[Roadside Stations] Recommended for Tohoku road trips! Introducing roadside stations in Ishinomaki City and Onagawa Town, Miyagi Prefecture.

• URL slug: /column/roadsidestation-ishinomaki-onagawa/
• Published: 2023-08-08
• Meta description: When you go sightseeing or on a drive, one thing that always catches your eye is a "roadside station." You stop there not only to take a break from driving, but also to buy local specialties or have a meal. The coastal area of Miyagi Prefecture where Roopt's share house is located is a recommended area for driving, as it offers both ocean views, including Matsushima, and mountain and farmland scenery along the way. So this time, we will introduce roadside stations in Ishinomaki City and Onagawa Town in Miyagi Prefecture.

When going sightseeing or on a road trip, one thing that always catches my attention is "roadside stations."

We stop at these places not only for breaks during drives, 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 great place for a drive, offering both beautiful ocean views, including Matsushima, and scenery of mountains and fields along the way.

So, this time, I'll introduce roadside stations in Ishinomaki City and Onagawa Town in Miyagi Prefecture.

Please feel free to stop by while you're out driving, sightseeing, or shopping.

For your Tohoku sightseeing trip, be sure to stay at Roopt.

Roadside Station Kami-no-Sato (Ishinomaki City)

The roadside station "Jōbon no Sato" has been popular since it opened in 2005.

Located in the Kahoku district of Ishinomaki City, an area known for its thriving agriculture, one of its attractions is the opportunity to experience local produce.

Parking is free and can accommodate 246 cars!

However, it gets so crowded on weekends that all 246 parking spaces are filled, so you need to be careful about when you go to visit.

There are many ways to enjoy "Jōhin no Sato" (a place known for its refined and elegant atmosphere).

The direct sales market features produce from local farmers and local specialties, and is a place used by both tourists and locals for their daily shopping!

The food court offers a wide variety of popular dishes for all generations, including ramen, fried rice, and curry!

Outside, in the "Local Cafe" corner, you'll find a variety of shops including coffee shops, sweets shops, and seafood processing stores!

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

There's a convenience store on the outskirts, so you can shop if you're in a pinch!

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

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

Because the cold plunge pool also uses hot spring water, this hot spring resort is popular 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 Products Direct Sales Store: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM Hot Spring Resort: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM (Last entry 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 Suzuri-no-Sato Ogatsu (Ishinomaki City)

Next up is the roadside station "Kenjo no Sato Ogatsu" in Ogatsu-cho, Ishinomaki City.

Ogatsu Town is located in the northeastern part of Ishinomaki City, and it takes about 40 minutes by car from Ishinomaki Station, but that's precisely what makes it such a charming area!

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

"Ogatsu, the Village of Inkstones" has two main types of facilities: the "Ogatsu Inkstone Traditional Industry Hall" and the "Ogatsu Tanakoya Tourism and Local Products Exchange Center."

The former, the "Ogatsu Inkstone Traditional Industry Hall," is, as its name suggests, a place where you can learn about Ogatsu inkstones, a traditional industry of Ogatsu.

Ogatsu inkstones, with a history dating back to the Muromachi period, are all handcrafted one-of-a-kind pieces, and simply comparing the differences between each inkstone is a delightful experience.

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

The other facility, "Ogatsu Tanakoya Tourism and Local Products Exchange Center," houses a total of seven shops and restaurants, offering a diverse range of options to meet various needs.

There's the "Ogatsu Seafood Direct Sales Store," which carries a wide variety of seafood caught in the rich waters of Ogatsu and local products from the surrounding area; "Uzumaki Glasses Coffee Shop," where you can relax and enjoy a cup of coffee while overlooking the sea; and "Misato," a popular restaurant serving soba and udon noodles made with ingredients from the sea and mountains, among others.

This roadside station is highly recommended for both taking a break during a drive and for sightseeing in the Ogatsu area, as it offers plenty of tourist information about the surrounding region.

・Address 2-5 Shimoogatsu, Ogatsu-cho, Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture 986-1335 ・Business Hours Open all year round Ogatsu Inkstone Traditional Industry Hall 9:00-16:30 (Closed Tuesdays) Ogatsu Tanakoya Tourism and Local Products Exchange Center Hours vary 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, encompassing "Seapalpia Onagawa," "Local Market Hamaterasu," "Onagawa Town Community Exchange Center," and "Onagawa Town Travel Information Center Puratto," was registered as the "Onagawa" roadside station in the spring of 2021.

This is a new symbol of Onagawa, created by redeveloping the area in front of Onagawa Station, which was severely damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake!

Although it's a roadside station, it's located in front of Onagawa Station, so it's accessible by train and is a recommended spot for train travelers!

Taking a leisurely train journey on a one-man operated train, which are becoming less common in Japan, can be quite enjoyable.

*However, please note that transportation IC cards such as Suica cannot be used.

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

In fact, the road is designed so that the sunrise on New Year's Day falls along this path.

I also watched the first sunrise of the year on New Year's Day 2023, and it was simply magnificent.

View this post on Instagram Post shared by Michi-no-Eki Onagawa (@michinoeki_onagawa)

The biggest attraction of the "Onagawa" roadside station is undoubtedly the sheer number of shops and facilities!

This roadside station consists of "Seapalpia Onagawa," "Local Market Hamaterasu," "Onagawa Town Community Exchange Center," and "Onagawa Town Travel Information Center Puratto," making it a place where you can enjoy yourself just by walking around.

"Seapalpia Onagawa" houses a variety of tenants, including restaurants, specialty shops selling soap and clothing, and a diving school office.

There's also a cafe called Mother Port Cafe, making it a great place to take a break when you're tired from walking!

Furthermore, "Local Market Hama Terrace" boasts a wide array of shops that focus on local products, including a fresh fish corner with products 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 also restaurants, earthquake-related historical sites, and lodgings.