We Take a Loop through Dainohara Shinrin Koen

Sendai may not be a megacity like Tokyo or Yokohama. However, with over 1 million inhabitants, it is still a bustling metropolis. And while shopping at Asaichi Market, hanging out in Kokubuncho after dark, or enjoying the Winter Illuminations on Jozenji-dori can be fun sometimes you just need a break. And Sendai has some beautiful parks and gardens to do just that. On a recent sunny afternoon, we decided to take an autumn loop through Dainohara Shinrin Koen.

Our Local Bit of Wilderness

Dainohara Shinrin Koen is a 60-hectare urban park, about 50 hectares of which are kept as a natural forest area. The park also features a Japanese garden, a large Koi pond, and a fun obstacle course playground for kids. It features many picnic areas, public art, and many walking and hiking trails. The park is also the home of the 3M Sendai City Science Museum, an experiential museum that is also on our list to visit. A walking trail makes for a nice loop through Dainohara Shinrin Koen.

Dainohara Forest Park (you just had a little Japanese lesson) is about a 20-minute walk from our home up the hill in the Dainohara neighborhood. I discovered it by chance earlier in the spring, and it has become a favorite of ours. When we need a break from the city life, we head up here to enjoy our own bit of nature right in our own back yard, so to say.

A Loop through Dainohara Shinrin Koen

Our own favorite is the trail that basically circles the park. The entire loop through Dainohara Shinrin Koen is about 4km, just right for a nice walk through nature. The path is not paved but comfortable to walk on. No need to bring your hiking boots, but appropriate shoes are recommended. It is relatively level, and the average person can cover the distance in about 45 minutes.

Starting at one of the main entrances to Dainohara Shinrin Koen, and passing the Jasmine Statue, you head into the forest area. The rolling path goes through trees, offering the occasional glimpse of grassy slopes and picnic areas. Smaller pathways lead off into the forest. Several large maps along the way keep you oriented.

cokoguri - Loop Through Dainahara Shinrin Koen - Drinking Fountain — Drinking Fountain

cokoguri - Loop Through Dainahara Shinrin Koen - Public Restroom — Public Restroom

cokoguri - Loop Through Dainahara Shinrin Koen - Picnic Shelter — Picnic Shelter

The walking path gently first loops through the forested part of Dainohara Shinrin Koen, passing several picnic shelters, water fountains, and restrooms. All are spotlessly clean, of course. After about 2km, the pass slopes downward, next to the children’s obstacle course playground, and ending up at the north end of the park. You can end your walk here, but you would miss a few fun spots.