[Miyagi Prefecture - Yamagata Prefecture] The only road that directly connects Sendai City and Yamagata City, "Rindo Futakuchi Line" is a pretty rough road, but you can see a spectacular view!

Generally, the roads that connect Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture and Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture include ``Yamagata Expressway / Tohoku Odan Expressway / Sakata Line'', ` ` National Route 48'' , and ``Sasaya Pass''. Have you ever been through the spectacular ``Forest Road Futakuchi Line''

I actually took the scenic “Forest Road Futakuchi Line” This is an introduction.

The only road that directly connects Sendai City and Yamagata City

Futakuchi Rindo is the only road that connects Sendai City and Yamagata City without passing through other municipalities , and has a total length of 19.0 km (Yamagata Prefecture side: 9.0 km, Miyagi Prefecture side: 10.0 km) km), and the highest point has an altitude of 934 meters.

Construction on the entire line was completed in 1972, but the original road has been inherited from the Edo period.

The passable period is usually from early August to early November , and the closing period changes depending on the snowfall and melting conditions that year.

In ancient times, Mogami Kaido or Futakuchi Kaido , and flourished as a key route for transportation and trade between Miyagi and Yamagata. Construction on the entire line was completed in 1972, but the road was often closed for long periods of time due to damage to the road surface caused by heavy rain and melting snow, as well as the collapse of slopes.

Here we go! Going on the “Forest Road Futakuchi Line” for the first time in my life

If you look at the Google Map above, it connects Yamagata City and Sendai City in a straight line, so you might think that it's the shortest route, but the Forest Road Futakuchi Line passes through Futakuchi Gorge, so it's barely wide enough for one car. However, you have to pass through many sharp curves. Also, since it is a mountain pass road, it is always on the edge of a cliff.

As I would like to tell you first, this is not recommended for those who are inexperienced with driving , so please be careful when passing.

This time, we will enter the forest road Futakuchi Line from the Yamagata City side.

Passing in front of Yamadera Station in Yamagata City and heading towards Futakuchi Gorge on Yamagata Prefectural Route 62 (Sendai Yamadera Line), you will pass through the residential area of ​​Yamadera.

You will see the gate after passing through a residential road that is large enough for one car to pass through. From here, the forest road becomes the Futakuchi Line, and as stated on the signboard, the legal speed limit is 20 km.

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

After passing through the gate and driving for a few minutes, you can already see the mountains covered in autumn leaves. (As of October 27, 2023) However, the road is really narrow, so please be careful about distracted driving.

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

It's about 20 minutes from the Yamagata Prefecture side. Continuing up the hill with a sharp curve, you will reach near the top.

Near the summit on the Yamagata Prefecture side

Look at this view! A breathtaking view that will leave you breathless! This really surprised me.

You may want to take the forest road Futakuchi just to see this view. Pass through the bright autumn leaves of the steep mountains to the Yamagata Basin. I'm speechless. (As of 2023/10/27)

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

This gate location is the prefectural border between Yamagata and Miyagi prefectures. From here on, we head down the slope towards Miyagi Prefecture.

As you go down the mountain pass, there is an observation deck on the Miyagi Prefecture side.

The view on the Miyagi Prefecture side passes through the steep mountains, and you can see all the way from Akiu to Nakayama's Kannon statue.

Compared to the Yamagata Prefecture side, the leaves have not turned red yet, but the scenery here is just as good.

On the Miyagi Prefecture side, there is a place with a sign saying "Observation Deck", but there are no parking spaces nearby, so please be careful of oncoming and following cars when looking at the scenery.

From here, the road descends through the mountains shown in the photo, leading to Akiu Otaki Falls

Forest road Futakuchi line, Miyagi prefecture side

As you enter the Miyagi Prefecture side, you will see a signboard like the one in the photo.

``Shiraito Falls'', ``Banji Rock'', ``Hikage Iwaji'', and ``Anetaki'' , but all of them are views that can be seen using mountain trails and promenades, so if you are looking for scenery, please be sure to use mountain climbing. Let's go prepared.

``Iwaji Parking Lot'' along the Forest Road Futakuchi Line , so it is a good idea to use this parking lot.

Iwaji parking lot

Once you get to the Iwaji parking lot, go straight to Akiu.

Along the way, after passing through the Sendai City Akiu Visitor Center, which also accepts camping and mountain climbing, the forest road Futakuchi Route changes to Futakuchi Kaido and becomes a two-lane road.

Futakuchi Valley

In the first place, the Futakuchi Gorge, where the forest road Futakuchi Line is located, is a gorge that spreads upstream of the Natori River in the western part of Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, and has a total length of 8 km.The upper part belongs to Zaokoku National Park, and the middle and lower reaches belong to the Prefectural Natural Park Futakuchi Gorge. Masu.

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

Famous attractions include Akiu Otaki, one of Japan's top 100 waterfalls, and Iwaji Rock, a huge rock wall.

summary

This time I ran the "Forest Road Futakuchi Line" for the first time in my life.

On the map, it connects Yamagata City and Sendai City directly.As I said, I thought, ``Isn't this actually the shortest route?'' But don't be fooled; from the gate on the Yamagata City side to the Sendai City gate. It's about 50 minutes, and if you consider driving from Yamagata Station and from Akiu to Sendai Station, it's probably a little less than 2 hours driving.

I think.

However, the scenery is outstanding. Although it is not recommended for drivers who are not very good at driving, it may be a good idea to drive through the Futakuchi forest road and then take National Route 48 on the way back.

As of now, it is only expected to close in early November in 2023, so we recommend it if you have the time.

Forest Road Futakuchi Line Information

Safety measure

Contact information

• Forestry Promotion Division Forestry Infrastructure Development Group
• 3-8-1 Honmachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture
• Phone number: 022-211-2913
• FAX number: 022-211-2919