Seapal-chan, Onagawa's PR character!
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At a Glance
Snug deep in a valley of the Kitakami Mountains lies the seaside port of Onagawa. While now a scenic fishing town, the town has quite a rich past; in addition to being a rich fishing spot since the Heian Period, the town was also formerly a naval base for both Britain and Japan.
The Onagawa region is also home to one of the rarer phenomena in the world - singing sand. |
Restaurants
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Ochakko Club - おちゃっこクラブ
A restaurant serving Neapolitan style pasta. You can also get nostalgic favorites here like yakisoba and bright soda floats. Certified by the Japanese Neapolitan Society for its napolitan, so you can rest assured it's worth a stop. Kushiyaki Taro - 串焼きたろう This kushiyaki restaurant serves fresh skewered seafood grilled over charcoal. You can choose from a wide variety of shellfish here, and the scallop is the most highly recommended. This shop is easily identifiable by it's large poster of the owner, sporting a grumpy face. He's actually very kind, so regulars love this juxtaposition. Seapal Pier Onagawa - シーパルピア女川 This is Onagawa's roadside station - a large pier full of shops and restaurants lining all the way down to the ocean. There's something here for everyone, from delicious fresh fish to western style pizzas. This pier is known for it's collection of delicious eateries. Kitchen Kimura - キッチンきむら This quaint cafe is located near Onagwa station. It serves western-style staples, like hamburg steak and pasta. It's considered a "hidden gem" by locals due to it not being on Seapal Pier. Onagawa Ichiba Shokudou - 女川市場食堂 Located in Onagawa Fish Market, this restaurant serves fresh seafood dishes daily. The plates are beautiful and vibrant with a relaxing atmosphere. |
Japanese Restaurants
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Ojika - 食事処おじか
A Japanese restaurant focusing on seafood, but they also offer soba and donburi. The portions are known for their generous size. |
Cafes
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Gen - 小珈琲屋さんGEN
A rustic cafe across from Onagawa Fish Market. They have their own special blend of coffee available to order, along with an amazing creme brulee cheesecake. |
Places of Interest
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Life Stones - いのちの石碑
Placed around the area comprising Onagawa, these monuments were erected after the students in the local Junior High School wanted to memorialize what had happened on March 11th, 2011. The location of each stone marks the maximum height the tsunami reached that day, and act as reminders to future generations of not only the power of the sea, but also a reminder to not be complacent when disaster strikes. Each stone has a different sentiment from a different student carved into them. You can read more about them here. Former Onagawa Police Box - 旧女川交番 Located on the shore, the police box was pushed onto its side by the tsunami when it hit Onagawa. A visual manifestation of the strength carried by the waves. Ishihama ~ Onmaehama Rest Area - 休憩所（石浜～御前浜） A small park overlooking Onagawa, it provides a 180 degree view of the area and is a nice spot for pictures. |
Places of Interest
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Onagawa Onsen Yupo'po - 女川温泉ゆぽっぽ
A hot spring facility built into Onagawa Station! The price for entry is 500 yen. The onsen is new, displaying chic, modern architecture. |
Beaches
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Natsuhama - 夏浜
Natsuhama is one of the few beaches in the world with singing sand! Koyatorihama - 小屋取浜 Another singing beach not too far away from Natsuhama. |
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Places of Interest
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Onagawa Fish Market - 女川市場
A pretty famous fish market in Onagawa. You can buy fresh fish here. Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant Visitor's Centre - 東北電力女川原子力PRセンター The Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant is quite the interesting place. You can learn about the science behind fission based nuclear power here! |
