Shiogama

Shiogama sits along the Pacific coastline between Sendai and Matsushima, with a working harbor that handles tuna and swordfish on a daily basis. The town spreads along the bay, with residential areas and shops grouped around the fishing port and several small parks.

The town grew from a center of salt production during the Tokugawa era and received official city status in 1889. The shift from salt extraction to the fishing industry shaped the local economy for over a century.

The name of this port town translates directly to salt furnace, pointing back to centuries of salt extraction. Visitors still notice the influence of the sea on everyday life, from the smell of fresh seafood to the many small restaurants serving fish from the local catch.

The JR Senseki Line links the town to Sendai in 25 minutes, with trains leaving frequently from Hon-Shiogama Station. Visitors who arrive early in the morning can see fresh produce at the fish market right after the boats come in.

This town holds the highest concentration of sushi restaurants per person in the country, supplied directly by the commercial fishing harbor. In the mornings, chefs from the surrounding area come personally to the fish market to select the catch of the day.

Location: Miyagi Prefecture

Inception: April 1, 1889

Shares border with: Tagajō, Rifu, Shichigahama

Website: https://city.shiogama.miyagi.jp

GPS coordinates: 38.31436,141.02197

Latest update: December 13, 2025 19:07