What to know
Kesennuma (気仙沼) is a major city on the Sanriku Coast, known for its large fishing port and as one of Japan's top processors of bonito and swordfish. The city was severely impacted by the 2011 tsunami, which devastated several districts, swept large ships inland, and crippled the local fishing industry.
Most stranded ships were quickly removed, except for the 60-meter Kyotoku Maru 18, which remained as a monument in a residential area nearly a kilometer from the shore for over two years. It was eventually dismantled in late 2013 after a local referendum strongly favored its removal.
Since then, Kesennuma has been rebuilding and now offers visitors a range of attractions, especially those centered on seafood.
From Ichinoseki Station (150 minutes, about ¥13,000 by JR Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo), take the JR Ofunato Line to Kesennuma (85 minutes, ¥1,230 one way, one train every 1–2 hours). This route is covered by the Japan Rail Pass, JR East Pass, and JR East South Hokkaido Pass.
Iwateken Kotsu operates 2–4 buses daily between Ichinoseki and Kesennuma. The one-way trip takes about 75 minutes and costs ¥1,090.
How to get to and around the Sanriku Coast
Visitor information
Practical details to check before planning this stop.
- Hours
- 9:30 to 17:00 (entry until 16:30)
- Closed
- Sundays and a few other days (see calendar)
- Admission
- Free
- English name
- Original name
- Kesennuma
Verify details before visiting. Currency conversion is indicative and may vary over time.