ISHINOMAKI 石巻
Ishinomaki is the second largest city in Miyagi Prefecture. It consists of a large downtown area which is somewhat crowded, though spacious in comparison to Sendai. It is relatively suburban, though it has many stores and recreation opportunities not available in smaller towns. This is commonly referred to as Ishinomaki City. However, the actual territory of Ishinomaki includes an expansive amalgamation of smaller fishing villages and farming communities which make up the city as a whole.
It is a large port town of approximately 125,000 people. It is worth noting that the city was heavily affected by the East Japan Great Earthquake and Tsunami of March 11th, 2011. Recovery efforts may take several years, but a large part of the town was relatively undamaged, and the city once again offers many luxuries not found in the countryside, as well as many eccentricities and exciting experiences not available in larger cities like Sendai, Morioka, or even Tokyo. Surrounding Areas Ogatsu Oshika Higashi Matsushima Shopping
As a quite large suburban city, Ishinomaki is lucky enough to have just about everything the heart desires inside the city limits, except maybe Mexican food and a rollercoaster. Aeon: Ishinomaki's large shopping mall continually attracts people from all over Miyagi, and possibly even more distant locales. AEON is two very long levels of family shopping, as well as a hub for fashion, cuisine, and entertainment. Jusco grocery store has almost everything you’d need in the way of food products, home supplies, and affordable wardrobe. If there’s anything you can’t find here, you can walk right over to Kaldi international goods, and there’s a chance it is being offered there. AEON also boasts, presumably, the largest and newest major movie theater in northern Miyagi. Most major American blockbusters, as well as select other foreign films will be played both in English with subtitles, and in dubbed Japanese. Many discounts are available for late shows, and special promotion days. There is a restaurant row on the first floor which offers a great Indian restaurant, a Chinese restaurant, two Italian joints, a steak joint, and many fine Japanese options. The food court upstairs houses a McDonalds, Korean Bibinpa, Baskin Robbins ice cream, KFC, Sukiya, Copin Italian food, and other assorted Japanese restaurants. There is also a large bookstore on the second floor with an English section. This marvelous consumer paradise can be found just off the Sanriku expressway at the Ishinomaki-Kanan exit. It is impossible to miss from the highway, unless you are on autopilot. To get there from Ishinomaki Station you can take a red and white city bus from the station for around 400 yen round trip. Look for the one bound for AEON (イオン). You can also take the Senseki Line (仙石線) from Ishinomaki Station and get off at Hebita Station (蛇田駅). The walk will likely take fifteen to twenty minutes. Tsutaya: This book, CD, video, DVD, and game rental chain offers an outstanding selection of media entertainment. There are three in The Ishi. One is off road 16 next to Homac, and there is a nice coffee shop on the first floor. One is on road 398, and one is in the Akebono area. You will need a card to rent items, but you can use the same one at all locations, and even return your rentals to any of them. Yamaya: This is a magnificent chain store specializing in foreign foodstuffs and liquor. If there is something you can’t find anywhere else, this store may be your best bet. There are two in the area. One is located on route 398/Okaido Road in Ishinomaki, and one is in the Yamoto and Higashi Matsushima area, located in the LocTown Plaza. Xebio Sports: This is a large sporting goods store in Hebita, and it sells all types of items. It is located just off the Sanriku, across the highway from AEON. 2nd Street and Doki Doki: Recycle shops like these are all over the place in Japan. The quality of the stuff here is great for second hand stores. If you are setting up an apartment or just looking for new (used) clothes, these shops are great. You can find anything from guitars to tea sets to washing machines. Look for 2nd Street on Okaido Road, or turn toward the station for Doki Doki. Uniqlo: This ultra-popular clothing chain has been described as the Japanese version of The Gap. It offers relatively low prices for good, fashionable clothing. Often times, Uniqlo has clothes that will fit Western bodies! 100 yen shops: There is an abundance of these lifesavers all around the country. You can buy dishes, toilet paper, stationary, school supplies, almost anything you need for home life, and even food products for very cheap. Some popular names of these stores are Daiso (there is one inside the aforementioned AEON mall) and Seria (one on Route 16 next to Homac) and many others with big signs all over town. Recreation
