Located on the southern coast of Iwate Prefecture in Northern Honshu, Japan, visitors can experience life by the ocean and mountains in this city along the rugged Sanriku Coast. With a sparse population of 33,000 people, it is a unique place full of energy. It is the birthplace of the modern iron industry with an abundance of seafood and was once home to one of Japan’s top rugby teams – Nippon Steel Kamaishi.
Years have passed since the city suffered damage from the tsunami caused by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Now the city is facing a time of change and taking steps to launch Sustainable Tourism.
Read further to find out more about sustainable tourism in Kamaishi!
Destination’s sustainability performance
Culture & Local Life
Kamaishi is perserving cultural assets targeting 14 designated traditional performing art groups in the prefecture and city. Preserving the vibrancy of almost 50 local performing art groups is an ongoing tradition to the point of Kamaishi being called “The place where all of Sanriku’s coast local performing art groups meet at once.”
This is not for the purpose of tourism, it is a place where with the changing seasons, festivals and events are performed by traditional groups as authentically as possible.
In Kamaishi City, local residents can visit all nature areas and culturally important places. The land managers have agreed to prioritise local rights to natural and cultural sites.
Getting there
Kamaishi is about five hours away from Tokyo by train. From Tokyo Station, the Tohoku Shinkansen line can take you to Shin-Hanamaki Station, where you need to transfer to the JR Kamaishi line to get to Kamaishi Station. Sanriku Railway’s Minami-Rias line provides easy access to Kamaishi, if you are travelling within Iwate Prefecture. There are also highway buses linking Kamaishi to Tokyo, Sendai, and Morioka.
Getting around
It is very common to explore Kamaishi on foot, as a lot of the city’s sights and attractions are located in the city centre. You may also take the bus or rent a car to reach sites that are farther from the downtown area, such as Mount Goyo and the Hashino Iron Mining and Smelting Site Ruins. There are enough choices of mode of transportation while you experience sustainable tourism in Kamaishi.
Nature & Wildlife
Kamaishi offers a lifestyle rich in natural scenery, surrounded by the rias-style coastline on one side and a dramatic mountain-scape on the other. Compared to most parts of northern Japan, Kamaishi enjoys a relatively warm and mild climate, with a culture and cuisine that reflect its distinct four seasons. It is also home to both Sanriku Fukko National Park and Goyozan Prefectural National Park, both are listed as Prefectural Nature Conservation Areas.
Sustainability
Kamaishi is a top destination for the usage of renewable energy and the reduction of solid waste. Regarding renewable energy, for example, a subsidy system has been set up to introduce new energy such as solar power generation apparatus and combustion equipment using biomass fuel to dwelling houses.
In regard to the commitment to minimize the environmental impacts of transport, bus routes are present in the destination, aiming to reduce driving and exhaust emissions. Furthermore, Kamaishi City was recognized as a sharing city by the Sharing Economy Association, Japan, and demonstration tests for car sharing and ride sharing are being held.
Good Practice Story
Kamaishi City established the “Memory Keeper of the Great Earthquake Disaster System” in 2019. A certification system for guiding personnel who pass on the events of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of 011 and the lessons learned from the disaster to future generations. However, the system faced a challenge due to the passage of 12 years since the disaster. As the memoeries of the disaster faded away, it became difficult to secure human resources to engage the system and maintain their motivation. A local DMO, Kamaishi DMC, has secured financial resources through “training programs” involving local businesses in tsunami disaster prevention and selling those training programs to large corporations.
Historic and cultural heritage
In addition to the beaches, take the opportunity to visit the Casa de Taipa Museum and the Church of São Miguel do Arcanjo.
PROMO CODE:
Historic and cultural heritage
In addition to the beaches, take the opportunity to visit the Casa de Taipa Museum and the Church of São Miguel do Arcanjo.
PROMO CODE:
Historic and cultural heritage
In addition to the beaches, take the opportunity to visit the Casa de Taipa Museum and the Church of São Miguel do Arcanjo.
PROMO CODE:
Historic and cultural heritage
In addition to the beaches, take the opportunity to visit the Casa de Taipa Museum and the Church of São Miguel do Arcanjo.
PROMO CODE:
Experience Kamaishi Festival
Held over three days every October, the Kamaishi Festival brings together the gods from the Mountain Shrine and coastal Ozaki Shrine. The god of Ozaki is carried in a portable shrine from the Ozaki Peninsula, and brought across Kamaishi Bay in a lively and colorful parade of Hikufune fishing boats covered in Tairyobata “big catch” flags. Arriving upon land, Kamaishi’s famous tora-mai, shishi-odori (tiger and deer dances) and other traditional performances parade through the city with portable shrines from each of the major districts. The tora-mai tiger dance troupes spend the evenings going around the various businesses in town to perform and bring good fortune for the year ahead.
Climb Mt. Goyo
Located in the Kitakami Highlands, Mt.Goyo is the tallest peak on the Sanriku Coast, at a height of 1,351 meters above sea level. It is blessed with panoramic views of the coastline, as well as the cities of Kamaishi to the north and Ofunato to the south. The mountain is renowned for its bountiful azaleas in spring and rhododendrons in summer, while also being home to a wide array of local wildlife. Those who climb at night are also able to spot the lights from squid fishing boats in the harbors far below.
Enjoy Kamaishi Ramen
Kamaishi Ramen is a regional variety exclusive to the city, characterized by its fine noodles and light sauce-based soup. Each eatery has its own unique take on the recipe that can be found in their choice of noodles, soup and topping. Kamaishi Ramen contains not only the people’s local pride and the history of the lively fishing port and steel town, but also the path of the progress made in its culinary culture.
Hike & Bike
Kamaishi City is situated within the Sanriku Fukko National Park. The city is spread across four bays and is surrounded by mountain terrain stretching all the way to the sea. Enjoy a piece of the spectacular Michinoku Coastal Trail, a hiking route that runs approximately 900 kilometers in the Northeast of Japan. The scenery is breathtaking and there are activities available at regular points, should you want a break from hiking.
Kamaishi was elected in 2020-2023 as a Top 100 Destination Sustainability Stories.
In 2022 Kamaishi received the Green Destinations – Silver Award.
In 2022 Kamaishi received the Green Destinations – Silver Award.
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