Mount Hiyori, Artificial hill in Miyagino-ku, Japan
Mount Hiyori is an artificial hill in Miyagino-ku on the northeastern edge of Sendai, right by the Pacific Ocean north of the Nanakita River mouth. A short stairway with 14 steps leads up to the small plateau at the top.
Local residents built the hill in 1909 with an original height of about 6 meters. The earthquake and tsunami of 2011 washed away half the structure and lowered it to its present height.
The name Hiyori comes from the Japanese word for weather forecast, recalling how fishermen once looked out to sea from here before setting off. Today the hill serves as a quiet lookout point from which you can scan the coastline.
The climb takes less than a minute and suits visitors who are not comfortable with long walks. From the top you have a clear view of the open sea and the river mouth.
Since 2014 this site has officially been recognized as the lowest mountain in Japan, after the Geospatial Information Authority remeasured its height. Despite its small elevation it carries the official title of mountain and appears on topographic maps.
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