At a Glance
Tagamon! Not a Digimon but Tagajo's Tourism Character
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Formerly famous for its raging Thursday night poker games, the Tagajo Board of Education has stopped hiring JETs. However, it's still a great area to explore if you want try different food. There are many restaurants that run along Route 45 in Tagajo between Shiogama and Sendai. Sushi, tonkatsu, ramen, teppanyaki, and okonomiyaki; to name a few types of restaurant you'll encounter!
As the name somewhat implies, back in the Nara Period there was a castle here; albeit not just a minor castle, but the site of the capital for what at the time was Mutsu Province. While the original castle is long since destroyed, the town of Tagajo is rebuilding the complex slowly for the thousand year anniversary of its founding. |
Patisserie
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MURATA
Formally Kazunoli Mulata (カズノリムラタ), this is a quaint and fancy dessert shop that is quite expensive, but it is highly rated. Petite Trianon - プチトリアノン Located along Route 23, this small shop has a constant line of both customers and cars out front. Trying one of their cakes will definitely make you see why! They're quite delicately balanced and airy, with plenty of presentation going into them as well. Tiffany - ティファニー Located right outside the station is patisserie Tiffany. What makes it famous is the Tagajo Banana. While the one from Tokyo is much more well know, Miyagi has its own take on the now famous banana flavoured pastry. Come try it out! |
South Asian Cuisine
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Indian Restaurant Ganesh - インドレストランガネーシャ多賀城駅前店
About a five minute walk from Tagajo Station is Ganesh! The staff here speaks English and the top recommended dish is the mutton curry! |
Ramen Restaurants
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Misoyasu Ramen -ラー麺味噌やす
Miso ramen restaurant in Tagajo specialising in ramen using Sendai miso. It is quite highly rated and for good reason! Anzu - 杏子
Small izakaya/ramen restaurant near Tagajo station. Has some of the best Taiwan ramen outside of Nagoya! Also quite fresh sushi and excellent gyoza. |
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Cafe Ism - cafe衣都夢
A small cafe located down a sidestreet in Tagajo. The staff are very welcoming, and while there are only set menus on offer, all of the selected dishes are quite delicious. Additionally, they are quite accommodating to allergies if you call ahead to make a reservation. Antique Cafe Old Times - アンティークカフェ・オールドタイム Quaint cafe next to Takasagi JHS in Tagajo. The interior is completely furnished in wood and other old items, making for an interesting experience as you step into the door - almost like going into a maid cafe, but not quite. They serve typical cafe fare, yet the cakes are what stand out. Try them with espresso! Kouan - 天然酵母専門こうあん A bakery/cafe located on Route 45 as it passes through town. There's various seating arraignments available, from family to singular - and plenty of delectable bread to go around! They offer a cake set for a very cheap price, allowing you to have a slice of cake and a drink before going off to your next destination. Waka Coffee - 和歌珈琲 A small cafe not far from Shiogama station, just over the boarder into Tagajo. The store has some gluten free offerings, namely in the form of their delicious crepes! Jasmine Just outside of Tagajo station down a small alley is cafe Jasmine. While easy to overlook, it has some very delicious curry and coffee! |
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Pizzeria DB
Located in the same building as Jasmine, DB is a quaint little pizzeria. They cook an incredibly delicious pizza margarita, but there's also different types on offer as well! |
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Lapras Poke Lid - Horsea
Did you know that Miyagi's Ambassador Pokemon is Lapras? There are 35 decorative Lapras Manhole Covers all over the Sanriku Coast of Miyagi! You can see this one outside Tagajo Station if you look along the Sunaoshi River! |
Castle Site
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Taga Castle Site - 多賀城跡
The namesake of Tagajo City. Built in the Nara Period, there's not much left standing here. However, this place is designated as Special Historical Site due to its once great importance. You can see a miniature rebuilt Taga Castle here as well as the original foundation and stairs that led up to the castle. The area is quite large compared to other castle sites and most of the foundation and grounds area are left intact to educate visitors about this important site. The original temple ruins are also to the southeast along with a small shrine that was part of the original castle town. |
Shrines
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Taga Shrine and Taga Temple Ruins - 多賀神社 & 多賀城廃寺跡
Located to the southeast of the Taga Castle Ruins, you can find the area of the original site of the Castle Shrine and Temple. It may look unimpressive at first however, in spring the area is covered in flowers and during summer there are often many festivals held around here. The Taga Temple Ruins are designated as Special Historical Sites along with the Taga Castle Site. Mutsu Soshanomiya Shrine - 陸奥総社宮 While seemingly unassuming, this is a quite ancient shrine located behind the Taga Castle ruins. Founded in the early Heian Period, the shrine has stood watch while both the castle and town below have undergone massive changes over the decades. The priest who runs the shrine is very friendly, and will invite you in to his house for a chat with his wife on a slow day while you get your goshuin filled. In spring, the giant magnolia will have majestic white flowers bloom over the complex. |
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Tagajo Castle Ruins Iris Park - 多賀城あやめ園
Located in front of the old castle complex is a decently sized iris garden which blooms in its full glory come spring. |
Museums
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Tohoku History Museum - 東北歴史博物館
Want to learn more about the Tohoku region and the people who have lived here? Then here is the place for you! There is quite a bit of accessibility for foreigners, and is located right next to a train station as well! |
Shopping Centers
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Mitsui Outlet Park Sendai Port - 三井アウトレットパーク 仙台港
Technically in Sendai. If you walk straight from Nakanosakae Station, after about 10 minutes you will get to Mitsui Outlet Park. This is one of 2 outlets in Sendai. There is also a food court inside and a Ferris wheel if you want to get a good view of the city. |
Zoos and Aquariums
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Umino Mori Aquarium - うみの杜水族館
Technically in Sendai. Close to Mitsui Outlet Park, this area is also home to the Umino Mori Aquarium. You can walk from Nakanosakae Station, but there is also a free shuttle bus from the station that takes you directly to the aquarium. Check the internet for the bus schedule before you go. This is the biggest aquarium in Tohoku area, and there are many highlights. Also, they have petting hours called friendly times where you can enjoy interacting with adorable penguins and South America sea lions. Apart from that, you can enjoy a dolphin and sea lion show; a behind the scenes tour; interacting with starfish and sea cucumber; and much more! |
Libraries
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Tagajo City Library - 多賀城市立区書館
A very modern building located right next to Tagajo station. There are a few restaurants and even a bar inside. The collection is also quite expansive, with a good number of English and other language books available. Events are also held there occasionally from time to time. |
