One of the largest inhabited islands in Tohoku! Kesennuma Oshima, a green pearl filled with beautiful nature
- Miyagi
- Sightseeing
What is Kesennuma Oshima like?
Until the completion of the Kesennuma Oshima Bridge in 2019, the island was only accessible by boat, which takes about 30 minutes one way.
The island's coastline is remarkably bent, and there are many beautiful landscapes created by nature, such as Tatsumai-zaki, Jyuhachinaru Beach, and Oda Beach.
Kesennuma Oshima, designated as a Rikuchu Kaigan National Park and an Underwater Park, has become an essential tourist destination in Kesennuma, where visitors can "see, play, and enjoy.
To be completed in 2019! Kesennuma Oshima Oshima Bridge, the entrance to the island
With a length (arch span) of 297 m, it is the longest bridge in East Japan and the third longest in Japan along with the Omishima Bridge in Ehime. The Great East Japan Earthquake recognized the need for a bridge over Oshima that would serve as a "path of life," and the bridge was constructed with the goal of making it durable and easy to maintain.
The Kesennuma Oshima Bridge has a pedestrian walkway and can be crossed on foot.
The bridge is located in a particularly scenic area, and the view from the Kesennuma Bay Cruise, a sightseeing boat, is very popular.
You can either walk or ride a bicycle across slowly while enjoying the refreshing sea breeze and a panoramic view of the ocean, or you can take a cruise boat and look up at the bridge from the sea, each offering a different way to enjoy the scenery.
Stop by before you visit Kesennuma Oshima! Kesennuma Oshima Welcome Terminal
Inside the terminal, there is a space for direct sales of local products with seasonal marine and agricultural products, perfect if you want to buy souvenirs from Kesennuma.
The adjacent "Nodoka" has a café and a fresh fish store. All stores operate under the concept of "local production for local consumption," so you can enjoy meals using not only locally caught seafood, but also locally grown vegetables and yuzu, a local specialty. For souvenirs from Kesennuma, we recommend camellia oil, a special product of Kesennuma Oshima, for women.
Do the sands sing? Unexplored beach "Juhachinaru Beach" beyond the forest
Juhachi-naruhama? Jippachi Naruhama?
The correct answer is... "Kugunaruhama.
The name comes from the fact that it consists of yellowish-brown quartz grains, and when you step on the sand, it makes a "kukukukku" or "kukukku" (9+9=18) sound.
It is said that the squeaking sand is caused by the friction of quartz grains in the sand, and Jyuhachiminohama is designated as a national natural monument.
Because the sand will not ring if it becomes dirty, no human intervention has been made in the area around the 18-mega-naru beach. To get to the beach, a 15-minute walk along a mountain road from the 18-mark beach toll parking lot brings you to the beach, which feels a bit like a private beach in a secluded corner of the island.
360-degree panorama! Turtle Island Observatory
From the observatory at the top of the mountain, you can see the city of Kesennuma and the spectacular topography of the rias coast, and even Mount Kinka on a clear day.
At night, you can see the night view of Kesennuma city, fish fires, and a star-filled sky.
At the rest house of the observatory, you can buy souvenirs and enjoy light meals.
The observatory terrace, which was newly renovated in 2021, is equipped with seating, so please enjoy a relaxing moment while taking in the cool breeze.
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Access
Approximately 18 minutes by car from JR Kesennuma Station
*The contents and services in this article are subject to change.