Ishinomaki | Unexpectedly Discovering the Birthplace of Kamen Rider While Cherry Blossom Viewing

In mid-April, my travel buddies and I went to Sendai to chase cherry blossoms. Besides the famous cherry blossom spots in Sendai city and the Hitome Senbonzakura in Funaoka, we unexpectedly discovered a hidden gem in northern Miyagi Prefecture—Hiyoriyama Park. The park is located in Ishinomaki City, home to the "Manga King" Shotaro Ishinomori's [Ishinomori Manga Museum] His world-famous "Kamen Rider" is one of his creations. If you're an anime enthusiast visiting Sendai, consider spending a day exploring this small city filled with anime vibes. - 🌟One-day itinerary recommendation ❶ Anime pilgrimage—Ishinomaki Manga Road Starting from JR Station to the Ishinomori Manga Museum, stroll along the approximately 1km [Ishinomaki Manga Road] The path is lined with character statues from works like "Kamen Rider," "Cyborg 009," and "Cyborg Kikaider" Even the murals, manhole covers, and mailboxes hide anime easter eggs waiting for you to discover The locals even built a [Manga Shrine] dedicated to Ishinomori - ❷Ishinomori Manga Museum—Immersive experience in the world of manga Located on a sandbar at the mouth of the Old Kitakami River, it's a 15-minute walk from JR Station Shotaro Ishinomori was born in Tome City next to Ishinomaki City During his student days, he often went to movie theaters in Ishinomaki Thus, he built this unique museum in Ishinomaki, a place full of memories In 1989, he proposed the famous "Manga Declaration" Believing that MANGA is not just humorous "comics," but an art form that can express all aspects of the world, hence the term "Manga" The museum has 11 exhibition areas detailing Ishinomori's life and works 🎬The 1F screening room shows his representative works 📚The 3F library houses 6,000 manga books and audio-visual materials, a must-visit for anime fans! 🎫900 yen *Some interactive facilities require purchase of an activity experience card 🕙9:00～17:00 (Closed on Tuesdays) - ❸Hiyoriyama Park—Double enjoyment of cherry blossoms and ocean views Hiyoriyama is a famous cherry blossom viewing spot in Miyagi Prefecture The hilltop is filled with cherry trees, and you can enjoy magnificent Pacific Ocean views in the distance It was also an important evacuation site during the 3/11 earthquake The hilltop displays before-and-after comparisons of the city, which is deeply moving - Recommended coffee break: Cafe Apricot A short walk from the Manga Museum, it's a cozy cafe converted from a private home Offering coffee, tea, toast, pizza, pasta and other light meals with an extensive menu The enthusiastic owner proudly shows photos of celebrity visits - 🚃Transportation: JR: Take the JR Senseki-Tohoku Line from Sendai Station directly to Ishinomaki Station, 1 hour, 858 yen Bus: Take a bus from Sendai Station to Ishinomaki Station, 1 hour 15 minutes, 900 yen -