Make traveling a part of the experience.
There are several ways to get to Minamisanriku, depending on how you plan your travel.
If you are traveling up north from Tokyo or anywhere down south, traveling through Sendai will most likely be the fastest and cost efficient way of traveling, as well as give you the chance to visit the largest city in Tohoku.
If you are using public transportation from Sendai, there are mainly two ways to get to Minamisanriku.
The first is with the Japan Railway (JR) train system. Since the train tracks in the town were destroyed from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, from a certain point, you will transfer onto a bus that drives on what was formerly the Japan Railway train track.
We recommend this for three reasons; the first being that it provides the most frequent service, the second being that it takes you directly to the heart of town, and last but not least, that this itself will be an experience to remember. The train is one of the shortest local trains in Japan.
The second option, the most direct way to get to Minamisanriku from Sendai, is to take the express bus offered by Miyagi Kotsu (Miyakoh). Buses leave periodically from Sendai Station (west exit), taking you directly to Minamisanriku. It is a non-reserve bus, so it is best to join the line as early as possible.
Here, we introduce the main access routes together with samples, to make planning the trip smoother and enjoyable for you.
Minamisanriku Tourism Association
Gozenshita 51-1, Shizugawa, Minamisanriku-cho, Motoyoshi-gun, Miyagi Prefecture 986-0768
Access from Sendai
- Get on the Sanriku Expressway towards Minamisanriku and Kesennuma.
- Exit at “Shizugawa” IC.
＊Sendai ⇔ Minamisanriku on Google Maps
- Get on the JR Tohoku Line train at “Sendai Station”.
- Transfer to JR Kesennuma Line train at “Kogota Station” and/or “Maeyachi Station”.
- Get off at JR Kesennuma Line “Yanaizu Station” (approximately 2 hours from Sendai).
- Take the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) bus by JR (Japan Railway) that will take you into downtown Minamisanriku (the bus drives on what was formerly a Japan Railway train track, but washed away in the tsunami from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake).
< Sample route >
To Minamisanriku
Sendai Station (JR Tohoku Line) 8:30 ⇒ Transfer at Kogota Station (JR Ishinomaki Line) 9:27 ⇒ Transfer at Maeyachi Station (BRT bus) 10:04 ⇒ Arrive at Shizugawa Station 11:08
Back from Minamisanriku
Shizugawa Station (BRT bus) 16:23 ⇒ Maeyachi Station (JR Ishinomaki Line) 17:36 ⇒ Transfer at Kogota Station (JR Tohoku Line) 18:00 ⇒ Arrive at Sendai Station 18:46
＊BRT buses come about once an hour from 6am to past 9pm, with a total of 6 stops in town along Route 45.
＊BRT bus transfer is available at “Maeyachi Station” a few times a day.
＊Train and BRT bus schedule may change without notice.
Please always check for the latest information using a route finder, and contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
- If you are riding from Sendai Station, go to Bus Terminal #40 marked on the map (west exit).
- Total 4 buses by Miyagi Kotsu (Miyakoh) leave Sendai Station everyday from Bus Terminal #40 (8:20, 11:25, 14:20, 15:20, 16:50, 18:25 as of March 2019). This bus will take you directly to Minamisanriku (approximately 1.5 – 2 hours from Sendai).
- Get off at either Shizugawa Station or Utatsu Masuzawa Station depending on your travel plan.
＜Sample route＞ (Miyagi Kotsu)
To Minamisanriku
Sendai Station 8:20 ⇒ Shizugawa Station 9:59
Back from Minamisanriku
Shizugawa Station 14:11 ⇒ Sendai Station 15:54
＊This bus is non-reserve and is first-come, first served.
＊Bus schedule may change without notice.
Please always check for the latest information via the Miyagi Kotsu website (Japanese).
Access from Surrounding Areas
from Matsushima
Click here for Matsushima Tourism Association English website.
- Get on the Sanriku Expressway northbound at “Matsushima-Kaigan” IC (or “Matsushima Osato” IC depending on where you are in Matsushima).
- Exit at “Shizugawa” IC.
＊Matsushima ⇔ Minamisanriku on Google Maps
- Get on JR Senseki Line train at “Matsushima-Kaigan Station”.
- Transfer at “Ishinomaki Station”, “Kogota Station”, and/or “Maeyachi Station”.
- Get off at “Yanaizu Station” and transfer to JR BRT bus.
- Get off at your destination in Minamisanriku.
＊BRT buses come about once an hour from 6am to past 9pm, with a total of 6 stops in town along Route 45.
＊BRT bus transfer is available at “Maeyachi Station” a few times a day.
Use a route finder for the latest train/BRT bus schedules.
from Kesennuma
Go southbound from Kesennuma on Route 45, which runs through Minamisanriku, and drives along the coast. Otherwise shorten the trip time by taking the Sanriku Expressway towards Sendai. Exit at Utatsu, Minamisanriku Kaigan or Shizugawa I.C. Exits.
＊Kesennuma ⇔ Minamisanriku on Google Maps
- Get on JR Kesennuma Line BRT bus from “Kesennuma Station”.
- Get off at “Shizugawa Station” (or another stop depending on your destination in Minamisanriku).
Use a route finder for the latest train/BRT bus schedules.
from Ishinomaki
- Get on the Sanriku Expressway northbound at “Ishinomaki Kanan” IC (or “Ishinomaki Kahoku” IC depending on where you are in Ishinomaki City).
- Exit at “Shizugawa” IC.
＊Ishinomaki ⇔ Minamisanriku on Google Maps
- Get on JR Senseki Line train at “Ishinomaki Station”.
- Transfer to JR Kesennuma Line train at “Kogota Station” and/or “Maeyachi Station”.
- Get off at “Yanaizu Station” and transfer to JR BRT bus.
- Get off at your destination in Minamisanriku.
＊BRT buses come about once an hour from 6am to past 9pm, with a total of 6 stops in town along Route 45.
＊BRT bus transfer is available at “Maeyachi Station” a few times a day.
Use a route finder for the latest train/BRT bus schedules.
from Rikuzentakata
Go southbound from Rikuzentakata on Route 45, which runs through Minamisanriku.
(Get on the Sanriku Expressway where it connects. As of Feb. 2019, the Expressway was completed to Utatsu I.C.)
＊Rikuzentakata ⇔ Minamisanriku on Google Maps
- Get on the JR Ofunato Line BRT bus from “Rikuzentakata Station”.
- Transfer to JR Kesennuma Line BRT bus from “Kesennuma Station”.
- Get off at “Shizugawa Station” (or another stop depending on your destination in Minamisanriku).
Use a route finder for the latest train/BRT bus schedules.