Day trip to Ishinomaki - how much time?

Approximately how long (not including transportation there and back) should I set aside for a day trip to Ishinomaki? I've done a check of transport links via Hyperdia and I could spend about 6-7 hours in the city, but judging by the information on this page . . .

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5040.html

. . . I'm guessing I won't require that much time to see the recommended sights. Tashiro Island's just a little too far out of the way, as is the San Juan Bautista (my Japanese is atrocious but it seems they've reopened; can someone more fluent confirm this? http://www.santjuan.or.jp/). So it appears I'm limited to the city centre, which would be the first three items on the list, but of course I'd be very grateful for recommendations on other things to see/do/eat.

Also, are there any suggestions on what to purchase as a memento of my time there? I won't pretend that such a brief visit will make much of a difference, but if there's anything worth making a contribution for - however small - to the local economy, and by extension to the broader reconstruction effort, then I'm game (tiniest drop in the bucket though it might be).

Cheerio.

Do you mean, as a side trip from Tokyo?? I personally think is not worth the effort as the time you'll spend travelling would not make it really worthy, specially if you can't couple it with Tashiro Island or Matsushima Bay ...

When we went to Ishinomaki in 2009 as a side trip from Sendai our sole aim was the Ishinomori Manga Museum. Together with a walk around town to photograph all those interesting cartoon sculptures on the streets we spent about 3 hrs in town. The museum was severely damaged and was closed for 2 years after March, 2011. So glad that it has reopened and wish we could go back again as a means of moral support.
http://www.man-bow.com/manga/
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5032.html

As for the San Juan Bautista Museum, it was closed for more than 2 and a half years but yes it has reopened as of November last year.
http://en.japantravel.com/view/sant-juan-bautista-keicho-mission

Anyway, rather than travelling all the way from Tokyo on the same day, I think It'd be way better to consider travelling to Sendai the evening before, spending the night in Sendai, then getting to Ishinomaki in the morning before going back to Tokyo in the evening; I think it'd be much more worthwhile that way and you'd also have time to couple your visit with Tashiro Island or Matsushima Bay or something else

There is a small store to the left of the exit of Ishinomaki Station that sells items about the tsunami. My most recent trip there in October, I bought a large sized photo book with before and after photos of the tsunami damage for 1000yen. They also have stickers, postcards, and many other things. It's located in the station square, with the Koban on the right side and this store on the left side and the road leading to the covered street across the station.

Ishinomaki's (http://zoomingjapan.com/travel/ishinomaki-tsunami-devastation/) sights alone are not so great, so I wouldn't do a daytrip, but try to include some other sights nearby: Sendai, Tashirojima (http://zoomingjapan.com/travel/tashirojima-cat-island/), Matsushima etc.

Like the previous commenter said there's a small shop next to the station where they sell book, postcards etc. I bought some stuff there as well.

Rent a cycle(bike) comfortable if fine
except San Juan Bautista(not close JR Ishinomaki stn).

If rent a car possible starts Sendai via Matushima better.

Not recommend Tashiro-jima(island) ferry operate not a lot.


BTW, when(which month)?

Re: a couple of responses raised, I fully agree that Ishinomaki would be best visited as part of a longer Sendai/Matsushima-area journey. This planned day trip is a late addition to an existing February itinerary, with accommodations sorted out - after fine-tuning my plans I realised I had an extra day to spare during the period when I'm based in Tokyo. I've long had an interest in seeing the Ishinomori Manga Museum and thought this would be a good opportunity; also I've already got a JR Pass so the trip won't cost me extra.

Incidentally, I'm a bit of a railfan: spending hours on trains and transferring from one line to another is actually great fun for me. I've done it on previous trips in Japan and quite enjoyed the experience. (^_^)

Still, seeing Tashiro Island mentioned more than once in this thread has piqued my interest in the place. I'll give some thought to working Ishinomaki into a future trip instead, with enough time allocated for the cats.

Either way, whether this pushes through now or later, many thanks indeed for the great suggestions (especially those that mentioned the shop near the station - will definitely look out for that).

Cheerio.

Feb?

Just gray sky(winter clouds),low temp(just no snow/iced mostly),wind cold and often very strong be bad sea condition(to Tashirojima by small ferry),No Sakura,no big events and more.

baddest timing no fun just looking disaster area.

Hi,
any idea where to get a timetable of the ferry that operates to the Cat Island? I'll be there in February, too. Thanks a lot

The current timetable is here:
http://www12.ocn.ne.jp/~ajishima/pg117.html

石巻 means Ishinomaki
大泊 means Odomari, a minor port on the cat island
仁斗田 means Nitoda, the main port on the cat island

A simple map of the island is found here:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5031.html