IwateLeisure

Michi-no-Eki Yamada - Oisuta - (道の駅やまだ - おいすた -)

Flow of the course

Previous stop: Start your trip in Yamada Town from the Sanriku Railway's terminus

About 15 min from the previous stop

About 90 min here

About 15 min to the next stop

Next stop: Swim until evening at a sandy beach with parking, changing rooms, and warm-water showers

About this spot

This roadside station, just a short walk from Rikuchu-Yamada Station (陸中山田駅), is popular for its direct-sales corner featuring fresh seafood and local products from Yamada Town (山田町). The building is also home to the Whale and Sea Science Museum (鯨と海の科学館), where families can learn together, in an enjoyable way, about Yamada Town's history of long ties to whaling and about the creatures of the Sanriku sea. Once you've finished shopping and touring the exhibits, have an early lunch at the eatery inside, choosing from seafood dishes and other menu items typical of Yamada Town. It's a great spot to properly recharge before swimming.

Tips

About a 5-minute walk from Rikuchu-Yamada Station. It can get crowded with tourists during summer vacation, so it's recommended to arrive early for lunch, between 11am and noon. The direct-sales corner sometimes carries seafood landed that very day.