KAKUDA 角田
How to get to Sendai by train (what train line, rough estimate of round trip tickets and length of time it takes) or driving routes to Sendai.
From Kakuda: Take the Abukuma Kyuukou train to Tsukinoki and transfer to the JR Tohoku Honsen train. Take this to Sendai. Total fare 1-way is 780 yen. If you need to buy Abukuma Kyuukou train tickets in Sendai or another JR station, look for the Abukuma button on the far left of the machine. This will change the fares and show the Abukuma transfer rates.
Location or areas for Shopping: shopping centers, book stores (foreign books), where to find house hold items, electronics, foreign food, female toiletries, big & tall, supermarket, video rentals, etc. Forte mall in Ogawara is probably the closest place, although it has very little that might interest new ALTs. There is a cinema, which is nice. There's some used game shops and an okay bookstore if you can read Japanese. The best thing there is World Buffet, where you can pay 1500 yen (1100 for women) for a buffet from 5:00 – 10:00 p.m. And they don't mind if you just sit there and study for 3 hours while snacking and drinking coffee either. Otherwise, there's the Route 4 strip of shops in Ogawara, including UniQlo, Tsutaya, Geo, Super Denkodo, Second Street (secondhand shop) and lots of restaurants of all varieties. If you want used books you'll need to head to the Shiroishi part of Route 4 where you can find a Book Off. You need a car or strong legs for cycling to get to any of these places unless you live right in Shiroishi or Ogwara.
Places to eat out: bars, restaurants, places for a quick bite, for dates: In Kakuda, Wai Wai izakaya is near the Shimin Center. Yourou no Taki is on the main drag through Kakuda. There's also Enya izakaya near Kakuda station (a bit pricey but cool). For food in Kakuda I recommend the Chinese place named "Monyouka" (I think) near Keihin just outside of town and the little ramen shop across from Eneos (forgot the name, but they have raw garlic on every table and perhaps the best ramen in all of Sennan).
Local/Area sight seeing spots: Abukuma River and the walking/cycling trails that run alongside it. Kozoji Temple (worth a visit for sure). Teshirogi-numa (a local pond). Cherry blossoms in Ogawara near the bridge, only about 5 minutes from the station. Zao and the Echo Line, of course, if you can get someone to drive you. The beach in Watari (don't know the name but there's a lot of surfers there). Daikan Yama park in Kakuda. The Abukuma Liner – a small boat that rides you along the river while you enjoy seasonal food and beverages.
Public Transportation: The trains are decent. Get a bike and get used to riding 10-15 kms at a stretch and you won't need a car unless you want one. Some nice local sites are under 10 kms. Ogawara is 12 kms away. Shiroishi a very hilly 20 kms.
Location or areas for Shopping: shopping centers, book stores (foreign books), where to find house hold items, electronics, foreign food, female toiletries, big & tall, supermarket, video rentals, etc. Forte mall in Ogawara is probably the closest place, although it has very little that might interest new ALTs. There is a cinema, which is nice. There's some used game shops and an okay bookstore if you can read Japanese. The best thing there is World Buffet, where you can pay 1500 yen (1100 for women) for a buffet from 5:00 – 10:00 p.m. And they don't mind if you just sit there and study for 3 hours while snacking and drinking coffee either. Otherwise, there's the Route 4 strip of shops in Ogawara, including UniQlo, Tsutaya, Geo, Super Denkodo, Second Street (secondhand shop) and lots of restaurants of all varieties. If you want used books you'll need to head to the Shiroishi part of Route 4 where you can find a Book Off. You need a car or strong legs for cycling to get to any of these places unless you live right in Shiroishi or Ogwara.
Places to eat out: bars, restaurants, places for a quick bite, for dates: In Kakuda, Wai Wai izakaya is near the Shimin Center. Yourou no Taki is on the main drag through Kakuda. There's also Enya izakaya near Kakuda station (a bit pricey but cool). For food in Kakuda I recommend the Chinese place named "Monyouka" (I think) near Keihin just outside of town and the little ramen shop across from Eneos (forgot the name, but they have raw garlic on every table and perhaps the best ramen in all of Sennan).
Local/Area sight seeing spots: Abukuma River and the walking/cycling trails that run alongside it. Kozoji Temple (worth a visit for sure). Teshirogi-numa (a local pond). Cherry blossoms in Ogawara near the bridge, only about 5 minutes from the station. Zao and the Echo Line, of course, if you can get someone to drive you. The beach in Watari (don't know the name but there's a lot of surfers there). Daikan Yama park in Kakuda. The Abukuma Liner – a small boat that rides you along the river while you enjoy seasonal food and beverages.
Public Transportation: The trains are decent. Get a bike and get used to riding 10-15 kms at a stretch and you won't need a car unless you want one. Some nice local sites are under 10 kms. Ogawara is 12 kms away. Shiroishi a very hilly 20 kms.
