[JPN] Post 2011 Tsunami query

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panther998
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[JPN] Post 2011 Tsunami query

Post by panther998 »

I am planning to make my 5th visit to Japan in late March 2014 [flights already booked], and am particularly keen to re-visit certain towns / areas around Sendai that I saw during my first trip in mid 2000. On that visit I travelled between Sendai and Ishinomaki on JR's Sengoku Line, with a brief stop at a tiny station / halt called Rikuzen Otsuka, where I photographed a couple of trains and some buses / coaches on the nearby main road.

By all indications that I can find, JR no longer runs any trains on the Sengoku Line, presumably due to the 'adverse economics' of repairing the devastation caused in March 2011 to this very scenic line, 'merely' for the benefit of too few current / prospective customers / passengers. I will be able to reach Ishinomaki on JR trains via a different route with a change of trains enroute. However, I would very much like to TRY to revisit the Rikuzen Otsuka area, in order to gauge for myself the impact that the 2011 tsunami has had on this picturesque coastal hamlet that is largely unknown to 'Westerners', and many Japanese.

At this stage, given my limited time in the Sendai area, it looks like I might have to somehow 'find' a taxi, or 'hire car with English speaking driver' to get me out to the Rikuzen Otsuka district. BUT, that is likely to be well beyond my available budget.
Hence my query. Are any ATDB members who have better than average knowledge of Japan's transport 'availability' in the Miyagi region able to point me to a cheaper, but reasonably convenient, alternative ?
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Re: [JPN] Post 2011 Tsunami query

Post by boronia »

Most prefectures have local tourist information centres, perhaps you could track down one in Sendai and send them a request. JNTO might also be able to help, although they will probably make the same suggestion
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Re: [JPN] Post 2011 Tsunami query

Post by Bedford-29 »

Your best bet is to try find out about the local bus and coach service that run between Ishinomaki and Sendai as getting a cab to the Rikuzen Otsuka area would cost you pretty yen.But there is three bus companies that run Ishinomaki to Sendai there is Miyakou bus co,Miyagi Transportation co and Keio Dentetsu bus one of these might beable to help you.Plus a bus or coach trip would cheaper.This picture might help its in the area that you are going and reading Japanese some might beable to translate.Picture from wikipedia
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RIKUZEN-OTSUKA STATION BUS STOP
RIKUZEN-OTSUKA STATION BUS STOP
Rikuzen-Otsuka station bus stop.jpg (42.2 KiB) Viewed 3965 times
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Re: [JPN] Post 2011 Tsunami query

Post by dude »

Onagawa (town & station) is gone (literally flattened) though the Ishinomaki Line has re-opened to the previous penultimate station of Urashuku. JR East plan to rebuild the line into Onagawa again in time for the 2015 'Daiya Kaisei'. Parts of the San-Riku have re opened but the Joban Line is closed in the central section where the exclusion zone is. Don't know about Kesennuma Line, would assume parts of it aren't running.

You can always check timetables at Hyperdia, or if you can read some Japanese, ekikara.jp is another good site.
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Re: [JPN] Post 2011 Tsunami query

Post by Bedford-29 »

Looking on Wikipedia and Hyperdia. BRT bus has replaced the Kesennuma line between Kesennuma and Yanaizu.And It this is by the look of things it a permanent fix f‎or that section of line and a few other affected rail lines.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kommissar_ ... 302276591/
http://youtu.be/ggqdmlwhbMk
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Re: [JPN] Post 2011 Tsunami query

Post by hkbusfan »

This info may be useful ...

The following is a summary of the rail lines along the Pacific coast
north of Tokyo. The lines are listed north to south. Given are
end points, completion dates and current (post March 2011 tsunami)
status. For lines which have both coastal and inland sections, only
the coastal section is discussed: line length is appropriately
adjusted.


1. JR Hachinohe Line
Hachinohe - Kuji 64.9km
Completed 1930.
(Hachinohe - Hon-Hachinohe opened 1894.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hachinohe_Line
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%85%AB% ... 8%E7%B7%9A
Fully operational from March 7 2012.


2. Sanriku Railway North Section
Kuji - Miyako 71.0km
Completed 1984.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanriku_Railway
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%89% ... 9%E7%B7%9A
To reopen April 6 2014.


3. JR Yamada Line coastal section
Miyako - Kamaishi 55.4km
Completed 1939.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamada_Line
Currently closed. Recovery date not set.


4. Sanriku Railway South Section
Kamaishi - Sakari 36.6km
Completed 1984.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanriku_Railway
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%89% ... 9%E7%B7%9A
To reopen April 5 2014.


5. JR Ofunato Line coastal section
Sakari - Kesennuma 43.7km
Completed 1935.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%8Cfunato_Line
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%A7% ... 1%E7%B7%9A
Currently operating as Bus Rapid Transit route; no rail service.
Rikuzen-Takata Station is on this line.


6. JR Kesennuma Line
Kesennuma - Maeyachi (near Ishinomaki) 72.8km
Completed 1977.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kesennuma_Line
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%B0%97% ... C%E7%B7%9A
Currently operating as Bus Rapid Transit route; no rail service.
Shizugawa Station (in Minami-Sanriku Town) is on this line.


7. JR Senseki Line
Ishinomaki - Aoba-dori 50.2km
Completed 1928.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senseki_Line
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BB%99% ... 3%E7%B7%9A
Currently closed between Takagimachi - Rikuzen-Ono: 11.7km


8. JR Joban Line north of Mito
Completed 1898.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C5%8Dban_Line
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%B8%B8% ... 0%E7%B7%9A
Iwanuma - Mito 228.8

Two sections still closed:
Harayoshida - Souma 22.6km
Haranomachi - Hirono 54.5km (due to Fukushima #1 nuclear power plant meltdown)


9. Kashima Rinkai Railway Oarai Kashima Line
Mito - Kashima Soccer Stadium 53.0km
Completed 1985.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashima_Ri ... shima_Line
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%B9%BF% ... 6%E7%B7%9A
Open from July 12 2011.



North of Sendai the Tohoku Line runs through the basin created by
Kitakami River. This river originates in Iwate-ken and flows to the
Pacific at Ishinomaki (Miyagi-ken). It is the 3rd longest in Japan.
The Tohoku Line was competed in 1891.

The Ouu Line (Fukushima - Yamagata - Akita - Aomori) opened as the
second north-south axis in the Tohoku area in 1905.

South of Sendai the Joban Line was an important bypass of the Tohoku
Line until March 11 2011. In fact it had been the primary route for
trains from Tokyo (Ueno) to points north of Sendai until electrification
of the Tohoku Line (1968). This is because the Joban Line is a "water
level" route. In the days of steam this was an advantage; at least one
steep gradient on the Tohoku Line required helpers. Even after
electrification overnight trains took this route in favor of the
Tohoku Line which was congested with commuter trains.

Compared to the above routes, rail service along the Pacific coast
took long to materialize. Local politicians campaigned for a through
rail line, claiming that it would greatly help transportation of relief
supplies in the aftermath of a major tsunami. The real benefit sought,
however, seems to be transportation of marine produce.

By the time the Sanriku Railway opened completing the Pacific coast
line, JNR's freight operations, including seafood express runs, were
in full retreat. No freight trains ever ran on the Sanriku Railway
lines.

There were no limited express trains on the Pacific coast lines either.
However, through seasonal rapid trains called "Rias Sea Liner" ran
between Sendai and Hachinohe between 1997-2010. Through service
of some sort is likely to be reinstalled when the Yamada Line reopens,
perhaps between Sakari and Hachinohe.
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