Purena Miyagi Bowling Alley: If you have the urge to roll, the lanes are across the river from the main part of town. Go straight on road 16 heading away from Aeon, toward the river. Keep going straight and go over the bridge, and it is on your left. You will see big bowling pins. If you go through a tunnel, you've gone too far. Next to this bowling alley is an ice skating rink, but beware; both ALTs and the locals claim that the skates are very bad, so most people bring their own. Ishinomaki Manga Museum: This staple of Ishinomaki’s identity looks like some sort of spaceship. Dedicated to Ishinomori Shotaro who has been adopted as a hometown hero by Ishinomaki, (though born in Tome) and penned the Kamen Rider and Cyborg 009 series, it offers an in depth look at the history, composition details, and culture of Japanese cartoons. You can also see tons of his manga statues in the neighborhoods surrounding the museum. The museum itself is fun for a target audience, but the building is cool. Kanan Town Park Golf and the Yuugakukan (遊楽館): These fantastic facilities are located off road 108. Get on the 108 in Kanan or further down in Maeyachi. If coming from Kanan, the turn will be on your left hand side. Look for big turquoise signs that have arrows pointing up. If coming from Kanan, you will pass a Lawson's. If you reach a stop light you've gone too far. After your turn, you will go up a steep hill. You will come to an intersection where you can either continue going straight downhill or make a right turn. Make that right turn. Go straight up and it will be on your right. There are 3 different courses to choose from, with 12 holes each. Courses range from beginner to advanced levels. The owner is a man in his 30s who is really friendly and will come watch you play and say, "Nice shot," when you make a good shot. It is 600yen for one game. It is closed on Mondays, and on Tuesdays if Monday is a national holiday. Telephone Number: 0225- 72-2933 Just beyond park golf is Yuugakukan, a huge complex with a nice gymnasium, a large organ and a fabulous lap pool with a massive hot tub. It also has a small but new workout gym. The basketball courts cost a few hundred yen. Basketball or badminton equipment rentals are extra, so feel free to bring your own. Bring indoor gym shoes. The pool costs 500 yen, and a swim cap is required. Ishinomaki Manga Museum: This staple of Ishinomaki’s identity looks like some sort of spaceship. Dedicated to Ishinomori Shotaro who has been adopted as a hometown hero by Ishinomaki, (though born in Tome) and penned the Kamen Rider and Cyborg 009 series, it offers an in depth look at the history, composition details, and culture of Japanese cartoons. You can also see tons of his manga statues in the neighborhoods surrounding the museum. The museum itself is fun for a target audience, but the building is cool. Culture Center: This multi-purpose facility is located on the first floor of AEON. Coming from the Jusco, take a quick left at the first exit of the mall on that side, and you'll see JEUGIA (in English) on your right. It offers a wide variety of classes, from yoga to ballroom dancing, to karate, to hip hop dancing. The staff here is very helpful and patient, although no one speaks English as of last inquiry. They have a guide to classes posted outside that comes with pictures. Ai Plaza: Located in Ishinomaki City, about a 10 minute walk from the station on Tachimachi (the covered road), this fitness center houses a small gym, a dance and aerobics room, and a lap pool. Walking from Ishinomaki station, with Shoya on your left, take a left at the covered street walk straight for about 5 minutes, and it will be on your left. Updated 6/30/2011 by Steve "Dreamboat" Corbett |
Restaurants & Cafes
Cafe HACCU: This small coffee shop is located on Tachimachi street (with the covered sidewalks) Next to Ai Plaza community center. It is a great place to eat lunch (no dinner options) and study, and even has some free wireless networks in range. Be Dream: This is a cafe with internet access. It’s a five minute walk from the station, heading away from City Hall. It’s pretty reasonable, under 500 yen for 90 miutes with a coffee. Berry's Kitchen: It’s located just off of the bypass road (Route 16). If you are coming from Ishinomaki Station headed toward AEON, you will see a colorful pedestrian bridge that rises over the road. Just before this bridge is a stoplight, turn left and it's half a block down on your right. A really nice pizza joint, the owners grow fresh ingredients on site. Pizza, drink, soup and dessert lunch set is around 1000 yen. Uma Hachi: This is a popular ramen shop with only counter seats. Try the toku-dashi ramen, gyoza, and mini chashu-don (minced pork over rice). It’s very reasonably priced, and has free parking for customers opposite the store. It is located near the bowling alley. Kitchen Jagaimo: For a cozy atmosphere and scrumptious wood oven pizza, wander in here. This restaurant offers pasta and pizza. The very friendly owner speaks English. It is located off Route 398 and costs around 1000 yen. Ichiban Kalbi: This grilled meat restaurant with an all-you-can-eat option is located on the bypass road near the AEON mall, next to McDonald's. Dough: Located on Tachimachi, this family bar and restaurant has great pizzas and lots of choices. Get there early though, as they sometimes sell out. Dough has played host to many ALT parties. It is closed on Tuesdays. Mos Burger: This is a decent hamburger shop. It is located on Okaido Road, near Hiyoriyama. Strawberry Cones and Pizza La: These two pizzerias are across Tachimachi from City Hall. Strawberry Cones is cheaper, but Pizza La has nicer pizzas. Spice Kitchen: This is an authentic Indian restaurant inside of AEON. It’s a great place with great food, and probably the best foreign cuisine game in town. Other Popular Chain Restaurants: Gusto, Joyfull, Milkyway, Marumatsu, Coco's, Bikkuri Donkey, McDonald's Bars & Karaoke
