Get to know Kesennuma through its fishing industry, ria coastline and the history of the ria region. The city brings together insights into work at sea, exhibitions, culinary offerings and routes along the coast. When planning your visit, it’s worth considering travel and walking times: experiences range from a short coastal walk to a summit climb.

Getting There, the Bridge and the Cruise

Kesennuma is accessible by train and bus. Check routes and timetables before your trip. Within the city, the Kesennuma-Ōshima Bridge connects Honshu with Kesennuma-Ōshima. There are turning areas at both ends where you can leave your vehicle if you want to cross the bridge on foot.

The Kesennuma Bay Cruise lasts 50 minutes, passes under the Kesennuma-Ōshima Bridge and the Kesennuma Bay Crossing Bridge, and returns to its departure point. It departs either from Kesennuma’s inner harbor or near the Ōshima Welcome Terminal. A seasonal timetable lists sailings through November on weekends, public holidays and other days, with five to six departures per day. Check the latest service information before making firm plans for the cruise.

Fishing, the Market and Food

Large quantities of seasonal seafood from the Sanriku fishing grounds are landed daily at the Kesennuma City Fish Market. A 2023 tourism article reported retrospectively that Kesennuma ranked first in Japan for fresh bonito landings for 26 consecutive years. The fish market is also illuminated at night, when it takes on a different appearance from the daytime.

At the Fisheries Information Center in the fish market building, projections show stick-held dip net fishing for Pacific saury. There is also a recreated snack area like those used by fishermen. Original equipment from Kesennuma fishing vessels, including helm stations and fish finders, offers further insight into the fishing industry.

Kesennuma Umi no Ichi is next to the city fish market and includes a tourism service center, the Ice Aquarium and the Shark Museum. The Ice Aquarium displays 40 species and a total of 700 fish in transparent ice; the ice is frozen over a week using Kesennuma’s ice-making technique. The Shark Museum teaches visitors about the lives of sharks and features a whale shark installation created with support from Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium. Check the latest operating and exhibition information before your visit.

The culinary scene also includes experiences directly connected to regional produce. On an oyster farm tour, participants head out on a fishing boat and learn oyster-farming methods from local fishermen; dates may vary. The KESENNUMA BREWER’S TABLE pairing dinner is available on request. Brewers select Japanese sake to pair with dishes made using seasonal ingredients from Kesennuma.

History and Regional Ways of Life

The Rias Ark Museum presents regional culture through the theme of “food” in its permanent history and folklore exhibition. Titled “方舟日記（はこぶねにっき）－海と山を生きるリアスな暮らし－” (“Ark Diary: Rias Life Between Sea and Mountains”), the exhibition brings together collection items, hand-drawn illustrations and photographs. It explores the fishing industry, customs and ways of life in the ria region from the Jōmon period to the present day. Since the 2013 Japanese fiscal year, the museum has also presented “東日本大震災の記録と津波の災害史” (“Records of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the History of Tsunami Disasters”), an exhibition featuring documentary photographs and items collected from the disaster.

The Kesennuma City Great East Japan Earthquake Relics and Memorial Museum also includes the Kesennuma Koyo High School building, which was used as a school until the day of the earthquake. The Karakuwa Peninsula Visitor Center introduces features of the Karakuwa district, including through videos. An audio map focuses on yagō, the individual names of houses, and includes recordings of local residents.

Coastal Walks and Viewpoints

Hachigasaki, Kashiwazaki and Shimmeizaki are the three headlands that extend into Kesennuma Bay. Together, they are compared to a three-legged bowl and are known as Kanaegaura. Shimmeizaki is home to Isuzu Shrine, a standing statue of Ebisu holding a bonito, and the vermilion Ukimidō. Ukimidō is a point of interest on the cape, which resembles a small island. From Mukeru in the inner harbor, it’s about a ten-minute walk along the coast.

For a longer walk, the Miyagi Olle Kesennuma-Karakuwa Course includes an approximately two-kilometer stretch on the Misaki Promenade, which takes about an hour to walk. A highlight of the route is Misaki Shrine, set in the forest. It is said to have a history of around 1,000 years and is also considered a place to pray for good relationships and a good catch. Route details may change, so check the latest route information.

Another option is Tokusenjō: from the trailhead on the Kesennuma side, the path leads to the 711-meter-high summit. The ascent takes about 40 minutes at a leisurely pace. At 235-meter-high Kameyama, a monorail runs from the mountainside to the summit, where expansive views of Sanriku Fukko National Park await. Check the latest operating information before your ride.

Discover more destinations: Kinosaki, Tome, Arahama, Shichikashuku, Shiogama, Miya, Misato, Ishinomaki.

For the regional travel overview: Miyagi Prefecture.