2025 Kesennuma Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in May)

Kesennuma Bakery specializes in soft koppepan bread! From the classic peanut cream sandwich, there is a wide variety of sandwiches, including blueberry cream sandwiches and bean paste cream sandwiches♡♡ They are easy to take home, so they are also recommended as souvenirs✨ #supporttourism #Miyagi #souvenirs #souvenirs#supporttourism#gourmettrip

The Sea Market in Kesennuma is a complex with souvenir shops and restaurants. The fresh seafood bowl was delicious 😋 There are all kinds of fish in the fish section, and it's fun just to look at them 🐟✨ The sashimi is also cheap, so it's great! #supporttourism #Miyagi #souvenirs #souvenirs#supporttourism#gourmettrip

I went to Kesennuma Shark Museum! It's a short walk from the station, and it's a facility that makes you forget the heat outside. It's only one floor and not that big, but I was able to learn more about sharks. The attached ice aquarium had no fish exhibits and was like a sub-zero world at an amusement facility. 📍Address: 7-13, Fish Market, Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture, 988-0037 #0 Yen Trip

#Spring0yentrip The former Kesennuma Mukoyo High School is the former building of a prefectural high school in Mukoyo-cho, Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture, which was damaged by the tsunami of the Great East Japan Earthquake and relocated to higher ground. Part of it has been preserved as a relic of the earthquake disaster, and it is a place to convey the threat of the tsunami at that time. Access: * By car: From the Kesennuma Port IC on the Sanriku Expressway, head south on National Route 45, then turn onto Prefectural Route 26 for about 5 minutes. You can enter "Former Kesennuma Mukoyo High School" into your navigation system, or use the nearby Kesennuma City Great East Japan Earthquake Relics and Memorial Museum as a landmark. There is a parking lot on the premises. * By bus: Take the Miyako Bus or City Bus from JR Kesennuma Station to the "Mukoyo High School" bus stop, and it is a short walk from there. However, there are not many buses, so please check the timetable in advance. You can also take a bus to the Kesennuma City Great East Japan Earthquake Relics and Memorial Museum, but it is a few minutes' walk from there. Attractions: The attraction of the former Kesennuma Koyo High School is that you can see the traces of the tsunami from the Great East Japan Earthquake up close. * Vivid traces of the tsunami: Lines indicating the water level of the tsunami remaining on the walls of the school building and vehicles swept away are preserved, allowing you to feel the destructive power of the tsunami and the threat of nature. The buildings with exposed steel beams and distorted structures convey the ferocity of the tsunami. * Memories and lessons of the disaster: Photographs and videos from the time of the disaster, as well as testimonies from students and faculty and staff, are on display, playing an important role in preserving the memories of the disaster and passing them on to future generations. Learning about the conditions for evacuation from the tsunami and the path to recovery will help raise awareness of disaster prevention. * Commentary by storytellers: Depending on the situation, you can hear about the situation at the time and lessons learned from storytellers who experienced the earthquake. Listening to their real voices will help you understand the earthquake more deeply. * Linkages with surrounding facilities: By touring the adjacent Kesennuma City Great East Japan Earthquake Relics and Memorial Museum, you can learn more about the overall picture of the disaster and the progress of reconstruction. At the Memorial Museum, you can see more systematic exhibits and video materials. * Place of repose and prayer: The place where many students once studied and lived has become a place to convey the memory of the disaster, to pray for the victims and to raise awareness of disaster prevention for the future. Many people come here to quietly join their hands and reminisce. The former Kesennuma Koyo High School is not just a ruin, but a living teaching material that shows the horror of the disaster and how to learn from it and connect it to the future. A visit will make you think again about preparing for the threats of nature and the importance of life. If you visit Kesennuma, be sure to stop by and experience the memories of the disaster.

