Getting here

The INJM volunteer houses and headquarters are in Ishinomaki, so this is where you will have to meet up with us. Fortunately Ishinomaki, unlike other smaller towns, is well connected by public transport and road. So getting here is not tough, but please read the information below carefully and also our What To Expect page. A well planned arrival/departure will making things much easier for you and for our teams.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION for Arrival/Departure from INJM Volunteer Houses:

The INJM houses are a bit far from Ishinomaki station, but we can pick you up if you like. We organize a pickup from Ishinomaki Station at 7:00am. Please try your best to arrive for this pickup. If you cannot make it at this time, then it is most likely that you cannot join the work teams for that day. In that case please arrive between 16:00 and 22:00 at the INJM HQ by taking a taxi, bus or local train (See details below).

Once you arrive at Ishinomaki station, please wait for our car (it will have an INJM sticker) in the green area indicated on the map.

It is imperative that you let us know your exact arrival time well in advance. Please indicate this and whether you need a pickup in the volunteer form.

In case of an EMERGENCY you can call us at: +81 – 080 3149 5051 (06:30 to 22:00)

Option 1: Arrive in Ishinomaki so you can volunteer the same day

In order to join the volunteer teams on the day of your arrival you have to make it in time for our 7:00 am pickup (OR, if you are driving, then to get yourself to our HQ before 8:00am). The best way to do this is to take overnight buses from Tokyo and other cities. The information below pertains to buses from Tokyo, please check www.highwaybus.com for travel from other cities. Both lines leave Tokyo (Shinjuku) around 11:30pm and arrive in Ishinomaki Station around 6:40am.

Hotdog Bus – KiraKira Line www.hotdog.co.jp
Yokohama (10:15pm)->Tokyo (11:15pm)->Shinjuku (11:55pm)->Sendai (05:10am)->Ishinomaki (06:30am)
Cost: 4000 – 5000 JPY one way (3100 JPY if you buy a 4 ticket coupon)

Keio Bus – Hirose Liner www.highwaybus.com
Shinjuku (11:30pm)->Sendai -> Ishinomaki (06:30am)
Cost: 6000 – 6600 JPY one-way (this bus is more luxurious with 3 seats in a row with 2 aisles)

Option 2: Arrive in Ishinomaki during the day (and start volunteering the next day)

INJM teams start work early and it is logistically difficult to include late-arriving volunteers into that day’s teams. However, if you DO choose to come during the day we prefer you arrive between 16:00 and 22:00. There are lots of options you can choose from, some are listed here, please research them further using the links provided.

Step 1: Get to Sendai

By BUS: There are many bus lines that terminate or pass through Sendai and offer overnight or day buses. The average travel time from Tokyo is about 6 hours. Most of these cost around 3000-5000 JPY for Tokyo->Sendai. Please try the following websites for more details:
Sakura bus (JP only)
Willer Bus Travels (JP and EN)
JR Bus Tohoku (JP only)
Highway Bus (JP only)

By TRAIN: The JR Tohoku Shinkansen trains provide regular and fast service to Sendai between 6am and 10pm. You can use the online Hyperdia train search at http://www.hyperdia.com/ for timetable and fare information. We recommend that you plan your train around the connections from Sendai to Ishinomaki (see below).

Tickets from Tokyo to Sendai cost about 10,000 JPY and are available at the JR East website or at most JR train stations.

Step 2: Travel from Sendai to Ishinomaki

By BUS: Bus #33 provides regular service from Sendai Station to Ishinomaki Station.  This is a standard commuter bus and no booking or reservation is required. Its costs 800 JPY one-way and takes about 1.5 hours.  The bus will make several stops along the way, including AEON Ishinomaki.  Please get off the bus at JR Ishinomaki Station. To find the location of Bus #33 in Sendai station, click here (Google maps). The timetable can be downloaded here: Bus #33 Sendai<->Ishinomaki.

By TRAIN: JR East, operates the Senseki Line from Aoba-dori station in Sendai to JR Ishinomaki station. This line was badly damaged in the tsunami and is still undergoing changes to schedule and route. If you are confident of your travel skills in Japan please look up the JR East website for further details!

Step 3: Ishinomaki station to INJM HQ

By TAXI: A taxi from Ishinomaki station to the INJM HQ costs about 1500 JPY. It is the easiest way to get to us and is recommended. Our address is:

Its Not Just Mud – NPO
Azasakaeda 74-5
986-2135 Watanoha

In Japanese: 宮城県石巻市渡波字栄田74-5

If your Japanese is rusty, please tell the driver “Jyusho wa Wata-no-ha Sakaeda nanajyu-yon no go” (Address is Watanoha 74-5). It would be useful to carry a printout of the address in Japanese.

By LOCAL BUS: (coming soon)

By LOCAL TRAIN: As of April 2012, the local train between Ishinomaki station and Watanoha station has reopened. It is not very frequent, but if it coincides with your arrival time (and you are adventurous), go ahead and give it a try. The journey takes about 11 minutes and the departure times from Ishinomaki station are: 07:00, 8:14, 10:06, 13:09, 15:55, 17:15, 18:15, 20:20 and 21:45, but this schedule might change, so check the JR East webpage to be sure. Once you reach Watanoha station, the INJM HQ is a 15 minute walk. A map is available here.

Driving to Ishinomaki

If you don’t like the hassle of public transport and wish to drive.. great! If you drive to the INJM HQ (we can provide you with parking space) please let us know in advance. Also please tell us how big your car is and if you mind using it for transporting other volunteers during your stay with us.

Getting to Ishinomaki by road is quite easy and the roads are relatively comfortable. Keep in mind that a lot of people move northwards during the weekend and there are big traffic jams. Tokyo to Ishinomaki takes about 7 hours during low traffic times, and the highway-toll costs about 5000 JPY.

Information for International Travelers:

If you are flying in from abroad you will most probably be arriving at Narita or Haneda airport. Both airports are well connected to Tokyo city via trains (see their websites for more details). Depending on your arrival time and plans, you can choose one of the above options to head to Ishinomaki from there.

Links to Useful Maps

Getting OUT of here!:

All the websites linked above provide information for travel out of Ishinomaki. All of them require you to get to Ishinomaki station from the INJM HQ and you can do that via bus, train or taxi.