-by the station- Parade: This is a very nice karaoke place with nice rooms, good selections, and good refreshments. It is across the tracks from City Hall, around the corner from the 7-11 near Homac and Seria. Parade is now the king of Ishinomaki karaoke since the tsunami damaged some of the other establishments. Cote d’Azure: This is an upscale chain karaoke place. It has a very good selection of machines and fairly good drink deals as well. Bincho Ogiya: This is a fantastic yakitori restaurant on Tachimachi. It has a large, red lantern in front, and a cloud of smoke coming out of it. Cheap drinks and food, a lack of a seating charge, and exciting patrons make this one of the premier spots on Friday and Saturday nights. It is rather small so there may be a wait. Izakaya Row: Right across the street from Ishinomaki Station is a row of chain izakayas. Popular haunts include Iroha, Shoya, Uotami, and Hana no Mai. -Hebita Area- Toriaezu Gohei : This is a classy izakaya restaurant across the road from Yamada Denki and Xebio Sports. Gochisouya: This restaurant near Amerikaya and McDonald’s has a wide variety of food, and serves beer. This is a good place for a small party. Shinobiya: This is a nice izakaya just behind McDonald’s Onsen
Jobon no Sato onsen This onsen is located on route 45 in Kahoku. You need a car to get to it. It has 3 separate baths to try, but beware - they sometimes switch men and women's bath's so make sure you check on the kanji before walking in on the wrong gender! This onsen costs 500yen per visit. Yamato no oyu onsen やまとの湯 This onsen is located in Ishinomaki City. It is 800 yen per visit if you bring your own towel. This onsen offers about 3 indoor onsens - one always with a new flavor per day, a nice outdoor onsen, and a sauna. Also included with this onsen are massage chairs that you pay for every 10 minutes. And foot massage machines that cost 100 yen per 5 minutes. It is located just off of road 398 (Okaido roade). Can walk to from Ishinomaki Station, approx. 15 minutes. Oiwake Onsen There is an onsen located out near Kitakami. You will need a car to get there. This onsen is a bit difficult to find; so please ask one of the sempais. The name of the onsen is Oiwake Onsen. It is 300 yen per visit. It is nestled between hills covered with cedars - a beautiful location! Parks Hiyoriyama Park: Park at the top of a hill in the middle of the Ish’. Lovely views from the top, and sweet hanami parties in the Spring. Takes about 15 minutes to walk from the station. San Juan Park: Big old ship on display that sailed to and from Europe a heck of a long time ago, doubles as a museum of sorts. Asahiyama Prefectural Park: Need a car to get to, located in Kanan. Get onto route 108 and look for signs for the park (they are in English) – you will turn either left or right onto the road (depending which way you come from). Drive about 4 minutes and go through one light signal. On your right, there will be a HUGE red traditional Japanese gate, turn into it there. Go up a very, steep road and park at the top. Walk around the bottom and find a shrine or continue up a steep, very steep walkway to the top to find more shrines and a great view of the area. If you keep walking straight you will go down the other side of the mountain through a beautiful Cedar Forest. Dinosaur Park: All the jungle gym equipment is in the shape of... you guessed it, DINOSAURS!!! About 20 minutes drive from Ogatsu. It is a fun place to goof around on nice days. Drive down the main street in Ogatsu, with the bay on your right. Take a right at the Sendai bank, go straight for about ten minutes and turn left at the sign for Oosu. (In English) Follow a windy, mountainous road until you see a sign for a slide park. Turn left. Festivals The Kawabiraki Festival, held annually on August 1st and 2nd. There are boat races, parades, dancing and on the evening of the 1st a huge fireworks display along the river. If you come from Ishinomaki station, just walk straight out of the station, past all the izekayas and you should run into the parade route. (3 minute walk) This festival is held in honor of Kawamura Magobei a civil engineer and Samurai during the Edo period. Come enjoy and eat lots of festival food! Others: Ayukawa - Whale Festival held in August Monou Town - the Haneko Odori Festival held on the second Saturday in September Ogatsu - the Oyster Festival Onagawa - Port Festival in July 
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