Miyagi
Miyagi prefecture (宮城県 Miyagi-ken) is in the northeastern Tohoku region of the main Japanese island Honshu.
On 11th March 2011 the prefecture was hit by an earthquake with a 8.9 magnitude followed by a tsunami and several aftershocks. The Shinkansen connecting the capital, Sendai, with Tokyo resumed service on 25 April 2011. While areas along the coast are still heavily damaged, the rest of the prefecture is operating as usual.
Understand
Miyagi prefecture has nothing to do with Mr. Miyagi from The Karate Kid.
Cities
- Sendai — The prefectural capital
- Ishinomaki — An industrial and fishery port town, home to the Mangattan Manga Museum.
There is also a very beautiful sawtooth coast line.
Other destinations
- Akiu — a hot spring town located in Sendai City.
- Kesennuma — Northern city in the prefecture where fishery market is famous. Delicious abalone, sea urchin, shark fin and various kind of fish are available.
- Kinkasan — Gold mining mountain just off the coast.
- Matsushima — A bay of craggy pine islands, traditionally considered one of Japan's Top 3 views.
- Naruko — hot spring resort deep in the mountains.
- Sakunami — small hot spring town located near Sendai.
- Tashiro-island — This island is known as "cats island." All the residence on the island are taking care of cats. This island is hit by Tsunami on March 11th, 2011. But now almost everything is same as before 311 and all the cats are there. If you love cats, this is a good place to visit. You can take a ferry, Amichi-line (網地ライン）, from Ishinomaki-city and get off at Nitoda (二斗田).
Talk
Get in
Sendai is the largest city in Tohoku and hence its main transportation hub.
By plane
Sendai's airport serves domestic and some international flights.
By train
The Tohoku Shinkansen connects Tokyo to Sendai and points north.
By bus
Get around
See
Do
Eat
- Gyu-tan — grilled cow tongues with salt or miso are traditionally the famous dish in Sendai. On the second floor of Sendai Station, you can find several restaurants dedicated to this local favorite.
- Sushi — There are many sushi restaurants in Sendai and coastal locations.
Drink
There are excellent sake brands, namely Urakasumi and Ichinokura, but there are also plenty of other sake brands.