Kesennuma in Miyagi: Oshima Island and the Karakuwa Coast, A Quiet Day Out

This guide covers the way to Kesennuma, Kameyama and the singing sand beaches, the Karakuwa Peninsula, getting around and the practical details for a day out.

Kugunari Beach on Oshima and Kukunaki Beach on the Karakuwa Peninsula were designated national natural monuments. The sound of Kugunari Beach comes from fine quartz grains in the sand, which sound as they rub together.

Getting to Kesennuma

This section starts in Sendai and ends with the ride into Kesennuma.

1. Board the Kesennuma-bound expressway bus at bay 40 of the Sendai expressway bus center in front of Sendai Station.
2. The expressway bus leaves Sendai Station front at 10:50, 14:10, 15:15, 17:20 and 19:25 every day.
3. The one-way adult fare from Sendai to the Kesennuma stops, as far as Minami-Kesennuma Station, is 2,200 yen.
4. Carry cash for the expressway bus, because the fare is paid in cash on board.

Pay the city loop bus fare when getting off. If arriving by car, use the Kesennuma city station-front parking lot, which charges by the hour after an initial free period.

Item	Detail
City loop bus fare, adult and child	250 yen and 130 yen
Kesennuma city station-front parking lot	Free for the first 30 minutes, then 100 yen per hour, and 1,000 yen for over 10 hours up to 24 hours

Kameyama and Kugunari Beach on Oshima

Kameyama is the summit of Kesennuma Oshima. For the summit, take the monorail that runs from the mid-slope up to the top.

For Kugunari Beach, begin the walk at the Kameyama mid-slope parking lot. The sand of Kugunari Beach has a higher quartz content than singing sand elsewhere in Japan. Treat the summit ride and the beach walk as separate parts of the island visit.

Item	Detail
Kameyama summit elevation	235 m above sea level
Monorail ride from the mid-slope to the summit, one way	About 6 to 7 minutes
Monorail capacity	20 passengers per car, with 2 cars
Walk from the Kameyama mid-slope parking lot to Kugunari Beach	About 40 minutes
Kugunari Beach length and width	About 200 m long and 20 m wide
Sand grain size at Kugunari Beach	Mainly 0.2 to 0.3 mm

The Karakuwa Peninsula

Kukunaki Beach is a beach on the Karakuwa Peninsula, so plan it for the peninsula part of the outing rather than for the island. The sand of Kukunaki Beach contains many quartz grains.

Plan the Karakuwa Peninsula Visitor Center for a day other than Tuesday, when it is closed. Choose the visitor center or Hanzo Rest House for an electric bicycle, and look elsewhere for a regular bicycle.

Item	Detail
Kukunaki Beach length and width	About 230 m long and 10 to 15 m wide
Sand grain size at Kukunaki Beach	Around 0.2 to 0.4 mm

Getting Around, the Cruise and Camping

Return a rental bicycle to the place where it was rented, because dropping it off elsewhere adds a charge. Bicycle rental starts in the morning and ends in the late afternoon, so plan rides inside that window.

Plan to check in at Misaki Campground in the afternoon. The shower room at Misaki Campground runs from late afternoon into the evening, so leave the shower until the end of the day. Misaki Campground charges a lower rate for a day visit than for a night of camping, so choose the day rate unless camping there.

Visitors who want a ready-made plan for the area can browse tours in Kesennuma.

Hours and Fees, and Planning the Day

Reach the Karakuwa Peninsula Visitor Center before it closes in the late afternoon. Take the sightseeing cruise from Kesennuma in the morning, since the earliest sailing leaves then.

Item	Time or day
Karakuwa Peninsula Visitor Center business hours	9:00 to 16:30
Karakuwa Peninsula Visitor Center closing day	Every Tuesday, or the next day when Tuesday is a national holiday
Bicycle rental	9:00 to 17:00
Misaki Campground day use	9:00 to 17:00
Misaki Campground check-in	13:00 to 17:30
Misaki Campground shower room	16:00 to 20:00
Sightseeing cruise from Kesennuma, earliest departure	10:00
Sightseeing cruise from Kesennuma, length	About 50 minutes

Item	Price
Monorail, general passengers (junior high school students and older)	1,200 yen
Monorail, elementary school students	600 yen
Sightseeing cruise from Kesennuma, elementary school child	900 yen
Bicycle rental, electric and regular	Electric 1,500 yen per day and 800 yen for 2 hours; regular 1,000 yen per day and 500 yen for 2 hours
Bicycle rental, returned at a different location	Additional 500 yen
Bicycle rental at the Karakuwa Peninsula Visitor Center and Hanzo Rest House	Electric bicycles, 1,500 yen per day and 500 yen for 2 hours; regular bicycles are not available
Misaki Campground, individual general rate	450 yen per person per night and 300 yen for a day visit