Anatoshi Iso

This strange rock formation with three large holes caused by sea water erosion is a representative view of the Goishi Coast. A sightseeing boat tour through this hole at its highest point is very popular while enjoying the scenery of the Rias Coast.

Goishi Beach

This unusual beach is filled with black pebbles polished and rounded by the waves. This beach, which gave its name to Goishi Beach, is popular among tourists and families who want to enjoy a casual dip in the sea without getting sand grains on their feet.

Goishi Coast

The observatory at Cape Goishi offers a spectacular view of the Rias coast. Whether it is the grandeur of the Pacific Ocean on a clear day or the beauty of the bay at sunset, the scenery is always captivating.

Fishing for sweetfish in the Sakari River

Anglers from inside and outside of the prefecture can fish for ayu (sweetfish) near the city center, and for iwana (char), yamame (landlocked salmon), sakura trout, and eels in the main streams and tributaries.

Hondo fox (Vulpes hondoensis)

A Hondo fox cub we met on a mountain road in Okirai. On a forest road in Ayarizaki, we also encountered an animal that appeared to be a marten. Deer are not uncommon if you drive for a while, and you may even see them in the town of Sheng in the early morning.

Natsumushi Mountain

One hour drive from the center of Ofunato. Although it is 717 meters above sea level, the surrounding area is wide open and offers a panoramic view overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The summit of the mountain, which is a pasture, is a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the time passing by.

Sanriku Railway crossing the Mori River

The Sanriku Rias Railway, made famous by the morning drama series, is a diesel-powered train that runs slowly along a single track along the coast. The 163-km journey from Sakari Station in the center of Ofunato to Kuji Station, which connects with the JR Hachinohe Line, takes about 4 hours and 30 minutes.

Koishihama Station

This is a power spot for romance that attracts tourists from all over Japan. An ema (votive tablet) made of scallop shells, a local specialty, is available at the station building, and visitors can get off the train during the two-plus minute stop to write their wishes and make a votive offering.

Sanriku Railway Event Train

The new train, built with support from the State of Kuwait after the Great East Japan Earthquake, features face-to-face seating with a large table in between. They are used for gourmet and event trains and are popular among tourists.

Sanma grilled fish set meal

Located on the premises of a fish market, this restaurant is frequented by fishermen and fishery-related people. Freshly caught sashimi and grilled fish set menus are available from 7:00 am. The photo shows sashimi of sea bream, bonito, and tuna with soup, ara soup, a small bowl of cooked food, and pickles for only 700 yen!

Sanma Ramen

The restaurant won first place in the "Iwate Ramen General Election" and is very popular, attracting customers from outside the prefecture. The soup, which is made from the famous Sanzu (Japanese herring) broth, has a surprisingly clear fatty flavor and an exquisite aroma.

Iwate Shorthorn Beef Burger

Only 0.5% of all Wagyu beef is distributed, making it the rarest lean beef hamburger in Japan. It is the only hamburger restaurant in the Tohoku region to be selected as one of the 100 best hamburger restaurants on a certain website, and the price is 980 yen! No wonder there are huge lines every day.

Fishing boats entering port

Ofunato fish market, which boasts one of the largest landings in the Tohoku region, is filled with boats arriving one after another from 5:00 in the morning after they have finished fishing. Many seagulls gather to take advantage of the fish released by the fishermen.

landing operations

The nets for landing are full of freshly caught and crispy fish. This boat lands about 1 ton of fish, mainly mackerel and sardines. The winch that unloads the fish from the boat is constantly at work.

sorting

Skilled fishermen and staff from fishery companies sort the fish by type and size. The work is quick and fluid to maintain freshness, and the sight of these men of the sea at work is overwhelming.

Red Drum (Nodoguro)

The red crucian carp (nodoguro), also known as the "red diamond" or "jewel of the sea," is a super-premium fish. On this day, the size of the fish was about 40 cm, and the fishermen were all cheerful. The fishermen were all cheerful.

case (e.g. receptacle

Flounder, hairtail, sea bass, flatfish, flying fish, sea bream, sea bream, mackerel, sea robin, horse mackerel, stingray, hairtail, Japanese common squid, yellowtail, bonito, and more.

