A reader from overseas, KM, contacted Lifelines after reading a recent article about Rikuzentakata. The city, located in Iwate Prefecture, gained international attention after it was nearly wiped out by the tsunami caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011. Amya Miller, global public relations director for the city, wrote about how they are faring 2½ years after the disaster (www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2013/10/30/voices/a-message-from-tsunami-hit-rikuzentakata-make-the-trip/)
KM wants to know how to get to Rikuzentakata. Although the local station and transport infrastructure was decimated by the tsunami, a bus line has now taken its place. Assuming he is flying into Tokyo, there are a couple of options available.
The first option is to take the Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station up to Ichinoseki Station in Iwate Prefecture (about 2½ hours). From there, connect to the local Ofunato Line and take the train to Kesennuma (a town in Miyagi Prefecture that was also hit hard by the tsunami) and then take a JR bus to Rikuzentakata. It takes about two hours from Ichinoseki.