Sanriku Coast: Getting there and around
How to access the Sanriku Coast
The Sanriku Coast covers a large geographic area that extends from Aomori to Iwate and Miyagi prefectures. As such, there is no single access point for the entire region. Instead, most people will enter the coastal areas via one of three major cities, Sendai, Ichinoseki or Morioka, which lie along the Tohoku Shinkansen.
Please see the individual city pages for access details:
Above fees and schedules are subject to change. Be sure to check current yen exchange rates.
Getting around
The Sanriku Coast stretches over 250 kilometers from north to south. Before the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, railway lines followed almost the entire coastline, but some damaged sections were subsequently replaced by bus services. Today, two railway companies operate lines along the coast: JR East and Sanriku Railway:
- Japan Railways (JR East)
Instead of rebuilding its damaged railway lines south of Ofunato (Sakari Station), JR East replaced them with rapid buses (BRT), which run partly on dedicated roads converted from former railway tracks. The Japan Rail Pass, JR East Pass, Seishun 18 Kippu and some other regional JR passes are valid on these buses. JR East also operates railway lines connecting coastal cities with inland areas. - Sanriku Railway
This railway company operates the train line that follows most of Iwate's coast between Ofunato (Sakari Station) and Kuji, providing scenic and interesting scenery along many sections of its 163 kilometer long route. The JR East Pass is valid on the Sanriku Railway, but other JR passes are not.
Even before March 2011, public transportation along the Sanriku Coast had been relatively infrequent and slow, making a rental car a convenient and flexible way to explore the region. Rental car outlets can be found in Morioka, Ichinoseki and Sendai, as well as in many smaller cities in the region. Driving times have been considerably reduced by the completion of the Sanriku Expressway, which now follows the entire coast and is toll-free north of Matsushima.
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