Ishinomaki Highlights Tour

Your Ishinomaki shore excursion begins with a warm welcome from your guide and driver at the port, followed by a visit to the Ishinomori Manga Museum. This unique museum honors the life and legacy of legendary manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori and is considered a birthplace of global manga culture. Spread across three floors, the museum showcases a wide array of his works, including comic books, statues, and illustrations from his many popular series.

Afterward, enjoy a walk along Manga Road, where the streets are filled with playful tributes to Ishinomori’s characters. Keep an eye out for charming details—character images can be found on benches, lampposts, and even manhole covers, turning the entire street into a delightful open-air manga gallery.

Next, visit Ishinomaki Newsee to learn about the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Here, you’ll see the hand-drawn newspaper created during the disaster and learn about the city's immediate response. Continue to the Ishinomaki Community & Info Center, which provides insight into the local way of life before and after the disaster. Maps, photos, and media presentations tell the powerful story of recovery and ongoing efforts to build a resilient future.

The journey continues to Jobon no Sato, a local roadside station on National Route 45. Developed to boost regional revitalization and promote exchange between urban and rural areas, it also offers a variety of lunch options available at your own expense.

After lunch, head to the Sant Juan Bautista Museum, home to a full-scale replica of a Spanish-style ship from the early Edo period. Step aboard the vessel to explore both its upper and lower decks and gain a deeper understanding of its history and significance through engaging exhibits and a motion simulator video.

End your day with a reflective visit to Hiyoriyama Park, offering panoramic views over the tsunami-impacted coastline. From here, you can see the scope of the destruction and the remarkable progress of rebuilding. At the park’s entrance, visit Kashimamiko Shrine, a sacred place where local merchants have long prayed for safe voyages. Your driver will then return you to the port for your departure, concluding a day rich in culture, history, and resilience.