[Roadside Stations] Recommended for Tohoku Drives! Introducing Roadside Stations in Ishinomaki City & Onagawa Town, Miyagi Prefecture

When going on a sightseeing trip or drive, "roadside stations" are always something to look forward to.

You stop by not only for a break from driving, but also to buy local specialties or have a meal, right?

The coastal area of Miyagi Prefecture, where Roopt's share houses are located, is a recommended area for drives, offering both sea views, including Matsushima, and mountain and field scenery along the way.

This time, we will introduce roadside stations in Ishinomaki City and Onagawa Town in Miyagi Prefecture.

Please stop by for a drive, sightseeing, or shopping.

For accommodation during your Tohoku trip, please consider Roopt.

Roadside Station Jobon-no-Sato (Ishinomaki City)

Roadside Station "Jobon-no-Sato" has been popular since its opening in 2005.

Located in the Kahoku area of Ishinomaki City, where agriculture thrives, one of its charms is the opportunity to experience local ingredients.

Parking is free and can accommodate 246 cars!

However, it gets so crowded on weekends that all 246 spaces fill up, so be careful when planning your visit.

"Jobon-no-Sato" offers various ways to enjoy it.

The direct sales store offers produce from local farmers and regional specialties, making it a place used not only by tourists but also by locals for their daily shopping!

The food court has a wide variety of popular dishes for all ages, such as ramen, fried rice, and curry!

Outside, the "O-Sato Cafe" corner features a diverse range of shops, including coffee shops, sweets shops, and seafood processing stores!

It's very convenient when you're a little hungry or thirsty.

There's also a convenience store at the end, covering your shopping needs in a pinch!

And the biggest attraction of Jobon-no-Sato is that it has a hot spring health facility on site!

You can enter the "Futago-no-Yu" hot spring for about 700 yen, and it also has a sauna!

The cold bath also uses hot spring water, making it a popular hot spring among sauna enthusiasts.

・Address 1-1 Futagokita-shita, Kobunagoshi, Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture 986-0132 ・Business Hours Open all year round Yamazaki Shop 6:00 AM - 7:00 PM Agricultural Product Direct Sales Store 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM Hot Spring Health Facility 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM (Last admission 8:30 PM) Food Court 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM (Last order 7:30 PM) ・Access 3 minutes by car from Sanriku Expressway Kahoku Interchange ・Parking Free (246 spaces) ・Official Website

Roadside Station Kenjo-no-Sato Ogatsu (Ishinomaki City)

Next is Roadside Station "Kenjo-no-Sato Ogatsu" in Ogatsu Town, Ishinomaki City.

Ogatsu Town is located in the northeastern part of Ishinomaki City, about a 40-minute drive from Ishinomaki Station, but that's precisely where its charm lies!

This "Kenjo-no-Sato Ogatsu" is also built in a location overlooking Ogatsu Bay, which stretches from the Pacific Ocean, allowing you to enjoy the magnificent nature of Ogatsu at the same time!

"Kenjo-no-Sato Ogatsu" largely consists of two types of facilities: the "Ogatsu Suzuri Traditional Industry Museum" and the "Tourist Product Exchange Hall Ogatsu Tanakoya."

The former, "Ogatsu Suzuri Traditional Industry Museum," as its name suggests, is a place where you can learn about Ogatsu suzuri (inkstones), a traditional industry of Ogatsu.

Ogatsu suzuri, with a history dating back to the Muromachi period, are all one-of-a-kind, and just comparing the differences between each inkstone is an enjoyable experience.

On the day I visited, a calligraphy exhibition was also being held, allowing me to experience the charm of traditional Japanese culture.

The other facility, "Tourist Product Exchange Hall Ogatsu Tanakoya," houses a total of 7 shopping and dining establishments, offering a lineup that caters to various needs.

There's "Ogatsu Marine Products Direct Sales Store," which handles a wide variety of marine products caught in Ogatsu's rich waters and local products from the Ogatsu area; "Uzumaki Megane Coffee Shop," where you can relax with a cup of coffee at a seat with an ocean view; and "Misato," popular for its soba and udon made with ingredients from the sea and mountains, among others.

It also has extensive tourist information about the Ogatsu area, making it a recommended roadside station for both a driving break and Ogatsu sightseeing.

・Address 2-5 Shimo-Ogatsu, Ogatsu-cho, Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture 986-1335 ・Business Hours Open all year round Ogatsu Suzuri Traditional Industry Museum 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM (Closed Tuesdays) Tourist Product Exchange Hall "Ogatsu Tanakoya" varies by store ・Access 25 minutes by car from Sanriku Expressway Kahoku Interchange ・Parking Free (105 spaces) ・Official Websitehttps://ogatsu-rs.jp/

Roadside Station Onagawa (Onagawa Town)

The area in front of Onagawa Station, comprising "Seapal-Pier Onagawa," "Jimoto Ichiba Hamaterasu," "Onagawa Town Machinaka Koryukan," and "Onagawa Town Tabi no Johokan Plat," was registered as Roadside Station "Onagawa" in the spring of 2021.

It is a symbol of the new Onagawa, redeveloped after the Great East Japan Earthquake caused significant damage to the area in front of Onagawa Station!

Although it's a roadside station, it's located in front of Onagawa Station, so it's accessible by train, making it a recommended spot for train travel too!

Taking a leisurely train trip on a one-man train, which are becoming rare in Japan, is also a delightful experience.

*However, please note that IC cards like Suica cannot be used.

This Roadside Station "Onagawa" is famous in the field of architectural design, characterized by its design that extends straight from the station building towards the sea.

In fact, it is designed so that the morning sun rises along this path on New Year's Day.

I also witnessed the first sunrise of 2023, and it was simply "magnificent."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Roadside Station Onagawa (@michinoeki_onagawa)

The biggest charm of Roadside Station "Onagawa" is, without a doubt, the sheer number of shops and facilities!

Comprising "Seapal-Pier Onagawa," "Jimoto Ichiba Hamaterasu," "Onagawa Town Machinaka Koryukan," and "Onagawa Town Tabi no Johokan Plat," it's a roadside station that's fun just to walk around.

"Seapal-Pier Onagawa" gathers various tenants, including restaurants, specialty stores for soap and clothing, and a diving school counter.

There's also a cafe called mother port cafe, making it perfect for a break when you're tired from walking!

Also, "Jimoto Ichiba Hamaterasu" is packed with shops dedicated to local products, such as a fresh fish corner directly from Onagawa Port and "Onagawa Burger," which opened in 2023!

It's a place where you can experience the unique atmosphere of a seaside town.

In addition to these two facilities, there are restaurants, earthquake remains, and accommodations.