#Spring0yenTrip Kesennuma Oshima Bridge is a beautiful 1,442m long cable-stayed bridge that connects Kesennuma mainland and Kesennuma Oshima, spanning Kesennuma Bay in Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture. It opened in April 2019, greatly improving the lives of the island's residents and making it much more accessible for tourists. Access: * By car: * From the Kesennuma Kaori IC or Kesennuma Port IC on the Sanriku Expressway, take National Route 45 towards Oshima and arrive at Oshima Bridge in about 15 to 20 minutes. There is a parking lot just after crossing the bridge. * By bus: * Take the city bus bound for Kesennuma Oshima from JR Kesennuma Station and get off at the Oshima Ohashi bus stop. The journey takes about 20 to 30 minutes. The number of buses is limited, so we recommend checking the timetable in advance. * Boats: * The ferries that once connected the Kesennuma mainland and Oshima are no longer in service, but sightseeing boats and other services are sometimes in operation. Attractions: The greatest attraction of the Kesennuma Oshima Bridge is its majestic and beautiful scenery. * Spectacular driving and cycling: Driving or cycling across the gracefully curved bridge against the backdrop of the blue sea and sky is a special experience. From the bridge, you can see the calm waters of Kesennuma Bay, the scattered islands, and the cityscape of Kesennuma mainland. Especially at dusk, the sun setting over the sea paints the bridge crimson red, creating a breathtaking beauty. There are also pedestrian and bicycle paths, so you can take your time and enjoy the scenery. * Improved access to the island: The opening of the bridge has dramatically improved access to Kesennuma Oshima. Previously, access was only by ferry, which was sometimes dependent on the weather, but the bridge now makes it easy to visit the island at any time. * Kesennuma Oshima's tourist base: Beyond the bridge are scenic spots such as Kugunarihama, with its beautiful sandy beach, Kameyama, and Tatsumaizaki, which are lush with greenery. Using the bridge as a base, you can enjoy the rich nature and culture of Kesennuma Oshima. * Symbol of recovery: For Kesennuma, which suffered great damage in the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Kesennuma Oshima Bridge can be said to be a symbol of recovery. Its beautiful appearance symbolizes the hope of the people who are moving forward powerfully into the future. * Photo spot: The entire bridge and the view from the bridge are great photo spots. In particular, you can capture a beautiful panoramic view of the bridge from the observation space at the foot of the bridge. The Kesennuma Oshima Bridge is not just a transportation infrastructure, but is also a major driver of tourism in Kesennuma, not only for its beautiful scenery and improved access to the island. It is an attractive bridge that gives visitors inspiration and hope.

#DomesticTravelTactics Park your car in the parking lot and go around the area. There are many great views.

📍Ice Aquarium You can experience a world of minus 20 degrees✨ It's mysterious and wonderful to see frozen fish! It's cool, or rather cold, in the summer, so I highly recommend it! 【INFORMATION】 Ice Aquarium 📮7-13, Fish Market, Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture, 988-0037 🕑7:00-17:00 💰900 yen with a combined ticket to the Shark Museum! #FuriTabiWinter

📍Kesennuma Shark Museum This is a must-see museum for shark lovers! Life-size shark models and actual teeth🦷 are on display! Information on the 2011 earthquake and tsunami is also on display! It's a small museum, but I stayed there for about 3 hours! Recommended for shark lovers! You can learn a lot about sharks! 【INFORMATION】 Kesennuma Shark Museum 📮988-0037 7-13 Fish Market, Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture 🕑9:00-16:00 #FuriTabiWinter

📍nagame A lovely cafe with antique furniture. The calm atmosphere allows you to relax and unwind. The green curry was sold out, so I had butter chicken curry. It had a deep flavor and was very delicious! Next time I'll have the green curry! This is a cafe you should visit if you go to Kesennuma! 【INFORMATION】 nagame 📮23-2 Yohai, Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture 988-0634 🕑11:00-17:00 🗓️Closed: Tuesdays, Wednesdays #FuriTabiWinter

