Hokki-kun is Yamamoto's PR Manager! His head is shaped like the hokki-shellfish that is Yamamoto's speciality product!
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At a GlanceYamamoto is the last stop along the Miyagi coast before hitting Fukushima. While most of the area is still rebuilding or left barren, there's still plenty to be found here!
Split between ocean and mountain, Yamamoto has the best of both on offer. There's plenty of hiking in the forms of Shihouzan and Shinzan, both of which are a part of the Michinoku Coastal Trail. Shinzan also has BMX trails on offer in addition to rentals. Yamamoto is also a source of apples and strawberries, so fruit lovers rejoice! |
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Sakamoto Drive-In - 坂元ドライブイン
A small Showa Era styled teishoku restaurant along Route 6. Nice place to stop in if you'd like some food while driving or after swimming at the shore. Restaurant Wakana - レストランわか菜 A semi-famous restaurant in the area, they're known for their omurice. However, they also serve all kinds of seafood dishes, including lobster! |
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Petite Joie
Pastry shop which uses largely Miyagi based ingredients in all their products. The fruits come from Yamamoto or Natori, and the creams come from farther north around Tome. Having a modest level of sweetness, the cakes are quite nice to enjoy alongside your preferred hot beverage. Forest's Hearth - 杜のかまど A bakery/pastry shop located at the foot of the mountain range running along Yamamoto's boarder. They have all sorts of bread in addition to pastries featuring local fruit in them. They sell out fast, so best to arrive early! |
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Cafe Chikyumura - カフェ地球村
Located right in front of Yamamoto Town Hall, this small cafe features desserts made from locally grown fruits - try the apple pie especially! Berry Berry Labo - ベリーベリーラボ Do you like strawberries? Do you love strawberries? I mean really love them? If so, this is the place for you! Featuring Yamamoto grown strawberries, nearly every dish in the cafe incorporates strawberries in some fashion; whether as a garnish or as a part of the dish itself. Cafe Orata - カフェオラータ A nice, fashionable cafe with some really presentable dishes. As with most every restaurant on the list, they also mostly use locally grown fruits in their desserts and drinks; though unlike some others, they also use locally caught seafood in their seafood pastas! |
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Kin-chan Ramen - 金ちゃんラーメン
A small ramen shop located next to Yamamoto No.2 elementary school. They have decent sizes for the prices they charge, and the char siu comes in nice big hunks. |
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Miyagi Lapras Pokelid - Yamamoto
Did you know that Miyagi's Ambassador Pokemon is Lapras? There are 35 decorative Lapras Manhole Covers all over of Miyagi! Why Chansey? Because Yamamoto is the last town on the Sanriku Coast before going into Fukushima, whose Ambassador Pokémon is the healing Pokémon, Chansey! You can see this iconic highfive right outside Sakamoto Station, the last station on the Joban Line in Miyagi before going into Fukushima Prefecture. |
Monuments and Memorials
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Yamamoto Elementary School Earthquake Monument
It's something we wish didn't exist yet it does. Here is the site of the former Yamamoto Elementary School. It is along the Tohoko Densho Road, a program that tries to raise awareness of the magnitude of the Great Tohoku Earthquake of 2011. Next to the monument is the remnants of the school which you can tour and see the gutted out building. While a sobering experience about the power of the ocean, it is nonetheless hopeful given all those who sheltered inside survived. |
Point of Interests
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Yamamoto's Sunflower Field - 山元ひまわり畑
Sunflowers look toward the light so as a rebuilding effort Yamamoto planted a sunflower field to serve as a symbol. Peak season is late summer and early autumn. |
Hiking
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The name Yamamoto should tip you off that there's mountains here. The two mountains that you can hike easily are Mt. Shiho and Mt. Shinzan. They are both on the western mountain range that borders Marumori and Yamamoto. You can oversee the Pacific Ocean from either peaks and on clear days you can even see Mt. Zao.
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Events
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Strawberry Picking at Ichigo World
From late winter to early summer, you can have an all-you-can-eat strawberry experience at Ichigo World! For about 2000 yen (as of this writing) you can hunt for the biggest, juiciest, reddest strawberries you can find for 30 minutes. The condensed milk is free but if you want the chocolate fountain is an extra 200 yen. Ichigo World is located a convenient, 10 minute walk from Yamashita Station. |
