The Park Hotel Jodogahama in Miyako

Setting

Set in Jodogahama Park on a wooded hill above Miyako, this hotel sits at the natural end point of the Miyako section of the Michinoku Coastal Trail — which is exactly why we chose it. The location alone made it an easy decision: arriving on foot, already inside the park, with the onsen waiting. It also overlooks Jodogahama, one of the most photographed stretches of coastline on the Sanriku coast. The building has a traditional feel without feeling dated: clean lines, natural materials, and an interior that is simple and quietly elegant.

We had a beer in the lobby, which opens onto a glass-walled terrace cantilevered toward the sea. After a full day on the trail, the views from there were quietly spectacular.

Rooms

All rooms face the park and surrounding forest; some have a more direct angle on the bay. We stayed in a Japanese-style room with futon on tatami — warm, unhurried, and very still.

Tasty food

Both dinner and breakfast were served buffet-style — known in Japan as baikingu (Viking), a term that dates back to the 1950s. The spread was genuinely good: carefully sourced ingredients, fresh sashimi, and fruit that tasted selected rather than bulk-ordered. Service throughout was attentive without being intrusive.

Onsen

The hotel has both indoor and outdoor baths. The outdoor onsen sits deeper among the trees, with only a sliver of sea visible — more sheltered than scenic, but still relaxing and very quiet. No sauna.