At a Glance
Motoyoshi town stretches 13km along the upper coastline of Miyagi. The town was originally created from four smaller villages, each of which retains its own distinct atmosphere. If you tell anyone from Kesennuma you're from Motoyoshi, they will say you live far away. Only when you tell someone in Sendai that you're from Kesennuma and they say "oh that's far" can you say "yeah, it IS far.".
Ooya is a wonderful beach town, though not all the beaches have easy access. Fortunately there are several openings for people to go down and feel the sand and cold cold waves, with the easiest to access being the aptly named Ooya coastline (大谷海岸).
Tsuya is the main town area of Motoyoshi. This is also where most of the highlights listed on this page are located.
Magome is a farming district where you can try your hand at milking cows and making butter. The main highlight here is Mooland, an outdoor family farm fun center which also has the prefecture's largest roller slide.
The fourth and smallest village is Koizumi – Koizumi is a cute little town with wonderful people. Routes 346 and 45 run through Motoyoshi, and the Kesennuma BRT has stops in Tsuya, Koizumi and Oya. There is a "beach" here too - but mainly for surfing - which means you can participate if you'd like! Lessons and gear rental are available.
Ooya is a wonderful beach town, though not all the beaches have easy access. Fortunately there are several openings for people to go down and feel the sand and cold cold waves, with the easiest to access being the aptly named Ooya coastline (大谷海岸).
Tsuya is the main town area of Motoyoshi. This is also where most of the highlights listed on this page are located.
Magome is a farming district where you can try your hand at milking cows and making butter. The main highlight here is Mooland, an outdoor family farm fun center which also has the prefecture's largest roller slide.
The fourth and smallest village is Koizumi – Koizumi is a cute little town with wonderful people. Routes 346 and 45 run through Motoyoshi, and the Kesennuma BRT has stops in Tsuya, Koizumi and Oya. There is a "beach" here too - but mainly for surfing - which means you can participate if you'd like! Lessons and gear rental are available.
Restaurants
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Tonkatsu Takaso - とんかつ高惣
A great drinking spot in the 'downtown' of Tsuya. Used to be a meat shop and was converted into a izakaya/restaurant. They still serve primarily meat (tonkatsu, yakitori, yakiniku, etc), but they also have some good tofu dishes as well. The owner is a friendly guy who enjoys some new patrons. Be aware: if it's your first time, he will call his son and hand you the phone to test his son's English ability. Rairaiken - 来々軒 A Chinese restaurant serving all the classics, plus a few of their own special twists. Decent prices and worth a check! |
Sushi Restaurant
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Endo Sushi - 鮨処えんどう
A sushi restaurant next to Katahamaya supermarket. They serve everything here, not just sushi. If you teach in the Motoyoshi area, some of your students' parents work here. The katsudon (fried pork & egg over rice) is amazing. |
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Dessert Shop Isamiya - 御菓子司いさみや
Home of the infamous Oshima Manju. This is regarded, amongst the locals, as the premier place to buy sweets. They have gone to several sweet conventions down in Tokyo so it has a small name for itself. Like many stores in Japan, their seasonal desserts are quite good. Try the matcha mochi, it’s delicious. Fuugetsu - 富月 Another Japaneses sweet shop in town, well known for both its butter dorayaki and the scale Yamato model. |
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Kadoya
A small cafe located near Endo sushi featuring taco rice, among other dishes. A good place to stop after a trip to the shore! Cafe Mipuri - カフェミプリ A very small cafe located up a residential district. Lunch is limited to only ten people, but if you want a coffee while looking out over the garden and ocean, this is the place! Merryland - メリーランド A small little ice cream stand on Route 45. The perfect place to stop after going to the shore on a hot summer's day. |
Temples
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Seiryoin Temple - 清凉院
A local temple that hosts annual local music festivals. Has a wonderful garden and impressive architecture. |
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Ohya Mining Museum
Up until 1979, there was a gold mine in the town of Ohya and it was said to be the most productive in the country. Now all that's left are the ruins, most of which are increasingly overgrown as the years pass. The museum is free, though it is closed on Wednesdays. |
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Motoyoshi Michi-no-Eki
Did you know that Miyagi has fifteen Michi-no-Eki? They all have various things to do or buy from the local community, from produce to handicrafts! The food in the restaurants also tends to be made from ingredients sourced in the nearby town. |
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Toyamazawa Coast - 登米沢海岸
The main beach located next to Tsuya - a good place to fish, catch the waves, or just enjoy the scenery. Oya Coast - 大谷海岸 The 'main' beach in Oya - it has a BRT station right next to it for extra easy access! Okinoda Coast - 沖の田海岸 Another beach in the Motoyoshi area. |
