Rikuzentakata was one of the areas severely affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011.
Today, reconstruction has progressed, and the town presents a notably well-ordered and clean landscape.
At the same time, buildings and memorial facilities that convey what happened at the time still remain.
This article presents the present-day appearance of Rikuzentakata, based on observations made during a visit to the town.
Rikuzentakata is located in Iwate Prefecture.
Below is a common route from Morioka Station, the largest railway hub in the prefecture.
From Morioka Station, take the JR Tohoku Line to Ichinoseki Station.
From Ichinoseki Station, transfer to the JR Ofunato Line and travel to Kesennuma Station.
At Kesennuma Station, transfer to the Ofunato Line BRT and continue to Rikuzentakata Station.
The transfer to the BRT at Kesennuma Station is straightforward, as the platforms are directly connected.
BRT stands for Bus Rapid Transit, a bus system that operates on dedicated sections of the former railway line.
The total travel time from Morioka Station is approximately 4 hours, and the fare is around 3,150 yen.
Rikuzentakata is a coastal town located in the southeastern part of Iwate Prefecture.
Fourteen years have passed since the disaster, and today the town as a whole presents a carefully maintained and orderly landscape.
If time allows, it may be worth passing through a rural area of Japan before visiting Rikuzentakata.
In many rural regions, roads are well maintained, but signs, guardrails, and bridges often show traces of time and long-term use.
In contrast, across a wide area of Rikuzentakata, roads, buildings, and signage appear notably new and uniform.
Experiencing this contrast beforehand can make it easier to grasp, through the landscape itself, how extensively the infrastructure was replaced.
It may also prompt reflection on the scale of the threat at the time, and on how resilient the town has become today.
Address: 180 Dote-kage, Kesen-cho, Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture View on Googlemaps
Admission: Free
Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (open daily)
The park is adjacent to Roadside Station Takata Matsubara, where visitors can purchase local products and have meals.
Within the park, many elements have been preserved to convey what existed here at the time and to pass those memories on to future generations.
In addition to individual visitors, the park is also visited by students on educational trips, making it a place frequented by a wide range of people.
Within the park are several key sites that help convey what happened in 2011, including the tsunami museum, the Miracle Pine, and TAPIC45.
Admission: Free
Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Closed: December 29 – January 3
Inside the museum, visitors can learn about the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011 through video footage and exhibits.
The displays follow the events in chronological order, making them accessible to those unfamiliar with the disaster, including overseas visitors.
Short videos, typically around five to ten minutes in length, are available to watch free of charge.
For those with time, viewing them can help provide a clearer understanding of the situation at the time.
Admission: Free
Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Closed: December 29 – January 3
Before the disaster, this area was covered by a pine forest said to have consisted of around 70,000 trees.
The Miracle Pine is the only tree that remained standing after the tsunami.
The tree was approximately 173 years old and stood 27.5 meters tall.
Although it was confirmed to have died in May 2012, the year following the disaster, it has since been carefully preserved.
Today, it stands in the same location as a monument, serving as a symbol to be passed on to future generations.
Admission: Free
Hours: Open 24 hours (year-round)
TAPIC45 was formerly part of Roadside Station Takata Matsubara.
As it also functioned as a tsunami evacuation facility, the interior suffered extensive damage; however, the building itself was not washed away.
At the time of the disaster, the tsunami reached a height of 14.5 meters.
Panels on site indicate how high the water rose.
Three people escaped the flooding by climbing to the upper part of the structure, which remained above the water level.
Please note that the interior of TAPIC45 is not open to the public.
Address: Namisugi, Takata-cho, Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture
View on Google Maps
Rikuzentakata Station is reached by taking the BRT from Kesennuma Station.
The station is located on elevated ground within the town.
From the higher ground around the station, it is possible to look out over the surrounding area.
What this view conveys may differ from person to person.
Nearby stands the former office building of Yonezawa Shokai, which has been preserved.
During the disaster, a tsunami approximately 15 meters high struck this building.
The company’s president escaped to the top floor, where he spent the night before being rescued the following day.
The building is maintained at personal expense as a disaster relic, with the aim of conveying the conditions at the time.
Across from Rikuzentakata Station is a shopping complex called Abasse Takata.
Restaurants are clustered compactly around this area.
Dining options include sushi, Japanese cuisine, Chinese food, and cafés.
Mapo ramen and gyoza were tried.
*Information in this article is current as of October 12, 2025.*
Kanazawa Castle…
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