Latest Auction Scene

The old auction scene of loud bids and competing prices has disappeared, and a system has been introduced whereby prices are automatically determined by entering the desired price and other information on a tablet terminal provided by the fish market. This system has contributed to increased efficiency by reducing bidding errors and significantly shortening the auction time.

Taiheiyo Cement

The symbol of Ofunato, which had supported the modernization of Tohoku, was devastated by the earthquake, but just three months later, the company began producing cement needed for reconstruction, using disaster waste as fuel for furnaces.

The company became a driving force for reconstruction from the perspective of both waste disposal and materials production.

BRT Mori Station

The "BRT" (Bus Rapid Transit), a bus rapid transit system that runs on dedicated roads, began operating in place of the JR Kesennuma and Ofunato lines that were severely damaged by the earthquake. BRT now supports the lives of Ofunato residents as a means of commuting to work and school.

Koshiki Namiita Beach

Beaches that could not be opened due to the coronavirus were opened for the first time in three years at two locations in the city this year. Some beaches still have debris on the seafloor, and maintenance is being carried out one by one, starting from areas where safety has been confirmed.

Children at the beach

The Okirai Namiita Beach, with its concrete breakwater, was built adjacent to a fishing port. Many children were jumping into the clear water over and over again, overflowing with joy at the first opening of the beach in three years.

BMX

The first BMX course in Tohoku was developed to energize both adults and children with BMX and skateboarding. Children are vigorously training, and their parents are watching and cheering them on.

Here are some scenes of Ofunato taken by Itabashi Ward employees who have been dispatched to the area for exchange events and reconstruction assistance in the 10 years since the conclusion of the partnership and cooperation agreement.

Morimachi Lantern Festival

The festival is held over two days on August 7 and 8 every year, with floats displayed on the first day and paraded through the town on the following day. During the festival, the streets of Morimachi, where cars pass by, become a pedestrian paradise, and citizens parade through the streets decorated with Tanabata decorations.

long ton

He is a self-proclaimed blood type O boy born from a certain camellia tree in Ofunato City. He loves Ofunato's seafood and saury ramen, and often falls down, but always gets back up. He often falls down, but always gets back up. His special skill is dancing!

Lantern Festival Tanabata Festival Float parade

The parade of floats begins on the second night of the festival. In addition to the three to four people who steer and pull the floats, each district's group has its own special roles such as drummers, flutists, and those who remove roadside decorations on the floats.

Otenou-sama dedication Sumo Tournament

This is a boys' dedication sumo tournament held at the Yoimiya Festival of Amateru Shrine, where children are divided into 9 districts within the town to compete for the championship. This tournament is held to pray for the growth and health of the children, and we were also empowered by the sight of everyone striving to be the best.

Commemorative photo of the Yoshino Town group

Members of the Yoshino-cho group will do their best for this major event, cooperating with local residents and university students, as well as alumni of previous dispatches, including employees of various local governments who were dispatched to Ofunato after the earthquake.

New Year's Ceremony for Firefighters

At the beginning of the year, local firefighting teams gather to wave their firefighting coats. The sight of the firefighters swinging the coats one after the other in the background of the "kiyatari" song, accompanied by the shouts of the men, is powerful, traditional, and powerful.

floating lantern festival held on the banks of the Mori River

Held every year on August 20, the day of the lunar Bon festival, this traditional event has continued for nearly 100 years. About 500 lanterns are lined up along the riverbank, and visitors offer prayers to the lanterns with the names of the deceased and the date of death written on them. The lights of the lanterns, which are used to mourn the spirits of ancestors, are reflected on the surface of the river, creating a fantastic and solemn ceremony of repose for the souls of the dead.

Hikoroichi Taiko

At the former Nikkoichi Junior High School, efforts were made to pass on the local performing arts of each district in the school area. Although the school was closed in March 2020 when it merged with the First Municipal Junior High School, the activities of children who take pride in their local performing arts and pass them on will continue.

This project is supported by a subsidy from the Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau.