Kesennuma

Kesennuma (気仙沼市 Kesennuma-shi) is a city in Miyagi, Japan. It is home to the only shark museum in the country. There you can try a shark fin burger or various other delicacies of the city.

Port of Kesennuma after Tsunami

Oshima, which lays off the coast, is accessible by ferry from multiple ferry ports. Oshima is home to beautiful beaches which are quite popular in the summer, as is the Kame-yama lift which takes you up Oshima's Kameyama. The view of the island and city is beautiful.

Understand

Tourist information site

The local tourist association has a bilingual guide site.

Get in

By car

The nearest expressway to Kesennuma can be found in Ichinoseki, an hour's drive to the east. There are local highways that run north along the coast to Aomori and south toward Ishinomaki. These are rather scenic but are relatively slow, particularly in areas where post-tsunami construction work is heavy.

By train

Before the tsunami, there was a train line running up the coast from Sendai. There was also a train line continuing north from Kesennuma. Both were destroyed and have not been replaced. To reach Kesennuma by train, one can take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Ichinoseki, Iwate, and transfer to a local line, which terminates at Kesennuma Station.

• 1 Kesennuma Station (気仙沼駅), 古町一丁目5-25. 05:00-20:00. This is the main train station for Kesennuma. There is a small store and sitting area. 

By bus

• Highway buses connect Kesennuma with Sendai and Tokyo. Buses between Sendai and Kesennuma run six times a day. An overnight bus linking Kesennuma and Ikebukuro in Tokyo runs every night.
• The BRT (bus rapid transit), which replaced the train line running up the coast from Sendai, also connects Kesennuma with Minamisanriku, and Sendai by way of transfer to train lines starting near Ishinomaki.

Get around

The city operates a circulating bus whose major stops are Kesennuma Station, city hall, Umi no Ichi, the downtown Tanaka-mae area, and the city hospital. It circulates six times a day in each direction. Rides are ¥200 per person (¥100 for children and the handicapped). Several taxi companies also operate in the city.

See

• 1 Oreishii (折石) (in Karakura, northern Kesennuma). This rock brings in tourists from around the country. 
• 2 Shark Museum (シャークミュージアム). A museum showcasing the various kinds of sharks with information about them and their differences. Adjacent to Umi-no Ichi, a shopping/eating complex, which also houses an Ice Aquarium. ¥500. (updated Oct 2021)
• 3 Ruins of the Great East Japan Earthquake Kesennuma City Memorial Museum (気仙沼市東日本大震災遺構・伝承館). The earthquake and tsunami that occurred on March 11, 2011 devastated Kesennuma, including a large-scale fire caused by the earthquake. Over 1000 people were killed in the disaster and relief efforts and 212 people remain missing. This museum preserves damaged buildings and rubble untouched from the disaster, along with pictures, videos, and information about what happened in Kesennuma on that day and what has been done since. (updated Oct 2021)
• 4 Rias Ark Museum of Art (リアス・アーク美術館). W-Su 09:30-17:00 (Closed M Tu). The museum is half art museum and half local history museum. ¥500. (updated Oct 2021)

Do

• Tsubaki Marathon. In the spring, Oshima is home to this marathon which bring in runners of all ages to compete against each other in a race that covers the entire island. 

Buy

• Umi no Ichi, 宮城県気仙沼市魚市場前７−１３, ☏ +81 226-24-5755. 08:00-18:00. Kesennuma's central fish market. Many stores and restaurants are located here, as well as the tourist center and Ice Aquarium. Buy seafood or Kesennuma souvenirs. (updated Sep 2018)

Eat

Shark fin rice bowl

• 1 Isaribi Park (漁火パーク), 唐桑町北中98-18 (near the southern tip of the Karakuwa Peninsula), ☏ +81 226 32-4340. This park has a large restaurant with ramen and other izakaya fare. 
• 2 Ganko Ramen (がんこラーメン味噌家), Matsukawa 406-2 (Next to 7-11 on Highway 284.), ☏ +81 226 23-2461. This small ramen shop sells miso, shio, and shoyu ramen. It also sells gyoza. ¥500-900. 
• 3 Hilltop (ヒルトップ), 岩手県一関市千厩町清田字峠下２５−１ (on the south side of Highway 284 about 20 minutes west of downtown Kesennuma in Ichinoseki, Iwate, but it's very close to Kesennuma), ☏ +81 191-52-5789, fax: +81 191-52-5789, shopmaster@hilltop8929.jp. Th-Tu. This is a steak restaurant with an all-you-can-eat soup, salad, and rice bar. The steaks are large, by Japanese standards, and are grilled at your table. ¥1500-2500. 
• 4 Yeti (ネパール・インド料理＆アウトドア ｙｅｔｉ), 20-11 Taya, ☏ +81 226-25-7096. Set meals ¥600-1000. 

Drink

• Anchor Coffee & Bar (Tanaka-mae), 宮城県気仙沼市田中前４丁目２−1, ☏ +81 226-24-5955. 09:00-18:00. A cozy coffee shop. ~¥500. (updated Sep 2018)

Sleep

• 1 Osaki Campground (御崎野営場; Osakiyaeijo), 唐桑町崎浜４ (near the southern tip of the Karakuwa Peninsula), ☏ +81 226 32-4000. 

Go next

• Motoyoshi
• Minamisanriku
• Rikuzentakata
• Ichinoseki
• Ofunato
• Tome
• Ishinomaki
• Onagawa
• Kurihara

Routes through Kesennuma

Kamaishi ← Ofunato ← Rikuzen Takata ←	N  S	→ Minami Sanriku → Ishinomaki
Ichinoseki ←	W  N	→ Rikuzen Takata