had to help nurture this trail—and that was the very beginning.
After hiking all over the place—from the mountains of Kyushu and Hokkaido to the North Nemuro Ranchway and the Shin-Etsu Trail—Typhoon No. 19 struck in October, just as I was about to set out on the Michinoku Coastal Trail.I postponed the start and, while waiting, was feeling restless, wondering if there was anything I could do, when I received an invitation from a fellow hiker to participate in a typhoon damage assessment in November.
After that, I started from Hachinohe City in Aomori Prefecture and completed a through-hike heading south over the course of 47 days, finishing in Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture.
The 1,025-kilometer journey I walked on my own two feet turned out to be a wonderful adventure that far exceeded my expectations.
After finishing the hike, I began working at the Michinoku Trail Club Secretariat in February 2020.I’m now working at the Natori Trail Center, hoping to give back to hikers by sharing the kindness and support I received from so many people along the Michinoku Coastal Trail.
For me, the Michinoku Coastal Trail was a “Magic Trail”—not just “Trail Magic”—that connected me to all sorts of experiences and people.