Here's the access info and suggested itineraries I couldn't fit in the Huff Post blog
Access to the Earthquake Coast and Extras
I didn't have room to put in another suggested trip which is to Ishinomaki town near Sendai. This little port suffered the highest loss of life of all the coastal towns and is still feeling the effects – physical and emotional.
This is an easy overnight trip from Tokyo, and Sendai has a lot of history if you are a Samurai fan. Sendai was home to the Date (da-tei) clan and one-eyed super samurai, Date Masamune.
At Sendai Station, transfer to the JR Sen Seiki Line for Ishinomaki. It's around an hour by express. The one-way fare is 830 yen. The rocky coastline and small islands around Sendai -- Matsushima -- are considered one of the most beautiful seaside views in Japan. Though not all of it, of course, not now. Taxis are available at the station and probably the best way to get around Ishinomaki.
Be sure and buy something while you are in Ishinomaki, even if all you can manage is bento lunch and some cold drinks at the local convenience store.
Iwate
Although I have train and bus info, the best way to tour multiple areas along the Earthquake Coast is really by car. Even after two years, public transport – though available – is slow and sporadic in the smaller towns. Also, these are very rural areas and few people speak English, so keep that in mind whatever transportation you use.
For Miyako: The best way to reach Miyako from Morioka is by bus. Buses to Miyako, called the 106 Express, depart almost every half hour from Morioka Station's East Exit, bus stop No. 7, 'to Miyako'. The ride takes two hours and a half. Cost: 1,970 one way. Round trip is 3,640 (round-trip ticket valid for seven days). There are seventeen buses a day. Return from Miyako at Bus Stop No.6 in front of Miyako Station.
Take your Dramamine, the roads twists like a sidewinder.
Trains: JR Yamada Line to/from Morioka to Miyako. There are only four trains a day (11:04 is the first). Ticket: 1800 yen one way. The train is no faster than the bus as it crawls over the mountains.
For Kamaishi: From Tokyo, take the Shinkansen to Shin Hanamaki Station. Cross from Shinkansen tracks to the little JR Kamaishi Line platform. The first express leaves for Kamaishi at 9:25 a.m. It's a one hour twenty minute trip. If you only want to see Kamaishi, you can return to Shin Hanamaki and continue to Morioka or Aomori or go to Sendai to spend the night.
You pass through Tono on the way to/from Kamaishi which is famous for Kappa and folk tales. If you have no interest in flesh and cucumber eating Kappa water sprites or old folk tales, feel free to pass it by.
Coming from Morioka, you can take the Shinkansen to Shin Hanamaki – if you have a Japan Rail Pass that's not a problem – or pay 1490 yen one way. (Twelve minutes by the Yamabiko Shinkansen from Morioka to Shin Hanamaki). Or, Morioka to Hanamaki by local train -- Tohoku Honsen line -- then switch to the Kamaishi line at Hanamaki Station – cheap but it's sloooooow.
Kamaishi to Otsuchi/Miyako to Otsuchi:
Iwate Ken Kotsu buses leave around every hour from Kamaishi Station to Otsuchi. It takes about thrity minutes. The bus stop in Otsuchi is 'Akahama'. Come back here to catch the return bus to Kamaishi.
Since the train tracks connecting Kamaishi-Otsuchi-Miyako are gone, the only public transport is bus.
If you want to go onward, from Otsuchi to Miyako, go back to Akahama and take one of the Iwate Kenpoku buses (this is a different line then the one you took from Kamaishi BTW) from Akahama to Miyako.
If you don't want to go to Otsuchi, at this time, there is no direct bus that I could find from Miyako to Kamaishi. You have to change at least once.
From Miyako Station, take the Kempoku Kotsu bus to Yamada. This shuttle only runs five times a day. The trip takes about an hour and costs 750 yen one way. The bus terminates at 'Michi no Eki' bus stop in Yamada. Change here for the Iwate Ken Kotsu buses bound for Kamaishi.