I went to Kesennuma Ice Aquarium! As the name suggests, it was really cold inside the aquarium❄️ I went there in light clothing, but they lent me winter clothes for free so I was able to enjoy myself without worrying! The ice lit up with colorful lights was fantastic, and the sight of the fish trapped inside the ice lit up was like another world. It was such a special experience that I even forgot about the cold✨ I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique spot to visit Kesennuma♪ #0yentravelnovember#Miyagitourism #Kesennuma

Iwaizaki in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture 🌿 Sanriku Fukkou National Park 🌍 spanning Aomori, Iwate, and Miyagi 🌍Iwaizaki is located at the southernmost tip of the park ☀️ The famous Shiofukiiwa rock, which shoots up water when the waves are high, was just right to see it when I visited 🌊🤍The high tide was very impressive 😳It's been a while since I've seen such high waves~ There is also a tree called Dragon's Pine at Iwaizaki 🐉Dragon's Pine is a pine tree that was damaged by the tsunami during the Great East Japan Earthquake, but part of it miraculously survived, and it looks like a dragon rising to the sky, so it was named "Dragon's Pine." It is a pine tree named after the name of the pine tree 😳🌿 Its courageous appearance has made it a symbol of Kesennuma's recovery 🕊 The pine tree was once dead, but now it seems to have been preserved for a long time ☺️It really looks like a dragon and it was a place that cheered me up ☀️ Even so, the view of the endless sea and sky was too spectacular ☺️🕊 =============== 📍Iwaizaki 🏠Namijikami, Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture ✈️Miyagi 🚗Free parking available 💰Free =============== #Spectacular view #Miyagi Prefecture #Tohoku region #Sea #Photogenic spot #0 yen trip #Domestic trip #Summer event

Japan's number one azalea holy land is Tokusenjo Mountain in Miyagi Prefecture. May to June is the season when azaleas bloom in Tohoku, Japan. If you want to see the magnificent azaleas, Mt. Tokusenjo in Miyagi Prefecture is definitely worth a visit. Mount Tokusenjo is located in the Nankesennuma area of ​​Miyagi Prefecture, with an altitude of 711 meters. This is a well-known hiking spot and is also known as Japan's No. 1 azalea sanctuary. There are a total of 500,000 azaleas in the mountain, covering an area of ​​about 50 hectares. Every May, the entire Tokusenjo Mountain will be dyed bright red. The hiking trails in the mountain are not much different in height, and it only takes two hours to go back and forth. Along the way, you can enjoy the fiery red azaleas planted on both sides of the trail. When you reach the top of the mountain, you can also see the Pacific Ocean in the distance. It is a very suitable tourist attraction for relaxing flower viewing and hiking. #springplace2024 #rhododendron

I've hardly seen any travel itineraries introducing this place, so I decided to come and check it out, and it was surprisingly fun. The space dug out by underground quarrying is big enough to fit a Tokyo Dome. The temperature difference between underground and outside is almost 20 degrees, which is actually quite cold, like a natural refrigerator. It is about 30 meters underground and you have to walk up stairs the whole way. There is no elevator, so elderly people with poor leg strength may not be able to visit. When the new products of Dom Perregaux were launched, they also held a display here, which was very creative. Some newlyweds also held their wedding ceremony here, which was quite interesting. After the tour, there is a cute cafe next door where you can sit and enjoy delicious coffee and bask in the sun. The quiet afternoon is very comfortable.

Oshima, located in Kesennuma City, is a spot where you can enjoy the contrast between the blue sea and the green, and experience the beauty of nature and the power of the tsunami. You can go down to the coast and get a close-up look at the natural caves formed by the rocks. How to get there: We recommend going by car. There is a shop there, but it may not be open, so we recommend checking in advance.

Cheap affordable accommodation when you are visiting Kesennuma. The breakfast food also good! and the most lovely thing is they do have an Onsen inside.