At a Glance
The Minister of Public Relations, Patazaki!
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Osaki City is a sprawling region in the Northwest corner of Miyagi, nestled against the mountains of Yamagata. It is a rural area and there are many locations with natural beauty to be found. The rail coverage in the area is sparse and trains run infrequently, so ALTs spend a lot of time driving. Traditionally, ALTs gathered in the central city of Furukawa (today's central Osaki). Osaki hides a lot of hidden gems among its many towns and hills.
The former towns that surround and make up Osaki are below. |
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Furukawa 古川
Furukawa is the largest city in Osaki. With direct access to the Shinkansen, residents have many opportunities for travel. Shinkansen stations often also result in shops and cafes opening up nearby, making Furukawa the hub of business and transportation in Osaki. There are many restaurants to enjoy here, from chain restaurants to local eateries. Iwadeyama 岩出山 Date Masamune, famed warlord of Sendai, had his samurai training school here. The school was called Yubikan, and you can visit it near Yubikan station. No matter the season, there are unique and beautiful views to be appreciated in this villa. It's a nationalled designated historical site, and sometimes called "Little Kyoto." There is also a science museum that is based on the five senses called Kankaku Museum. It seems to be popular with children, providing a rich sensory experience. Every autumn, Iwadeyama hosts a hot air balloon festival at Eai River Attaka Riverside Park. Participants compete in precision flying, while vistors enjoy the view of colorful balloons adorning the morning sky. Visitors also have the opportunity to ride in hot air balloons on a first-come first-serve basis. Attendees line up early, so it's best to arrive as soon as possible! Kashimadai 鹿島台 Located on the Tohoku train line, Matsushima, Sendai, and Ishinomaki are all convenient to travel to. The gym, a short distance behind the train station, has a minimal fee with free membership. There are many decent restaurants and izakayas. as well as one small restaurant offering “the best eel North of Fukushima”. There is also a Tomato-Picking farm to the north called "Delicious Farm". You can pick a variety of delicious tomatoes and eat tomato based foods for a fresh farm-to-table experience! |
Naruko 鳴子
A tourist hotspot of northern Miyagi. Come here for great onsen, outdoor sports and a wide selection of kokeshi dolls. With all the mountains, there are some great hiking opportunities. The Naruko Gorge is a beautiful walk by yourself or with friends. Ten minutes from the bridge, you can hike up to the museum on a small path. In Onikobe, you can walk through “Hell” (a hot sulfur spring) and rest at the nearby geyser and outdoor public onsen. There is also a small ski resort at Onikoube that is great for an easy day of skiing and boarding. If you come in the fall, when the leaves are changing color, be prepared for traffic. The picturesque views draw in people from across the country. Tajiri 田尻 Tajiri is a large spreading area that encompasses multiple small towns. It's actually part of the Osaki Kodo World Agricultural Heritage Site, due to the long-cultivated rice farms spanning the fields. Kabukurinuma Marsh, a Ramsar Convention-registered wetland, attracts 100,000 greater white-fronted geese in winter. There is a beautiful mountain, called Kagoboyama, that boasts 2,000 cherry trees with an aptly named onsen at the bottom of the mountain called Sakura No Yu. It's a beautiful stop to enjoy in the spring. There is also a public sports facility where you can reserve a football field for an afternoon or two. Tajiri is also home to a local park golf course. If you love sports, Tajiri is a good town to visit! Sanbongi 三本木 This town has fields busting full of sunflowers during the summer. These familiar, joyful flowers create a beautiful backdrop for a photoshoot. There is also a sake brewery called Niizawa Brewery (新澤醸造店) that brews sake popular among residents of Miyagi. |
Restaurants
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Kawahara Drive-In - 川原ドライブイン
Located along the banks of the Eai River in Furukawa, this drive-in is about as classic as you can get. There's a large U-shaped counter inside, and they serve all the 'classic' dishes you could ever expect from a Japanese drive-in. Additionally, they offer a morning curry/ramen service, with meals starting at 7:00 A.M. sharp! Bakery Aoniji - パン工房青い虹 A small local bakery serving delicious, freshly baked bread. If you have time, there's also a dedicated restaurant menu inside. It's a nice place to rest for awhile. |
Cafés
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Kagamoku - 準喫茶
