[Miyagi Prefecture - Yamagata Prefecture] The only road that directly connects Sendai City and Yamagata City is the Forest Road Futakuchi Line. It's a pretty rough road, but it offers spectacular views!

The roads connecting Sendai City in Miyagi Prefecture and Yamagata City in Yamagata Prefecture are generally the"Yamagata Expressway/Tohoku Expressway/Sakata Line,""National Route 48," and"Sasaya Pass,"but have any of you ever traveled along the scenic"Hayashido Futakuchi Line,"?

the scenic"Hayashido Futakuchi Line"I actually drove along

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The only road directly connecting Sendai City and Yamagata City

The Futakuchi Forest Roadisthe only road connecting Sendai City and Yamagata City without passing through other municipalities.Its total lengthis 19.0 kilometers (9.0 km on the Yamagata Prefecture side and 10.0 km on the Miyagi Prefecture side), andits highest point is at an elevation of 934 meters.

Construction of the entire line was completed in 1973, but it was originally a highway dating back to the Edo period

The road is typically open from early August to early November, but the closing period may vary depending on the snowfall and snowmelt conditions each year.

Formerlythe Mogami RoadorFutakuchi Road, it flourished as a vital route for transportation and trade between Miyagi and Yamagata prefectures. Although construction on the entire route was completed in 1973, it was often closed for extended periods due to damage to the road surface caused by heavy rains and snowmelt, as well as landslides on the slopes.

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Let's go! My first trip to the "Futakuchi Forest Road"

Looking at the Google Map above, it appears that Yamagata City and Sendai City are connected by a straight line, so you might simply think, "Isn't this the shortest route?" However, the Futakuchi Forest Roadpasses through the Futakuchi Gorge, so it's only wide enough for one car at a time, and you have to navigate many sharp curves. In addition, because it's a mountain pass, you're constantly on the edge of a cliff.

Let me warn you in advance:I do not recommend this route for inexperienced drivers, so please be extremely careful if you choose to drive through it.

This time we will enter the forest road Futakuchi Line from the Yamagata city side

If you drive through Yamagata City, Yamadera Station, and along Yamagata Prefectural Route 62 (Sendai-Yamadera Line) towards Futakuchi Gorge, you will pass through the residential area of ​​Yamadera

After passing through a residential area with roads just wide enough for one car, you'll see a gate. This is the start of the Futakuchi Forest Road, and as indicated on the sign,the speed limitis 20 km/h.

Until the late 1990s, the road was a gravel forest road, but since the 2000s, the road on both the Yamagata and Miyagi sides has been paved with concrete

After passing through the gate, you can see the autumn leaves of the mountains just a few minutes later. (As of October 27, 2023) However, the road is very narrow, so please be careful not to get distracted while driving

*By the way, all of the photos in this article were taken by my partner in the passenger seat

It takes about 20 minutes from the Yamagata side. If you continue up the steep curves and slopes, you will arrive near the top

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Near the summit on the Yamagata side

Look at this view! It's a breathtaking view that will take your breath away! I was truly amazed

It's worth taking the Futakuchi Line forest road just to see this view. Passing through the vivid autumn foliage of the steep mountains, you arrive at the Yamagata Basin. You'll be speechless. (As of October 27, 2023)

However, there is no parking space here either, so you have to drive slowly within the legal speed limit of 20km. After this, there is another gate near the top of the Yamagata River

This gate is located on the border between Yamagata and Miyagi prefectures. From here, you will enter Miyagi prefecture and head down a slope

As you descend the mountain pass,you'll find an observation deck on the Miyagi Prefecture side.

The view from the Miyagi side passes through steep mountains and stretches from Akiu to the Kannon Temple in Nakayama

The leaves have not yet turned red like they do on the Yamagata side, but the scenery here is just as impressive

On the Miyagi Prefecture side, there is a place with a sign that says "Observation Deck," but there does not appear to be any parking space nearby, soplease be very careful of oncoming and following vehicles when enjoying the view.

From here, the road descends through the mountainous area shown in the photo,Akiu Great Fallsleading to

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Forest Road Futakuchi Line, Miyagi Prefecture side

Once you enter Miyagi Prefecture, you will start to see signs like the one in the photo here and there

"Shiraito Falls," "Iwaji Rock," "Hikage Iwaji," and "Ane Falls,"but all of them are accessed via hiking trails and walking paths, so if your purpose is to see the scenery, be sure to go prepared with proper hiking gear.

along the Futakuchi Forest Road"Iwaji Parking", so it would be best to use that.

Banji Parking Lot

Once you reach Iwaji Parking Lot, head straight towards Akiu

Along the way, after passing through the Sendai City Akiu Visitor Center, which also handles camping and mountain climbing reception, the forest road Futakuchi Line changes into Futakuchi Kaido and becomes a two-lane road

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Futakuchi Valley

The Futakuchi Gorge, where the Futakuchi Line forest road is located, is a gorge that stretches upstream of the Natori River in the western part of Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, with a total length of 8 kilometers.The upper reaches belong to Zao National Park, and the middle and lower reaches belong to the Futakuchi Gorge Prefectural Natural Park

Downstream is Akiu Onsen, a popular natural scenic spot near Sendai, and one of the most popular spots in the prefecture for strolls during the autumn foliage season

Famous sights include Akiu Otaki Falls, one of Japan's 100 best waterfalls, and the huge rock cliff of Banji Rock

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summary

This time, I drove on the "Futakuchi Forest Road" for the first time in my life

On the map, Yamagata City and Sendai City appear to be directly connected, and as I mentioned before, I thought "this might actually be the shortest route," but don't underestimate it; it takes roughly 50 minutes from the gate on the Yamagata City side to the gate on the Sendai City side, and if you consider the drive from Yamagata Station and from Akiu to Sendai Station, it's probably just under two hours

I think so

However, the scenery is outstanding. I wouldn't recommend this to drivers who aren't very confident in their driving skills, but it might be a good idea to drive through the Futakuchi Forest Road and take National Route 48 on the way back

At this time, the only closure date for 2023 is scheduled to be from early November, so we recommend it to those who have the time

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Forest Road Futakuchi Line Information

Safety measures

Contact Information

• Forestry Promotion Division, Forestry Infrastructure Development Team
• 3-8-1 Honmachi, Aoba Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture
• Phone number: 022-211-2913
• Fax number: 022-211-2919

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