Half a day from Tokyo.
A coast that still runs on its own rhythm.
Minamisanriku sits on the Pacific coast of northern Miyagi,
held between forested hills and a deeply indented bay.
Getting here takes a little planning
— and that is part of why the town has kept its character.
Minamisanriku sits on the Pacific coast of northern Miyagi, held between forested hills and a deeply indented bay.
Getting here takes a little planning — and that is part of why the town has kept its character.
Journey Times at a Glance
All times are to Michi-no-Eki Sansan Minamisanriku, the roadside station at the centre of town and the stop for the Sansan Shopping Village.
| Sendai Station | Rental car — about 1 hr 30 min Highway bus — about 1 hr 40 min Train + BRT — about 2 hr 30 min |
|---|---|
| Sendai Airport | Rental car — about 1 hr 30 min |
| Kurikoma-Kogen Station | Rental car — about 40 min |
If you are coming from Tokyo, the Tohoku Shinkansen to Sendai takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. Kurikoma-Kogen is the other shinkansen gateway, and the shortest drive of all.
By Car
A car gives you the most freedom here. The town is spread along the coast, and almost every shop, restaurant and facility has its own free car park — so you can take your time.
From Sendai Station
About 1 hour 30 minutes.
Sendai-Tobu Expressway (toll section)
Sanriku Coastal Road (toll-free from here)
Then Route 398 to the roadside station
From Sendai Airport
About 1 hour 30 minutes. You can pick up a rental car near the airport, or take the Sendai Airport Access Line into Sendai Station first.
Sendai-Tobu Expressway (toll section)
Sanriku Coastal Road (toll-free from here)
Then Route 398 to the roadside station
From Kurikoma-Kogen Station
About 40 minutes — the shortest drive of the three gateways. Rental cars are available at the station.
Prefectural Route 268, then the Miyagi Kenpoku Expressway
Continue to the end, then join the Sanriku Coastal Road (toll-free)
Then Route 398 to the roadside station
From Tokyo and the Kanto region
Two routes north. Both join the Sanriku Coastal Road at Naruse-Okumatsushima.
Via the Tohoku Expressway — head north to Sendai-Minami IC, take the Sendai-Nanbu Road to Sendai-Wakabayashi JCT, then the Sendai-Tobu Expressway north onto the Sanriku Coastal Road. Exit at Shizugawa IC and follow Route 398.
Via the Joban Expressway — head north and continue onto the Sendai-Tobu Expressway and the Sanriku Coastal Road. Exit at Shizugawa IC and follow Route 398.
If you are travelling by shinkansen from Tokyo, Sendai and Kurikoma-Kogen are the nearest stations. Both have rental car offices close by. From Sendai you can also take the highway bus or the train and BRT.
From Aomori and the north
Via the Tohoku Expressway — head south to Wakayanagi-Kannari IC, turn right towards Tome on Prefectural Route 4 and Route 398, join the Miyagi Kenpoku Expressway to Tome IC, then the Sanriku Coastal Road south to Shizugawa IC.
Via the Sanriku Coastal Road — simply head south on the toll-free expressway, exit at Shizugawa IC, turn right towards the town centre and follow Route 398.
Nearest exits for each destination
| Sansan Shopping Village | 2.3 km from Shizugawa IC, about 5 min |
|---|---|
| Hamare Utatsu | Utatsu IC |
| Town Hall | Shizugawa IC |
| Sports Exchange Village (Bayside Arena) | Shizugawa IC |
By Highway Bus
Miyagi Kotsu runs five services a day between Sendai and Minamisanriku. There are no transfers, so if the timing suits you the journey is barely longer than driving.
| Journey time | About 1 hr 40 min |
|---|---|
| Board at | Sendai Station West Exit, Miyagi Kotsu Sendai Highway Bus Center, stand 40 (on Hirose-dori) |
| Alight at | Michi-no-Eki Sansan Minamisanriku (JR Shizugawa Station) |
| Fare | 1,900 yen one way (half fare for children) / 3,500 yen for a two-ride ticket, adults only |
Before you board
- Southbound from Sendai, the bus takes passengers as far as Sendai Station only; from Michi-no-Eki Sansan Minamisanriku onward it is drop-off only.
- Northbound from Kesennuma, boarding is only as far as Michi-no-Eki Sansan Minamisanriku; from Sendai Station onward it is drop-off only.
- There is a rest stop at Yamoto PA on the way.
- No reservations. Seats are given out in the order you queue, up to capacity.
Timetables change from time to time. Please check the latest schedule before you travel.