Run by a Kokeshi Doll loving couple, this cafe serves cute food with a warm atmosphere. They also built the roaster for their coffee beans! If you get the chance, order the cake and have a cup of coffee to go with it. You won't be disappointed! Rishu - さとのわ光種 Quaint cafe located in Higashi-Naruko. The owner is the only one working there, so orders might come out a bit slow. It's a calming place to relax if you need to recharge. Coffee House Jun - コーヒーハウス純 Located in central Naruko, this cafe is sort of a staple in the community. Popular with both locals and tourists alike, they're known for their omurice and beautiful plating. If you want instagram-worthy food, here is a nice stop. Cafe Persimmon - カフェ・パーシモン Located next to the Chubachi Museum in Iwadeyama, this relatively modern cafe is owned by a jazz lover. True to form, he also has a very nice hi-fi setup playing jazz throughout the day. The cafe also has its own special blend of coffee made from beans grown in Colombia. Blue Farm Cafe - ブルーファームカフェ In central Iwadeyama is Blue Farm Cafe. They specialise in Japanese butter sandwich cookies, filled with locally grown fruit along with different types of nut depending on the variety. Morris Tea House - 英国茶房森栖 Looking for a piece of the English countryside in Japan? This teahouse is a wonderful homage to English culture. Not only is the building itself designed to resemble traditional British housing, but the majority of the furniture is authentically from England. The owner even drives an imported British car! Reservations are not required, but recommended for the full experience. Cafe & Snack Piccolo - カフェ＆スナックピッコロ This shop isn't far from Tajiri station, so if you're hungry from traveling this is a great stop. Cafe & Snack Piccolo has very large portions - from Ebi Fry to different types of Hamburg steaks, and even a few pasta dishes. At night, it becomes a snack bar. Star Maker Cafe - スターメイカーカフェ Right off of Route 4 in Sanbongi, this cafe roasts their own coffee! They also sell pastas and pizzas, perfect for a lunch with friends. Cafe Lark+ Not too far from Furukawa station, this cafe is quiet with a calm atmosphere. This cafe offers typical cafe food such as baked goods and sandwiches, but also has a highly recommended matcha latte on the menu. Kanamaru Also close to Furukawa station, this cafe specialises in American style (and portioned) pancakes! If you want pancakes as large as your head, this is the place for you. |
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Hitotsubudo - ひとつぶ堂
Hitotsubduo is a small home-bakery offering a selective menu of delicious items. Their baked goods are made by hand each morning and have a rustic appeal. Due to their popularity, they're likely to sell out shortly after opening, so it's recommended to make a call/reservation for items beforehand. Takeda Bakery In between Furukawa and Tajiri is Takeda Bakery. If you love a variety of different breads, this bakery is for you. From fruit sandwiches to mini pizzas, this place is a must-visit for any carb lover. パン工房 パンツクルヒト A cozy bakery in Sanbongi, It's brimming with rustic charm. On the inside there's different types of freshly baked breads for sale. It's frequented by coffee-serving food truck "Cafe The Maple" - so you can enjoy a mobile cafe experience. It's a perfect pit-stop If you'd like to get something before seeing the sunflowers. |
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Old River Hamburgers
A Hamburger shop that appeals to American sensibilities. This restaurant offers American classics such as cheese burgers, hot dogs, chili cheese fries, onion rings, and more. You can do take-out here if you're too busy to stop inside, but the Western style atmosphere is also worth checking out. |
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Momijino - もみじ野
Not too far away from the above mentioned Morris Tea House is Momijino. Quite rustic, this shop sells pure buckwheat soba, making for some intensely delicious noodles. If you're looking to experience some of the best soba in a rural house, definitely try here! Itoshouten - 伊藤商店 Located along Route 347, this very popular shop serves some amazing tonkotsu ramen. There's a near constant line out the door, and cars routinely back up in order to try and get a spot. If you manage to visit, it's well worth it! |
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Zabi Curry - ザビのカレー
Along Route 108 outside of Iwadeyama is Zabi Curry. This shop serves delicious Pakistani curry. If you've never tasted the difference between the two, it's well worth a stop! There's even a prayer room for Muslims, and all the food is halal. |
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Lapras Pokemon Manhole - Dugtrio and Spearow
You can see Dugtrio and Spearow in Osaki City outside the Kamuro; a popular eatery and tourist spot! Lapras Pokemon Manhole - Lombre You can see Lombre at Atagoyama Park near Kappa Pond! Lombre = Kappa? Shikama legend has it that a Kappa God lives in Shikama and there is a shrine dedicated to the water spirit. |
