If you like the sea, and if you love seafood, then Kesennuma is the place to be! Kesennuma is one of the bigger cities located along the Sanriku Coast with a large fishing port, and is one of the country’s largest bonito and swordfish processors. Kesennuma was one of the cities that was badly hit during the 2011 Tsunami, having damaged several of the city’s districts, carried multiple large ships inland, and left the local fishing industry in ruins. But there’s always room for hope, as we’ll show you how the city and port are on their way to recovery, and the multitude of things there are to do in Kesennuma!
1. Fukko Yaitaimura
Following the 2011 tsunami, Kesennuma has been on the road to recovery after many of the city’s buildings were destroyed by the seething waters. Fukko Yaitaimura is a prime example of the hope that lives on in the city, as temporary shopfronts that act as both a pop up and a sign that the residents of Kesennuma are tough in the face of adversity. You can still get your Kesennuma souvenirs here, along with plenty of food stalls that will be more than happy to serve you some seafood to satiate your appetite!
Fukko Yaitaimura
Address: 4-2-19 Minamimachi, Kesennuma 988-0017, Miyagi Prefecture
Website: Fukko Yaitaimura
2. Rias Ark Museum of Art
Up on the hills overlooking Kesennuma is a truly unique museum. Enter the Rias Ark Museum, a contemporary art and local history museum, that looks pretty much like a ship sailing along the coastline, giving rise to its name. The building itself is made of a mix of traditional and modern materials such as concrete, steel, aluminum panels, stucco and glass.
The Rias Ark Museum acts as a repository of local history and culture, and much like Noah’s Ark, it wants to convey that continued history, and pass things on to future generations. Half the museum is dedicated to displaying contemporary artwork, paintings, sculptures, prints, and photographs from local artists from the Miyagi region, while in special exhibitions, it also displays the work of non-local artists. The other half of the museum focuses on educating visitors about the local history and culture of Kesennuma and includes a permanent exhibition about the daily lives and the local economy of past eras, with plenty of information on how fishing was a vital industry as well as the region’s food culture and its intimate relationship to the sea.
The museum also acted as a refuge and distribution centre during the 2011 tsunami, shutting down for a year after taking damage but at the same time working on documenting the disaster and collecting debris, eventually turning it into a collection and exhibition entitled “Records of the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake and the History of Tsunami Disaster” as part of its permanent exhibition.
Rias Ark Museum of Art
Address: 138-5 Akaiwamakisawa, Kesennuma 988-0171, Miyagi Prefecture
Website: Rias Ark Museum of Art
3. Rias Shark Museum
Posted by 海の市気仙沼 on Thursday, 4 May 2017
The Rias Shark Museum is another unique museum native to Kesennuma where visitors can not only learn about sharks, but in fact, ocean life in general. Be warned that everything here is in Japanese, but you can still marvel at the photos and exhibitions, and enjoy the live performances that happen here very frequently, showing off Kesennuma’s culture. If you get hungry, there’s even a seafood marketplace to get lunch on the ground floor!
Rias Shark Museum
Address: 7-13 Uoichibamae, Kesennuma 988-0037, Miyagi Prefecture
Website: Rias Shark Museum (in Japanese)
4. Ogama Hanzo Rocks
The Rocks Stand Fast at Karakuwa Gulls wheeling overhead … the foaming sea clawing tirelessly at ragged marble rocks ...
Posted by KESENNUMA - BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE on Wednesday, 16 November 2011
Ogama Hanzo is a series of marble rocks that have been carved into strange shapes by marine erosion over the many years. The coastline will enrapture viewers with its beauty, and visitors can walk along the promenade stretching from Ogama to Hanzo, giving them a panoramic view of the rocks against the Pacific Ocean. Ogama Hanzo has also been known to have several fossils of prehistoric sea creatures found there, so paleontologists, keep your eyes peeled for any signs of ancient life lurking in the waters!
Ogama Hanzo Rocks
Address: Karakuwacho Konagane, Kesennuma 988-0543, Miyagi Prefecture
5. Mt Tokusenjo
Posted by Visit MY Japan on Friday, 2 June 2017
Apart from the sea, Kesennuma also has its own set of greenery. Check out Mt Tokusenjo, where in springtime, there’s a movie worthy path of scarlet red azalea flowers whose petals line the ground, perfect for the budding Instagrammer and truly a once in a lifetime view. The walk up isn’t too strenuous if you don’t intend to hit the top, and certainly, makes for a good break from the main city area.
Mt Tokusenjo
Address: Kesennuma 988-0001, Miyagi Prefecture
6. Osaki Hachiman Shrine
Osaki Hachimangu is a striking example of Date Masamune’s architecture and style, and was built way back in 1607 (restored several times since). Housing the shrine’s deity Hachiman (the Shinto god of war), the shrine watches over and protects the city. The shrine offers the usual fare, such as fortunes, but are given in distinctive black paper to reflect the shrine’s color, which is in black lacquer, gold leaf and other brilliant colors.
Osaki Hachiman Shrine
Address: 4-6-1 Hachiman, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-0871, Miyagi Prefecture
Website: Osaki Hachiman Shrine (in Japanese)
7. Karakuwa Peninsula
The Karakuwa Peninsula is a shellfish lover’s paradise. Here, you’ll get to learn all about oysters, scallops and other bivalves, not to mention try them fresh from the oyster farm. The coastline is gorgeous, and you’ll absolutely fall in love with the view as you swallow a tasty shell.
Karakuwa Peninsula
Address: Karakuwacho, Kesennuma 988-0554, Miyagi Prefecture
8. Mt Kame
Yet another mountain on this list, Mt Kame offers gorgeous views at all times of the year of the island and sea below it. Not a difficult climb but still requires some preparation, but you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful path on the way up, and it’s definitely a form of exercise you should be considering while visiting Kesennuma.
Mt Kame
Address: Kameyama, Kesennuma 988-0607, Miyagi Prefecture
9. Kesennuma Fish Market
Kesennuma fish market, Miyagi
Posted by Jun Kano on Sunday, 16 October 2011
A seafood lover’s heaven, Kesennuma Fish Market offers visitors a real look at what life is like in Kesennuma. Sprawling with life, you can expect to get fresh fish if you visit early in the morning, listening to shopkeepers and fishermen hawk their catches of the day. There’s some unique seafood to be found off the Miyagi coast as well, so get your wallets out because you’ll definitely be buying up at least a few products here.
Kesennuma Fish Market
Address: 8-25 Uoichibamae, Kesennuma 988-0037, Miyagi Prefecture
10. Iwaisaki Limestone Fossil
A cape near the sea, Iwaisaki Limestone Fossil is a natural formation with incredible geysers and an Instagrammer’s dream with its solitary form and beautiful, intricate patterns in the rock. You could spend hours considering just how much time and coincidence it took to eventually form into such a state.
Iwaisaki Limestone Fossil
Address: Hajikami Iwaisaki, Kesennuma 988-0241, Miyagi Prefecture
A beautiful town on the way back up
Come to Kesennuma for the seafood; stay for the view. Despite being hit by the 2011 tsunami, this little town has made a miraculous recovery and has plenty to offer tourists. You’ll be rewarded handsomely with all that it has to offer.
History
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