By Train & BRT
From Sendai the journey is a chain of local trains and then the BRT — a bus that runs on the old railway alignment. It takes longer than the highway bus but runs more often, and the last stretch follows the coast.
Tohoku Main Line
Ishinomaki Line or Kesennuma Line. Change at Maeyachi if you took the Ishinomaki Line
Kesennuma Line
Kesennuma Line BRT
| Journey time | About 2 hr 30 min to Shizugawa Station |
|---|---|
| Fare | 1,570 yen one way, Sendai to Shizugawa |
| Get off at | Shizugawa Station for Michi-no-Eki Sansan Minamisanriku and the Sansan Shopping Village |
There are six BRT stations within the town, so you can get on and off close to wherever you are heading. Journey times vary with the weather, the service and how the connections fall.
Timetables change from time to time. Please check the latest schedule before you travel.
Enquiries about trains and the BRT
| JR East Info Line | 050-2016-1600 |
|---|---|
| Kesennuma Line BRT Office | 0226-41-0012 |
Getting Around Town
If you arrive by public transport, you will get around on foot, by taxi or by rental car. If anything is unclear, call the Minamisanriku Tourism Association on 0226-47-2550 and we will help you plan the route.
Rental cars
The easiest way to see the town at your own pace. Booking ahead is recommended. The offices outside Minamisanriku listed below are examples, not a full list.
| BRT Shizugawa Station | Shizugawa Mazda — 0226-46-2415 |
|---|---|
| Sendai Station | Many offices around the station |
| Kurikoma-Kogen Station | JR Ekiren Kurikoma-Kogen — 0228-22-7163 Toyota Rent a Car Kurikoma-Kogen — 0228-21-2100 Nippon Rent-A-Car Kurikoma-Kogen East Exit — 050-1712-2949 |
Taxis
Useful for short hops between sights, and available for private hire. Shizugawa Kanko Taxi also runs guided tours of the areas affected by the 2011 tsunami — please contact them in advance if you would like one.
| BRT Shizugawa Station | Shizugawa Kanko Taxi — 0120-05-2132 / 0226-46-2132 Large vehicles available |
|---|---|
| BRT Utatsu Station | Utatsu Taxi — 0226-36-2021 |
SmartGOTO — on-demand transport
SmartGOTO is a shared, on-demand service built for getting around Minamisanriku. Instead of fixed routes and timetables, vehicles run to match bookings, so it works for sightseeing as well as everyday errands. You can book by smartphone or by phone.
- Booked, shared rides — vehicles run to your booking rather than a timetable, and a service runs even for a single passenger.
- Cheaper than a taxi — with season-ticket plans for frequent users.
- Stops at the places people actually go — hospitals, supermarkets and other key facilities, with more being added.
- Pick-up close to where you are staying, within the service area.
| Days | Weekdays only. No service at weekends, on public holidays, over Obon or at New Year |
|---|---|
| Hours | Shizugawa–Utatsu 8:30–15:00 Shizugawa–Iriya 7:30–17:30 Shizugawa–Arato 8:30–17:30 |
Registration and advance booking are required.
Rental bicycles
The Tourism Association lends bicycles so you can explore the town under your own steam.
| Rate | 500 yen per three hours, standard bicycle |
|---|---|
| Hours | March–November 9:00–17:00 December–February 9:00–16:00 |
| Where | Portal Center, inside Michi-no-Eki Sansan Minamisanriku Minamisanriku Tourism Association — 0226-47-2550 |
| Closed | 1 January |
- Three standard bicycles available.
- Photo ID is required.
- Overnight hire adds three further sessions to the daytime rate — 1,500 yen per standard bicycle.
Start at the Portal Center
Not sure where to begin, or where to find the thing you came for? The Minamisanriku Portal Center is the town’s information desk, staffed by the Tourism Association. Come in and ask — we will point you somewhere good.
| Address | 200-1 Itsukamachi, Shizugawa, Minamisanriku-cho, Motoyoshi-gun, Miyagi — inside Michi-no-Eki Sansan Minamisanriku |
|---|---|
| Phone | 0226-47-2550 |
| Hours | March–November 9:00–17:00 December–February 9:00–16:00 |
| Closed | 1 January |
What we can help with
- Bicycle hire — 500 yen per three hours
- Luggage storage — 300 yen per person
- Tourist leaflets and maps
- Sign-up and vouchers for seasonal campaigns
Plan your visit
Come and see for yourself
Book an experience directly, or talk to us about a programme for your school, university or company.
Follow the town