Recommended by a local writer! Kesennuma driving course for driving enthusiasts!

Hello! I'm Motoki Chiba, a citizen writer. This is my first time writing an article!
I do car maintenance and body repair in the city. I love driving and am aiming to drive my beloved Hachiroku 86 for 1 million km! So, starting from today, I will be introducing some fun roads in Kesennuma and the surrounding area!

The route we will introduce this time is...
Miyagi Prefectural Route 65! Kesennuma Chuo Driving School to Motoyoshi Tsuya!
Miyagi Iwate Prefectural Route 18! Motoyoshi Tsuya to Murone, National Route 284!Yes! 👏

Prefectural Route 65, Kesennuma Chuo Driving School - Motoyoshi Tsuya, approximately 10.5km

It's a mountain pass road with many curves, up and down. It's my personal favorite road. The continuous curves make it hard to see oncoming vehicles, and you have to slow down to pass each other, so I recommend driving it during times when there is less traffic. At night, you can see the headlights of oncoming vehicles, so it's easy to spot them coming (as is the case everywhere).
There are many shady areas, and the road surface freezes easily in winter. Be careful, as animals often jump out into the road. This road is more dangerous than usual, so it is best to avoid it if you are not good at driving.
The appeal of the car more than makes up for these shortcomings: the sheer joy of cornering! Once you start pursuing the beauty of cornering with its perfectly continuous curves, it will be hard to stop as long as you live and drive in Kesennuma.

Miyagi Iwate Prefectural Route 18, Motoyoshi Tsuya to Murone, National Route 284, approximately 21.0 km

The road is generally wide and there are no traffic lights, making it a pleasant road to drive on. There are many gentle curves, which I personally find a little lacking, but it is a very relaxing road to drive on, and it helps to cleanse away the stress and frustrations of everyday life. Of course, as a driver, you should always be mindful of potential hazards and drive at a safe speed.
During the winter, there are areas that are shaded by trees and are prone to freezing, even during the day, so be careful. Be careful in areas where there are trees on both sides of the road.
During Christmas nights, there are places where the beautiful illuminations of private houses are very soothing.

Recommended view spot: Murone Bypass

Here are some recommended view spots!
It is located after climbing and descending a hill on the way back towards Kesennuma from the Murone Roadside Station.
The seemingly endless straight road and the open view of mountains and rice fields are something I could look at over and over again.

Recommended stop: Roadside station "Otani Coast"

My favorite spot, located a little further from the route I took this time, is Otani Kaigan Roadside Station. It was also the setting for the film "Suzume no Tojimari" (The Sparrow's Door Lock), which will be released in 2022, so many people may recognize it.
It's about 10 minutes northeast on National Route 45 from Motoyoshi Tsuya. This roadside station reopened and had its grand opening in March 2021, and is now fully equipped with facilities for meals, souvenirs, rest, and sightseeing. I think it's the number one roadside station that even locals want to stop by!

This place looks completely different depending on the time of day you visit.
Listening to the sound of the waves in a quiet parking lot at night, taking deep breaths and slowly settling your autonomic nervous system that has been heightened by work or driving, is the ultimate relaxation that cannot be replaced by anything else.

During the day, you can enjoy the view of Otani Beach from the second floor deck, seafood and local specialties for souvenirs, and meals at the food court.

And for those with a sweet tooth, we highly recommend the "Salted Bean Pudding" from local Japanese confectionery shop, Okashiji Isamiya. You can buy it at the farm-fresh corner of the roadside station! Just take a spoonful from the jar and take a bite, and your brain will fly to the sky with its deliciousness (lol). It can sell out, so if you want to be sure to get one, it's best to go early.

To finish off your drive, which of Otani Beach's attractions do you prefer: the bustle of the day or the tranquility of the night?

Refresh yourself with a drive!

If you take Prefectural Route 65, Prefectural Route 18, and National Route 284 back to Kesennuma, the round trip takes just under an hour and a half. I think this is a very effective route for refreshing yourself on a drive, so please bring your favorite music and a cup of coffee and enjoy the time to let your thoughts flow freely.

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* Always be aware of potential hazards when driving and drive at a safe speed.
*The photos posted comply with laws and regulations and were taken with a fixed camera or by stopping the vehicle in a safe place.

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Person who wrote this article

Motoki Chiba

Nice to meet you! I'm Chiba Motonori, a citizen writer! I was born and raised in Kesennuma, and I currently work in car maintenance and body repair. Ever since I got my driver's license, I've been captivated by the joy of driving, and up until now, I've been driving all over the place every holiday, from as far north as Aomori and Omazaki to as far west as the Tottori Sand Dunes, covering 2 to 3 km per year. Among those, I'd like to introduce some of the roads around Kesennuma that I personally find particularly enjoyable! I'd also like to use my automotive knowledge and experience to write about maintenance to extend the life of your car, as well as tips for driving safely and enjoyably on the roads (if there's demand), so I hope you'll keep reading!

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