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Kesennuma
ℹ️Practical info — Kesennuma
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Visit K-Port, a waterfront cafe founded by famous actor Ken Watanabe.
- Take the ferry to Oshima Island for beautiful views of the Kesennuma inner bay.
- Try shark heart sashimi (Mouka no Hoshi) for a truly unique local culinary experience.
- The Tsunami Memorial Museum is a moving site dedicated to the city's recovery and resilience.
- At night, the view of the illuminated bay from Anba-san Park is particularly beautiful.
🍽 Food
A specialty of the 'Shark Capital'; look for it in the waterfront restaurants.
Shark heart sashimi, a rare delicacy served with sesame oil and salt.
Known locally as Mekajiki Curry, this dish features tender, flavorful local swordfish.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
A large seafood market and souvenir hub that also houses the unique Shark Museum.
A popular local craft brewery located in the modern Naiwan waterfront district.
A quiet hilltop park with dragon sculptures and a panoramic view of the bay.
Accessible by shuttle or hike, it provides a peaceful 360-degree view of the coastline.
Water temperature…
Kesennuma is located in the northeastern part of Miyagi Prefecture and is one of Japan's most important fishing ports. The city is world-renowned for its shark fin industry and premium skipjack tuna. The landscape is defined by the Sanriku Coast's rias-style inlets and offshore islands like Oshima. Here, you can find Odanohama Beach, which is regularly voted among Japan's top 100 beaches for its crystal-clear water and fine white sand. Another unique highlight is Kugunarihama (十八鳴浜) on Oshima Island, a 'singing sand' beach that produces a squeaking sound when walked upon, a rare acoustic natural wonder. Tanahama Beach also has handy conditions for those seeking relaxation by the sea. Following the 2011 tsunami, the city has made an incredible recovery, now featuring modern fish markets and museums that showcase the deep bond between the locals and the ocean. Sampling fresh sashimi at the local harbor markets is an essential experience for any traveler.
- Location: Japan
- Top sights: Song Shun Cheng Ji · Deng Tai · Ping Guan Ji
- Nearby: Rikuzen-Takata (14 km)
- Population: ~61.147 (2024)
Geography
Facts
- Sanriku Coast
- Shark fin capital
- Odanohama Top 100 beach
- Singing sand Kugunarihama
- Miyagi Prefecture
- Fresh seafood markets
- Rias coastline
- Oshima Island
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
Sights in the town Kesennuma (12)
shiya-kumiyu-ziamu🏛 museum
An educational museum focused on sharks and the local maritime industry.
Frequently asked questions
What is Kesennuma famous for?
Can you visit the Tsunami Memorial Museum?
When is the best time to visit?
What fish should I eat?
How to get here from Sendai?
Kesennuma: where is it located?
Kesennuma: what is there to see?
Kesennuma: why is it worth visiting?
