When choosing a hotel in Watari, it is worth first deciding what you want to focus on during your trip: the Pacific coast and its views, remembrance, local cuisine or traditional performances. Watari offers very different ways to explore these interests.
Pacific Views and Remembrance at Torinoumi Park
The 27-hectare Torinoumi Park lies on the Pacific Ocean. Within the park, the Chinkon no Mori memorial commemorates those who lost their lives in the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011, at around 2:46 p.m. The Arahama District Development Council established it to honor the victims and pass the memory of the disaster on to future generations. The park is therefore both a coastal space and a place of remembrance.
Watari Onsen Torinoumi is also defined by its views: its open-air baths overlook the Pacific Ocean, Torinoumi Bay, the Zao Mountains, the Oshika Peninsula and Kinkasan. The east and west baths alternate daily between women and men, so when planning your visit, check which bath is assigned to whom that day. The observation hall on the fifth floor of Yurikan offers another vantage point. From there, you can see across the Pacific Ocean and the Zao mountain range.
Traditions with Different Stories
The Ushifukuro HĹŤin Kagura tells, in twelve acts, how the gods join forces to drive away evil gods and demons. In the first act, two deities purify the space with sacred staffs and bells and ward off misfortune. The kagura has been designated an intangible folk cultural property of Watari since 1987. The district supports the tradition during the summer festival at Ushifukuro Yakumo Shrine.
The Watari Masutori Mai has a different story. In the past, the dance was performed at autumn festivals to celebrate the harvest and pray for a plentiful crop. The tradition was revived around 1955. Since 2019, third-grade students at Yoshida Elementary School have carried it on, presenting it at school events and events at the local history museum. An inherited festival tradition and a tradition passed on through schools and museums thus offer different ways to experience Watari’s culture.
Autumn Cuisine and Market Produce
Harakomeshi is an autumn dish made with salmon as it swims upriver. According to local tradition, it originated in Watari. The preparation varies from kitchen to kitchen: restaurants typically cook the rice from the start in salmon broth. At home, the broth is often mixed gradually into plain white rice after it has been cooked. The culinary tradition also includes family recipes passed down over many years from mothers-in-law to daughters-in-law.
Torinoumi Fureai Market sells fresh seafood supplied by local fishers and fishmongers, as well as locally grown vegetables, acerola, prepared foods and sweets. Opening hours vary by season, so check the current hours before planning a visit. Harakomeshi and the market’s other products offer two different insights into local food culture: a dish with its own preparation tradition and a selection that includes vegetables and prepared foods as well as seafood.
Fishing and Surfing on the Coast
At Arahama Port, you can fish from the shore for flounder and gobies. Check local conditions and access before fishing. Arahama and Yoshidahama are surf spots in Watari. The waves differ from one location to another: Arahama Beach tends to have compact waves, while the Abukuma River mouth tends to have gentle waves. These descriptions reflect local surfing conditions, which can vary. When planning your trip, therefore, it is not just the coast that matters, but also whether you are interested in fishing, surfing or the views.
Explore more destinations: Taiwa, Matsushima, TagajĹŤ, Tome, Arahama, Kurihara, Kesennuma, Higashimatsushima
For the broader travel overview: Miyagi Prefecture.
