Kitakami River
The Kitakami River flows for over 250 kilometers, and is the largest river in the Tohoku region, as well as the fourth largest in Japan. It flows from its source in Iwate Prefecture through Miyagi Prefecture, where it meets the Pacific Ocean in the city of Ishinomaki.
Historically, the Kitakami River was important for the transportation of goods by boat. The abundant reeds along its banks provide a natural habitat for a wide variety of waterfowl and have been used for centuries to make traditional thatched roofs. The river’s freshwater clams, called shijimi, are harvested and typically used in a local variant of miso soup, and every autumn, the river hosts a spectacular salmon run.
Although the Kitakami-ohashi Bridge is the only place where the Michinoku Coastal Trail and the Kitakami River cross paths, this mighty river is an intrinsic part of life in the region.