One-Day Drive in Minamisoma City

• Driving
• Coastal Area
• All Year

• 3 destinations
• One Day

Located in the Northeastern part of Fukushima prefecture, Minamisoma City is one of the main hubs in the prefecture’s coastal area. The city perhaps draws the most crowds in July for the Soma Nomaoi festival, an event featuring horseback riders in samurai attire, which developed from an ancient samurai practice of military drills with horses. Outside of the event times, visitors can still experience Minamisoma’s equine traditions year-long.

Once a vital enclave for the Soma samurai clan, Minamisoma specialized in manufacturing and the military during the most pressing years of Japan’s modernization. Many samurai customs continued; for one, people kept breeding and caring for horses even when this practice disappeared from most other places in Japan.

In 2011, the city suffered greatly from the triple disaster triggered by the Great East Japan Earthquake. Despite difficulties, people have sought to pass on their heritage to new generations, adapting samurai traditions to modern times to continue cultivating their love for horses.

The city is reachable from Tokyo in a few hours by car or public transportation, but this itinerary is designed specifically for driving. By horseback riding along the coast, having lunch at a cafe that has made a significant impact on the community after the 2011 triple disaster, and visiting a National Historical Treasure that is over 1,000 years old, you will travel through ancient history, medieval history, and modern times in Minamisoma.

Start

Minamisoma Horseback Riding experience

You can rent a car at Haranomachi Sta. (JR Joban Line).

• 60

Horses are a quintessential part of the city’s identity, and the best way to experience its equine tradition is by popping on a helmet, taking hold of the reins, and riding by the blue waters of the coast. This beginner-friendly experience includes assistance from an English-speaking guide, who will stay by your side at all times to ensure you have a safe ride.

Approx. 20 min. by car via National Route 260.

Full House Book Cafe

• Coastal Area
• 58

Run by acclaimed Japanese-Korean novelist Yu Miri, Odaka Full House opened when there were not many other restaurants in Odaka, an area that had to be evacuated in 2011 following the nuclear accident. Once the evacuation order was lifted, Full House became a source of great joy and relief for returning residents, and a solace for those who had lost their precious books to the disaster. Many items on the menu are prepared using locally-sourced ingredients. Here, you will enjoy a delicious meal, and relax and refresh before your next and last stop. If you’re lucky enough, you may even run into Ms. Miri herself!

5 min. drive via National Route 120

Daihisan Stone Buddhas (Daihisan no Sekibutsu)

• Coastal Area
• 60

Estimated to have been carved over 1,000 years ago, the Daihisan stone Buddhas are the oldest stone Buddha statues in the Tohoku area of Northern Japan. Although they have been through some erosion, the statues remain of invaluable historical significance today. The stone Buddhas are located in a tranquil temple complex nested in a forest where visitors can explore at their own pace.

Finish

Haranomachi Sta.