On July 19, Kameyama Terrace 360 opened at the summit of Mount Kameyama on Kesennuma Oshima, serving as a new symbol of recovery and tourism for the region. The facility provides visitors with a 360-degree panoramic view encompassing Kesennuma Bay, the intricate rias coastline, and the Pacific Ocean. Designed to reconnect locals and international travelers with the island’s natural landscape, the terrace replaces a previous viewpoint that was a significant local landmark prior to the Great East Japan Earthquake.
A New Vantage Point on Mount Kameyama
The architecture of Kameyama Terrace 360 is centered on observation, featuring expansive decks that allow for unobstructed sightings of the Sanriku Coast. The site is intended as a destination where visitors can appreciate the shifting light over the bay and the geographic features of the island. This redevelopment aims to restore the summit’s role as a primary gathering point for those exploring the Miyagi Prefecture coastline.
Ascending via the Kameyama Monorail
Access to the summit has been modernized with the introduction of the Kameyama Monorail. This new transport system replaces the former Kameyama Lift, which was a fixture of the island before the earthquake. The monorail offers a comfortable ascent to the peak, allowing passengers to observe the island’s evolving scenery before arriving directly at the observation decks of the terrace.
Commemorative Day-Trip Offerings
To mark the opening of the terrace, the resort hotel Kyukamura Kesennuma Oshima has introduced a day-trip plan titled “Oshima no Kyujitsu” (Oshima Holiday). The package is designed for convenience, particularly for those traveling without a vehicle, and includes a five-minute shuttle service to the Kameyama Monorail station.
The plan offers a choice of two lunch menus: the Nagisa course, priced at 3,900 yen, and the Shiosai *kaiseki* (traditional multi-course) course, priced at 5,900 yen. Both options include access to a soft drink bar and post-meal coffee in the hotel’s book lounge, a quiet space curated for relaxation. Additionally, the plan provides access to the hotel’s bathing facilities, offering a complete retreat experience on the island.
Property details
- Property
- Kyukamura Kesennuma Oshima
- Address
- 16 Sotobatake, Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture 988-0603
- Access
- Approximately 5 minutes by car to the Kameyama Monorail station; accessible via Kesennuma Oshima Ohashi Bridge and Kesennuma Bay Crossing Bridge.
- Official site
- https://hotel.qkamura.or.jp/en/kesennuma-ohshima/
- Pricing
- Oshima no Kyujitsu Plan: Nagisa Course 3,900 yen; Shiosai Course 5,900 yen (including tax)
- Opened
- 2020 (Renewal Open)
