OFUNATO, Iwate Prefecture--As a fun and lively symbol of recovery, a traditional "yakatabune" roofed party boat will soon set sail around Ofunato Bay, which was devastated by the tsunami caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake nearly four years ago.
OFUNATO, Iwate Prefecture--As a fun and lively symbol of recovery, a traditional "yakatabune" roofed party boat will soon set sail around Ofunato Bay, which was devastated by the tsunami caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake nearly four years ago.
Yakatabune are rarely seen cruising these coastal waters, so the local group involved in the effort is hoping that it will become a tourist attraction.
On the cruises, which will begin in February, passengers can enjoy the scenery around the bay and also sample dishes that utilize local foodstuffs.
"I will be happy if the yakatabune becomes one of our main tourist attractions and people come to know that if they visit Ofunato, they can enjoy a cruise aboard a yakatabune,” said Yusuke Oikawa, 50, one of the key members involved in the effort. “We want to offer various menus that use local foodstuffs. Based on those menus, we want to develop new products."
Oikawa's group, whose members include producers and processing factory operators, has been engaged in promoting local foodstuffs as brands.
Oikawa operates a hotel in Ofunato and is also involved in the operation of the temporary shopping mall “Yataimura” (Village of stalls), which was established after the March 11, 2011, disaster.
The yakatabune, which can accommodate 60 passengers, formerly was used in Tokyo Bay and the Sumidagawa river, which runs through Tokyo. The group borrowed it from its owner and named it the “Shiosai” (Sound of the surf).
The boat will be operated twice daily--in the daytime and at night. The fare per customer is 4,500 yen (about $38), excluding tax, for the 90-minute daytime cruise. The fare for the 150-minute night cruise is 8,000 yen. The yakatabune can also be chartered by groups of 20 people or more.
It will be operated throughout the year. Customers will be required to make reservations.
On the daytime voyage, a tour guide will be available. In addition, local people will talk about their experiences during the Great East Japan Earthquake. Passengers can also see the local oyster cultivation industry at work.
On Jan. 13, a test cruise was held with local residents taking part. The passengers enjoyed a cruise around the bay for about an hour after a ceremony to pray for the safety of the new venture.
During the cruise, the passengers were offered dishes that used local foodstuffs. These included “sanma no mochidango” (rice cake dumplings that contain saury), “kaki no shiro-wine mushi” (oysters steamed with white wine) and “anago no sasazushi” (conger eel sushi placed on bamboo grass).
“It has been said that Ofunato Bay is good for boats to take shelter in (at the time of stormy weather). Today, the wind was strong but our (yakatabune) boat did not shake too much. The dishes were also delicious. I can promote this cruise for passengers with great confidence,” said Hiromi Sasaki, a member of a local group of tour guides.
At the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake, the central part of Ofunato was engulfed by tsunami, leading to the deaths of 419 people. The fishing port, which was home to the prosperous local fisheries industry, was also devastated in the disaster.
However, reconstruction of the city has been making progress and last spring a new fish market was completed.
The starting date of the yakatabune operation has yet to be decided. As soon as a date is set, it will be announced at the group’s website at