【Communication from the locals】Miyako's nature and festivals to enjoy Sanriku sightseeing in Iwate Prefecture|On-season all year round (Miyako City, Iwate Prefecture)

This is the ninth installment of the series, "Good Travel ⇌ Communication from the Locals". This time, we received a contribution from Mr. Hamada of the Miyako Tourism and Cultural Exchange Association in Iwate Prefecture. This site often featured news about Miyako and Sanriku Railway. From a sense of support... As you learn about the Sanriku Coast and the Sanriku Coastal Road, gourmet development, and the Santetsu event train, it is a place you want to visit privately. But far away? Since last year, a highway bus service has started operating from Sendai, going north on the Sanriku Coastal Road and going directly to Miyako. Miyako is a long way from Tokyo, but it's an easy destination. Anything year-round season? Please consider a trip to Miyako (editorial department). (Photo: Miyako Port)

We will convey the charm of Miyako City with the concept of seeing, experiencing, and eating Miyako City. In addition, 12 years have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake, and the damaged Miyako City Hall has become a new government building and is on the road to reconstruction. In December 2021, access to Miyako City has been dramatically improved, with the opening of the entire Sanriku Coastal Road and the shortening of National Route 106 (Miyako ~ Morioka). Let's take a look at some of the scenic spots, events, and new specialties in Miyako City, Iwate Prefecture.

About Miyako City, the easternmost point of Honshu

Miyako City is located in Iwate Prefecture, the largest prefecture in Japan, almost in the center of the coastal area, and in the center of the Sanriku Coast, where the Rias Coast continues. It may come as a surprise, but it is located at the easternmost tip of Honshu, which slopes northeast. Listed as one of the world's three largest fishing grounds, it is surrounded by abundant fishery resources off the coast of Sanriku and natural environments such as Sanriku Fuko National Park and Hayaikemine Quasi-National Park, and about 92% of the area is forested.

Activities to experience the scenic nature of Miyako

What I would like you to see in Miyako is the scenic spot "Jodogahama" in Sanriku Geopark. The tranquil sea surface unique to the Sanriku Rias Coast, where the high transparency, evergreen red pines, and white rhyolite forests are in harmony with each other, and the landscape is like a beautiful monolith woven by nature. I was born and raised in Miyako, but no matter how many times I see it, I am overwhelmed by the scenery and free from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Let's walk along the promenade while looking at the sea of Miyako's regional color "Eternal Green".

Blue Cave "Hachinohe Hole" in Miyako City

If you visit Jodogahama, you should definitely experience the sightseeing of the "Blue Cave", an activity that you can go on a small shore boat or a sappa boat.

A tour where you can explore the "Hachinohe Hole" that is said to have continued to Hachinohe in the past while touring the superb scenery around Jodogahama. The color of the water changes depending on various conditions such as the season, time of day, transparency of the water, and reflection of light, so you can see a different expression every day, and it looks like a work of art of nature.

Experience the Sanriku Geopark on the new sightseeing boat "Miyako Umineko Maru"

In July 2022, the "Miyako Umineko Maru" began operation as a new sightseeing boat in Miyako City. Starting with the beautiful scenery of Jodogahama Beach, you will tour the Sanriku Geopark Geosite with a guide. The operating routes are Dezaki → Jodogahama (about 7 minutes direct) and Jodogahama →Dezaki (about 30 minutes around the bay).

The panoramic rocks scattered across the Pacific Ocean seen from the wide observation deck are overwhelming and impressive. In addition, you can see wild sea cats up close, which are difficult to see up close, and you can also experience feeding. Please enjoy sightseeing in Jodogahama with Umineko.

Is it the hardest on the north, south, east, and west edges of Honshu? "Kogasai Lighthouse"

One of the places in Miyako that I would like you to try is the easternmost point of Honshu, the Todogasaki Lighthouse. The reason why it is a challenge is that it is a 3.8 km walk from the Aneyoshi campsite near the lighthouse, which is a 3.8 km walk from the nature trail.
The Pacific Ocean seen from the Kogasai Lighthouse is an endless blue sea with nothing to obstruct it. The horizon seems far away, and you can feel that the earth is round. Its majesty impresses you whenever you visit! At dawn, you can see the beautiful sunrise rising from the eastern sea.
For those who reach the lighthouse, the Miyako Tourism and Cultural Exchange Association and other organizations issue a "Certificate of Visit to the Easternmost Point of Honshu". According to those who have experienced it, it is the toughest place in the "eastern, western, southern, and northern edges of Honshu". If you come to Miyako, why don't you give it a try?

