What to know
Kamaishi (釜石) is a key fishing and industrial hub on the rugged Sanriku Coast in southeastern Iwate Prefecture. Known as the birthplace of Japan's modern iron industry, it has produced iron ore since the late Edo Period and is home to the country's first Western-style blast furnace, which earned UNESCO World Heritage status in 2015.
The Meiji Government later consolidated Kamaishi's ironworks, upgraded port facilities, and built one of Japan's earliest railroads, laying the foundation for the nation's modern iron and steel industry.
Kamaishi has suffered periodic tsunamis over the centuries, including devastating ones in 1896 and 1928. In March 2011, a 14-meter tsunami overwhelmed the city's newly completed breakwater, flooding low-lying industrial areas, destroying the fishing industry, stranding large ships in the port, and claiming about a thousand lives. Reconstruction continues, and tourist sites have reopened to visitors.
Rugby is especially popular in Kamaishi. The Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium, completed in 2018, was a venue for the Rugby World Cup held in Japan in autumn 2019.
From Shin-Hanamaki Station on the JR Tohoku Shinkansen (3 hours, about 13,000 yen one way from Tokyo), take the JR Kamaishi Line to Kamaishi (90-120 minutes, 1,790 yen one way, departures every 1-2 hours). The trip is covered by the Japan Rail Pass, JR East Pass, and JR East South Hokkaido Pass.
How to get to and around the Sanriku Coast
Visitor information
Practical details to check before planning this stop.
- Hours
- 9:00 to 17:00 (last entry at 16:00)
- Closed
- Tuesdays and December 29 to January 3
- Admission
- 500 yen (~$3.2)
- English name
- Original name
- Kamaishi
Verify details before visiting. Currency conversion is indicative and may vary over time.