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As new roadside stations are opening one after another all over Japan, three new roadside stations have opened in Miyagi Prefecture over the five years since 2020
All of these are located in coastal towns that were devastated by the tsunami caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake, but each has its own unique and ingenious features, bringing vitality and energy to the local area
Onagawa (Onagawa Town: National Route 398)
Hama Terrace seen from the parking lot
This roadside station is lined with many shops along the "Brick Road" that runs from JR Onagawa Station in Onagawa Town, which was severely damaged in the earthquake, to National Route 398, like a shrine road
On April 3, 2021, Seapalpia Onagawa , Hama Terrace Local Market , Onagawa Machinaka Community Center , and Onagawa Town Travel Information Center Platt were certified as roadside stations.
Brick Road with a view of the sea from Onagawa Station
Furthermore, in April 2025, the hot spring facilities " Ongawa Onsen Yupoppo " and " Onagawa Fisheries Experience Center Again Station " will be added within the Onagawa Station building, bringing the total to six facilities, but roadside stations of this type are said to be rare even across the country.
"Seapalpia Onagawa" and "Local Market Hama Terrace"
Brick Road has many open and bright spaces, with tables and chairs lined up here and there
On sunny days, you can enjoy shopping and dining while looking out at the sea, making it a place of relaxation not only for tourists but also for local residents
A variety of stores line the streets
The tenants include not only restaurants where you can enjoy the flavors of Onagawa, but also a variety of other shops, including local seafood, agricultural products, souvenirs, tile and woodworking workshops, a musical instrument store, and a second-hand clothing shop
Tuna bowl topped with plenty of wild tuna
There are also restaurants serving a wide variety of cuisines, from Japanese to Western, and each one serves delicious food that will make you want to visit again and again to try every bite
Hama Terrace store
Hama Terrace has a particularly wide selection of local specialties, including fresh fish and processed seafood from Onagawa, as well as food and drink menus, and there is a large eat-in space
Earthquake relic "Former Onagawa Police Station"
Remains that remind us of the fear of tsunamis
The two-story Onagawa Police Station, located across the national highway from the roadside station, was knocked over by the tsunami, along with its foundation, and has been preserved in that state
The surrounding walls are decorated with panels showing the scenery of Onagawa Town before the earthquake, the damage situation, and the process of reconstruction
Ogatsu, the village of inkstones (Ishinomaki City: Prefectural Route 238, Kamatani-Osu-Ogatsu Line)
Behind the building is a beautiful ocean
Ogatsu Town, which merged with Ishinomaki City, is a fishing port town facing the Pacific Ocean and is known as a famous producer of Ogatsu inkstones
Roadside station seen from the parking lot
This roadside station opened on April 11, 2021, along the coast in the center of the Ogatsu district, adjacent to the Ogatsu Inkstone Traditional Industry Hall, which preserves this tradition
Dining area and terrace with sea view
there are also Nagisa Haku Station, which introduces activity tours to enjoy the sea around Ogatsu
Ogatsu Seafood Direct Sales Store (inside the Tourism and Products Exchange Center)
In addition to locally caught seasonal seafood and vegetables, they also carry processed products made from them, as well as souvenirs that can only be purchased here
Fish such as parrotfish swimming energetically in the aquarium
There are many aquariums in the store, where you can see freshly caught fish swimming around enthusiastically
Two restaurants where you can enjoy seafood and mountain produce
Denhachi Sushi is in the foreground, and Kairi is in the background
There is Denhachi Sushi, where you can relax and dine in tatami seating, and Misato, where you can enjoy soba, udon, curry, ramen, and other dishes on the terrace with a view of the ocean .