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Sanbongi Sunflower Hill - 三本木ひまわりの丘
The main attraction in Sanbongi. In summer, the fields along Route 4 come alive with sunflowers as far as the eye can see. In spring, rapeseed blossoms are the star of the show. Usually, there are a few vendors selling sunflower related items in the summer as well. Cosmos Park - コスモス園 The classic flower of early autumn is plentiful here, with the hillside becoming covered in cosmos of all colours and at least eighteen different types. It gets quite crowded as the day goes on, so come later in the day or early in the morning. Kawatabi Nanohana Field - 川渡温泉菜の花畑 Located along the banks of the Eai river as it passes through Naruko, this fairly decent field was once a farmer's plot before it was eventually left to grow wild. In spring it's quite the destination, with a small festival being held each year. Hagurosan Park - 羽黒山公園 While much smaller than Shibata's castle park, this park is nonetheless quite popular in early autumn when the red spider lillies start to bloom. In fact, it's ranked as one of the top locations to see them in Miyagi - even if parking is quite hard to come by. |
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Naruko Shrine - 鳴子温泉神社
Located in the heart of Naruko, this small shrine was built after the volcano there erupted in the 800s. |
Road Stations
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Osaki Michi no Eki - 道の駅おおさき
A popular roadside station offering local produce and traditional Japanese snacks. You can also get soft serve ice cream here! Ala Datena Michi no Eki - 伊達な道の駅 (Iwadeyama 岩出山) A roadside station dedicated to Date Masamune, you can enjoy a small food court, local produce, and ice cream all enhanced by replications of Date Masamune's armor as well as other historical motifs. Sanbongi Michi no Eki - 三本木 Did you know that Miyagi has fifteen Michi no Eki's or Roadside Stations? Osaki has three! They all have restaurants that offer meals usually made from local ingredients. At each Roadside Station, there is usually a store that sells local products that can range from local produce, local sake, small souvenirs, to wooden crafts! Please check out your closest Michi no Eki for unique goods. |
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Sakuzo Yoshino Memorial Hall
Little known to most foreign residents in Miyagi, what is today's Osaki was the birthplace of Sakuzo Yoshino. He was one of the leading pioneers of democracy in Japan during the Taisho period, campaigning for universal sufferage and worker's rights. The musuem is laid out well in an easy-to-understand manner. Kankaku Museum - 感覚ミュージアム Experience all five of your senses to their fullest at this museum! While mostly aimed at younger audiences, it still has some fun for adults as well. Chubachi Musueum - 中鉢美術館 Dedicated to the beauty and craftsmanship of Japanese swords. You can learn a lot about Katana here. Its located next to Yuubikan station in Iwadeyama. Yuubikan Samura Villa - 有備館 Located in central Iwadeyama, this former lord's house has quite the beautiful garden inside. In autumn there is a lightup of the Japanese maples surrounding the pond. Japan Kokeshi Museum - 日本こけし館 One of the many symbols of Japan (and a main symbol of Tohoku), the humble kokeshi doll is a near inescapable sight. The museum covers all of the different variations from each prefecture and town - you can even paint your own! |
Skiing Resorts
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Onikobe Ski Area - オニコウベスキー場
If you like snowboarding or skiing, you’re in luck. Onikobe is one of Miyagi's favorite places to go for winter sports. You can ski and snowboard from beginner levels to more intermediate levels. Onikobe is open to everyone. You can rent gear on the mountain as well, and there are lessons available in Japanese. You can stop by the onsen afterwards and warm up! |
Hot Springs
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Shintoro no Yu - 中山平温泉 しんとろの湯
Located close to the famous Naruko gorge, this hot spring has very nutrient-dense water that doesn't get diluted in order to cool down, unlike typical onsen. This results in a strong centration of metasilicic acid, which assists in moisturizing and exfoliating. After a trip to this onsen you feel quite refreshed, and your skin shines. Taki no Yu - 滝の湯 A public hotspring located close to Naruko shrine. Warm and refreshing, plus easy to access from the station. It's earned a recommendation from Lonely Planet. |
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Rione Mall - リオーネ
Not too far from Furukawa station is Rione Mall. Haunt of both ALTs and locals alike, this shopping mall contains within it all the usual amenities; clothing stores, a gym, and hair salons. There's also a movie theatre inside, and a fairly decent food court as well. |
