Rikuzentakata. Not Your Average Japan

Access

By Train

Tokyo/Ueno Stations -- Tohoku Shinkansen (bullet train) to Ichinoseki: approximately two hours. Take the JR Ofunato line from Ichinoseki to Rikuzentakata: approximately 1.5 hours (30 minutes of which is the BRT bus).

By Car

Tohokudo (toll road) from Urawa IC (interchange) -- to Sendai Miyagi IC: approximately four hours. Sendai Miyagi IC to Ichinoseki IC: approximately one hour and ten minutes.

From nearby interchanges (by car)

■Morioka IC→Rikuzentakata
approximately 2.5 hours (routes 46/396/283/107/340)

■Miyamori IC→Rikuzentakata
approximately 50 minutes (routes 283/107/340)

■Hiraizumi Maesawa IC→Rikuzentakata
approximately one hour and 20 minutes (routes 4/19/343/340)

■Ichinoseki→Rikuzentakata
approximately one hour and 15 minutes (routes 19/343/340)

By Bus

■Ikebukuro Station West Exit→Rikuzentakata
approximately 7 hours and 40 minutes

■Sendai Station→Rikuzentakata
approximately 3.5 hours

■Morioka Station→Rikuzentakata
approximately 3 hours

■Ichinoseki Station→Rikuzentakata
approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes

 

For more detailed explanations about the various bus systems available in Rikuzentakata, as well as English language timetables please refer to the following links.
■Iwate Prefecture bus system, including:
1 Highway bus (for traveling to and from Sendai)
2 Local bus (for traveling locally between Ichinoseki, Rikuzentakata, and Ofunato OR to Morioka via Ofunato).

The Tokyo night bus system (for traveling directly between Rikuzentakata and Tokyo)
The JR BRT bus system (for connecting to the JR train lines at Kesennuma Station or Sakari Station in Ofunato)