Festivals that liven up summer and autumn in Miyako

Next, I would like to introduce the Miyako festival. In Miyako, the "Miyako Summer Festival" is held in late July. The wharf of the venue is lined with food stalls with local eateries. Local performing arts and taiko performances are performed on the stage, and large fishing flags are displayed in the shopping street. At night, a marine fireworks display is held to color the night sky of Miyako.

And the "Miyako Autumn Festival" held in mid-September. Food stalls line the streets of downtown Miyako, and a parade of floats and hand-danced parades involving about 3,000 citizens parade through the streets. You will be overwhelmed by the power of the taiko drum performance while riding the boat float, and you will be captivated by the graceful hand dance.

Both summer and autumn festivals take place over two days and show different looks. Please join us for both days.

From autumn to winter, there is an on-parade of gourmet events

From here, you will be invited to an event tour. Miyako is famous for its beaches and has a strong image of summer, but many events are held from autumn to winter. Here are some of the most popular events.

Autumn Taste Festival

First of all, at the "Autumn Taste Festival" held in October, you can enjoy the taste of autumn in Miyako. You can enjoy barbecue of seafood such as saury, scallops, and squid while looking at the stalls of Miyako gourmet restaurants and the sea.

Miyako Salmon Festival

In December, the "Miyako Salmon Festival" is held, where you can enjoy tasting and instant sales of Miyako's winter taste "Aramaki Salmon", grabbing salmon, tasting gourmet stalls where you can enjoy salmon and salmon roe, and purchasing special products. Please enjoy Miyako's "Shinmaki Salmon".

Miyako Cod Festival

The event continues! January is the "Miyako Cod Festival". One of the largest landings in Japan is Miyako's cod. On the day of the event, there are many dishes using fresh Miyako cod, such as cod soup and fried cod at a gourmet stall and cod sales. In addition, restaurants in the city hold a "Cod Fair" where you can enjoy cod dishes with ingenuity at each store. Some shops offer cod sashimi unique to the production area. And there is also a cod fishing tournament that is irresistible for fishing lovers, and you can enjoy Miyako's cod as much as you can in January.

Miyako Hair Crab Festival

The last winter event in Miyako is the "Miyako Hair Crab Festival" held in March. It is an event full of hairy crabs, such as an immediate sale of hairy crabs, hairy crab soup, sales of specialty products, and fishing for hairy crabs. As the culmination of winter events, a large collection of winter flavors in Miyako will be gathered. In addition, February ~ March is named "Hair Crab Month", and accommodation facilities offer special accommodation plans where you can enjoy hair crabs, retail stores strengthen sales of hair crabs, and restaurants offer sushi and dishes using hair crabs.

In addition to the four events we have introduced, there are other events as well. Please pay attention to Miyako in winter.

What is Miyako's new specialty "Bottle Don"?

Finally, we will introduce Miyako's new specialty "Bottle Don", which debuted in 2018!
A shop in Miyako stores and sells raw sea urchins in milk bottles, and taking a hint from that, the Miyako Tourism and Cultural Exchange Association and a local business have teamed up to develop it.

It is an experience-based local bowl packed with the charm of "vividness of appearance", "enjoyment of serving", and "delicious eating". The jar contains seafood caught in Miyako such as sea urchin, salmon roe, squid, and Miyako trout salmon.
"Bottle Don" can be eaten at 10 restaurants in the city throughout the year, and the contents and taste are different at each restaurant. Why don't you come to Miyako and enjoy eating bottled dong?

What do you think? We introduced Miyako's scenic spots, events, and new specialties. Please visit Miyako City, which you can enjoy all year round. If you want to know tourist information, please contact the Miyako Tourism and Cultural Exchange Association at any time.