Recommended by local writers! 5 cultural spots to experience Kesennuma's culture

1. Kurukuru Cafe Utsumi

Located on a street corner in the Yokamachi shopping district, this coffee shop blends retro and modern elements. Its charming feature is the tobacco shop window that adorns the center of the shop! As the handmade sign reads, "Anything goes space where you can drink coffee," this is truly a place where you can do anything.
DJ classes, live music, theater, exhibitions, flea markets—the shop's atmosphere changes constantly with each Instagram-organized event. The events that owner Yoshikawa creates together with those around him are always incredibly stylish. Fans of Kurukuru travel from far away just to attend their favorite events.

However, the fact that it doesn't feel intimidating might be due to the way the owner, Mr. Yoshikawa, operates. Locals, newcomers, and visitors from out of town all come and go, from children to grandparents, interacting with each other. It's not forced, but rather natural, and the relaxed sense of connection is very pleasant.
Whether you want to relax and unwind while sipping coffee, chat with someone, or enjoy Kurukuru Cafe's famous authentic biryani, this is the perfect place!

As the name "Kurukuru" suggests, this is a place where connections between people and things circulate. A visit here might just bring you closer to the town.

Shop information

Store name

Kuru Kuru Cafe Utsumi

Address

2-2-9 Yokamachi, Kesennuma City

Tel

050-7114-6337

Opening hours

11:00 AM - 17:00 PM *Open until 22:00 PM on Fridays

Closed days

Sunday and Tuesday

Social Media

Instagram:@kuru2utsumi

2. HAMACHIDORI GALLERY

This art gallery is located in the Ota district and is housed in a renovated building that is approximately 70 years old. It opened in 2025 as a place to curate various aspects of culture, including design, art, film, music, and apparel.
The Ota district was once a bustling entertainment area where fishermen would spend their earnings from their catches. According to stories, it was so crowded that people would bump shoulders! It must have been a vibrant era.
The space, a renovated former snack bar, displays graphic designs created by the owner, Jun Shida. The adjacent gallery space, which retains the structure of the old building, hosts photography exhibitions, art displays, and talk events.

Recently, they opened a monthly curation media called "Monthly Hamachidori," where film enthusiast Shida exhibits and sells films and movie pamphlets that she has collected. Also, be sure to check out HAMACHIDORI's original goods such as apparel and stickers.

These days, it's become a monthly pleasure to chat about things like, "This movie is great, isn't it?" or "I really enjoyed this one recently!" There aren't any movie theaters in Kesennuma, but it's so nice to have a place where we can talk about our favorite movies! Monthly Hamachidori is held irregularly, so it's best to check their social media before you go!

Shop information

Store name

HAMACHIDORI GALLERY

Address

1-4-6 Ota, Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture

Opening hours

Open for two days once a month, from 13:00 to 18:00.

Social Media

Instagram:@hamachidori_gallery

3. OHYA RECORDS

It's a 5-minute drive from the Otani Coast roadside station. When you open the door, you'll find yourself in a space like a secret hideout for adults, and your body will be instantly enveloped in sound.
This is a record cafe and bar located in the Otani area. There's a large table directly in front of the entrance, and if you take a look, you'll find a turntable! On either side are large speakers, and the walls are adorned with a variety of used records. You'll find yourself drawn to record covers from a wide range of genres, including Showa-era pop, city pop, black music, and K-pop.

In addition to coffee and alcoholic beverages, they also offer a food menu. You can see the horizon from the large, open windows inside the shop. Enjoying coffee surrounded by the sounds of nature is the perfect way for someone like me, who leads a hectic life, to relax.

If you're thinking, "I don't own a record player, and it's a bit too fancy for me...", I used to think the same way! This place feels open to everyone who loves music, so please open the door and try out what it's like to have records in your life!

Shop information

Store name

OHYA RECORDS

Address

313-11 Otani, Motoyoshi-cho, Kesennuma City

Tel

080-5224-8514

Opening hours

11:30～20:00

Closed days

Sundays, Mondays, public holidays

Social Media

Instagram:@ohya_records

4. Tomo no Yu

Tomo no Yu is the only public bathhouse in Kesennuma City (as of March 2026), and has been widely loved by people both inside and outside the area for over half a century. Stepping through the noren (curtain), everything from the entrance to the changing room and the bathtub is retro and exciting! After soaking in the deep bath and warming up thoroughly, gulp down a coffee milk after your bath. Doesn't that sound good?

This place reopened just two weeks after the Great East Japan Earthquake, and apparently many volunteers who came to Kesennuma took a bath there. Every year on November 26th, young people who have moved to the area hold a super local event called "Good Bath Day," which was started to liven up Tomonoyu, and I personally love this handmade event!

The event features live performances of songs themed around Tomo no Yu and public bathhouses, a mini-market, and the creation and sale of original merchandise. It's an event where everyone brings together things they enjoy, and it also serves as a place for community interaction.
You can feel the culture that Tomonoyu nurtures from the decorations in the waiting area. If you want to learn more about and experience Kesennuma, be sure to give it a try!

Facility information

Name of facility

Tomo no Yu

Address

1-3-23 Furumachi, Kesennuma City

Tel

0226-22-2581

Opening hours

15:00～20:00

Adult rates

500 yen

Closed days

Monday

5. Squareship

And finally, here it is! Squareship, a coworking space that opened in the inner bay in 2019.
While it's a workspace where people can work individually or hold group meetings, it's also a hub where events and learning opportunities are frequently held, fostering new connections, learning, and challenges.

Art exhibitions, documentary film screenings, sports cafes, various classes, and more. Since returning to Kesennuma, I've come to realize, "Learning new things as an adult is so much fun!"

The people who gather here are all fascinating, and the encounters here are very stimulating. If you're thinking, "I want to connect with Kesennuma more than just visit," or "I want to get more involved with the local people," or even if you're looking to work by the sea during your travels, be sure to check it out!

Facility information

Name of facility

□ship (Square Ship)

Address

1-11 Minamimachi Kaigan, Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture, Kesennuma City Community, People, and Work Exchange Plaza PIER7, 2nd Floor

Tel

0226-28-9972

Opening hours

10:00～21:00

Closed days

Sundays, Mondays, public holidays

Social Media

Instagram:@square_ship

Summary

Thank you for reading to the end! What did you think? The places I love that have a "cultural feel" are imbued with the love and taste of the people who live in Kesennuma. I hope you will come and experience it for yourself!

【おまけ】

Overflowing with love for our hometown, my sister and I, who both adore Kesennuma, created a local-themed zine called "Port and Light" to express these feelings! 150 copies, which we cherish like our own children, have now found new homes. Thank you to everyone who picked up a copy!
This book also features plenty of my favorite spots in Kesennuma. If you happen to see it somewhere, please pick it up and take a look.