I didn't have room to put in another suggested trip which is to Ishinomaki town near Sendai. This little port suffered the highest loss of life of all the coastal towns and is still feeling the effects – physical and emotional.
This is an easy overnight trip from Tokyo, and Sendai has a lot of history if you are a Samurai fan. Sendai was home to the Date (da-tei) clan and one-eyed super samurai, Date Masamune.
At Sendai Station, transfer to the JR Sen Seiki Line for Ishinomaki. It's around an hour by express. The one-way fare is 830 yen. The rocky coastline and small islands around Sendai -- Matsushima -- are considered one of the most beautiful seaside views in Japan. Though not all of it, of course, not now. Taxis are available at the station and probably the best way to get around Ishinomaki.
Be sure and buy something while you are in Ishinomaki, even if all you can manage is bento lunch and some cold drinks at the local convenience store.
Iwate
Although I have train and bus info, the best way to tour multiple areas along the Earthquake Coast is really by car. Even after two years, public transport – though available – is slow and sporadic in the smaller towns. Also, these are very rural areas and few people speak English, so keep that in mind whatever transportation you use.
For Miyako: The best way to reach Miyako from Morioka is by bus. Buses to Miyako, called the 106 Express, depart almost every half hour from Morioka Station's East Exit, bus stop No. 7, 'to Miyako'. The ride takes two hours and a half. Cost: 1,970 one way. Round trip is 3,640 (round-trip ticket valid for seven days). There are seventeen buses a day. Return from Miyako at Bus Stop No.6 in front of Miyako Station.
Take your Dramamine, the roads twists like a sidewinder.
Trains: JR Yamada Line to/from Morioka to Miyako. There are only four trains a day (11:04 is the first). Ticket: 1800 yen one way. The train is no faster than the bus as it crawls over the mountains.
For Kamaishi: From Tokyo, take the Shinkansen to Shin Hanamaki Station. Cross from Shinkansen tracks to the little JR Kamaishi Line platform. The first express leaves for Kamaishi at 9:25 a.m. It's a one hour twenty minute trip. If you only want to see Kamaishi, you can return to Shin Hanamaki and continue to Morioka or Aomori or go to Sendai to spend the night.
You pass through Tono on the way to/from Kamaishi which is famous for Kappa and folk tales. If you have no interest in flesh and cucumber eating Kappa water sprites or old folk tales, feel free to pass it by.
Coming from Morioka, you can take the Shinkansen to Shin Hanamaki – if you have a Japan Rail Pass that's not a problem – or pay 1490 yen one way. (Twelve minutes by the Yamabiko Shinkansen from Morioka to Shin Hanamaki). Or, Morioka to Hanamaki by local train -- Tohoku Honsen line -- then switch to the Kamaishi line at Hanamaki Station – cheap but it's sloooooow.
Kamaishi to Otsuchi/Miyako to Otsuchi:
Iwate Ken Kotsu buses leave around every hour from Kamaishi Station to Otsuchi. It takes about thrity minutes. The bus stop in Otsuchi is 'Akahama'. Come back here to catch the return bus to Kamaishi.
Since the train tracks connecting Kamaishi-Otsuchi-Miyako are gone, the only public transport is bus.
If you want to go onward, from Otsuchi to Miyako, go back to Akahama and take one of the Iwate Kenpoku buses (this is a different line then the one you took from Kamaishi BTW) from Akahama to Miyako.
If you don't want to go to Otsuchi, at this time, there is no direct bus that I could find from Miyako to Kamaishi. You have to change at least once.
From Miyako Station, take the Kempoku Kotsu bus to Yamada. This shuttle only runs five times a day. The trip takes about an hour and costs 750 yen one way. The bus terminates at 'Michi no Eki' bus stop in Yamada. Change here for the Iwate Ken Kotsu buses bound for Kamaishi.