Preserving local traditions for future generations at the Ogatsu Inkstone Traditional Industry Hall
Exhibition space at the Inkstone Traditional Industry Hall
The facility exhibits Ogatsu inkstones, including a replica of the inkstone favored by Date Masamune, as well as inkstones from all over Japan, allowing visitors to experience the history and culture of the inkstone industry
You can purchase inkstones and souvenirs made from the Ogatsu stone that makes them
Roadside Station Piano: Anyone Can Play It
There is an upright piano that was won by a music therapist living in Ogatsu Town in a gift contest at a music store, and local residents and visitors can play it freely
Roadside Station Suzurigami no Sato Ogatsu ＜Information＞
Facility name: Roadside Station Suzurigami Village Ogatsu
Address: 2-5 Shimo-Ogatsu, Ogatsu-cho, Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture
Phone number: 0225-25-6844
Business hours: 9:00-16:30 (Please check the official website for each store's business hours)
Closed: Ogatsu Inkstone Traditional Industry Hall is closed on Tuesdays
The Blue Impulse's tail fin with its aircraft number is painted on the wall
It opened on November 27, 2024 as the 19th roadside station in Miyagi Prefecture, near the Matsushima Air Base of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, known as the home base of the Air Self-Defense Force's acrobatic flying team, the Blue Impulse
From the observation deck on the second floor of the blue and white building, you can see the Blue Impulse flight training taking place above Matsushima Air Base
This is a popular roadside station visited by many aviation enthusiasts, with over 300,000 visitors in the three months since its opening on February 27, 2025
A children's play area in the plaza overlooking Matsushima Air Base
The road station is connected to a city road, but it is adjacent to Yamoto Parking, which is on the toll-free section of the Sanriku Expressway, and you can also enter from there
A popular merchandise area featuring Blue Impulse merchandise
The sweets are also Blue Impulse branded
The store is filled with Blue Impulse goods that are only available at roadside stations, and many Blue Impulse fans visit in search of goods that can only be purchased here
An unparalleled selection of Blue Impulse merchandise
In addition, fresh local Higashimatsushima produce and souvenirs are also sold here
A restaurant with a pastel blue theme
Matsushima Blue Soft and Gacha
ZUNDA ZUNDA STATION (Aoba Zunda Honpo), the popular items are the Zunda ShakeZunda Bun and the blue Higashimatsushima Blue Cider
Coffee Kobo Ishikawa is a coffee shop that has been loved by Ishinomaki residents for 30 years, and we recommend their Sendai Blue Coffee
Bright blue and white restaurant
The restaurant on the second floor, Highway Kitchen Hayate , has a refreshing pastel blue and white interior, and you can enjoy your meal while watching flight training from the observation terrace.
Tourist information area where you can experience what it's like to be a pilot
In the tourist area, where a tourist concierge is always on hand, there are six VR experience seats where you can experience what it's like to be a pilot aboard the Blue Impulse
VR boarding experience seat 3 minutes before "takeoff"
During the 5-minute "flight" wearing VR goggles and a dirt-proof sheet, you can experience VR spins, somersaults, and more (fee applies: 300 yen as a contribution)
The Lawson (in the back) seems to match the roadside station building in the foreground
The adjacent convenience store is a bright blue Lawson
The Lawson Higashimatsushima Roadside Station store on the premises matches the blue and white color scheme of the building perfectly. It is open 24 hours a day, which is convenient when the retail and food and beverage areas close
How to watch Blue Impulse flight training
The aisle is like a runway
The Blue Impulse training schedule (for one week) is published on the Matsushima Air Base's official website
We recommend checking this out before visiting, but it is expected to be quite crowded so it is best to visit early
The roadside stations introduced in this article are located in Onagawa, Ishinomaki, and Higashimatsushima in Miyagi Prefecture, all of which have sad memories of the Great East Japan Earthquake, and earthquake relics remain near the roadside station in Onagawa
Although 14 years have passed since then, recovery still requires time and cooperation
We hope that visiting these roadside stations will help support them
I'm a former Edokko man who loves Morioka and the six Tohoku prefectures, and I also love history, food, travel, sports, alcohol, and singing. I'll be introducing you to the interesting, delicious, and great things about Tohoku!
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