From Sendai, there is a bus that goes to Ichinoseki on the hour. One-way is Y1500, and round-trip is Y2700. 80 minutes. Board in front of Sakurano department store on Aoba street, near the station's west exit.
During the cherry blossom season in early spring, '''Tsuriyama (_____R)''', a large hill located on almost a straight path west of the station, is lit by lanterns at night and is beautiful during the day as the trees bloom. Outside of cherry blossom season, the paths up the hill and the small park at the summit offer a pleasant place to explore and look at the city from above. According to local legend, the outcropping of rock and earth at the top of the hill was once a signal fire tower during the era when Ichinoseki had just been brought under Kyoto rule.
'''Haishiwa Shrine (_z_u_a____)''' is a shrine located northwest of the station, in the Nakasato area of town. Situated at the top of a densely wooded hill, it is truly breathtaking, not only due to the giant, thousand-year-old trees at the top, but the incredibly long flight of stairs you must climb to get there.
The town of Higashiyama, technically a subdistrict of Ichinoseki since the merger, offers '''Geibikei (___@_k, Lion's Nose Gorge)'''. A ten minute walk from Geibikei Station on the Ofunato Line brings you to the gorge, where flat-bottomed boats take you upstream past Buddhist rock carvings. '''The Yuugendou (_H____, Mysterious Caves)''' Caves are also located in Higashiyama, and according to legend were a hideout for Japanese Christians during the Edo period.
'''Donque''' is a similar restaurant-bar, located on the edge of the downtown. It has a vaguely "European" feel to it, but has a wide variety of alcohol. To get there, turn right after exiting the station and walk straight until you can see the slope that allows cars to pass under the train bridge. The second-last block has Donque on the corner.
'''Abanzale''' is the most popular bar for the youth of Ichinoseki, due to its bi-weekly events such as hip-hop night and small dance floor. The English-speaking owner and staff are friendly. To get there, walk down Ohmachi to the Peare gym, and turn left. Abanzale is located next to the Jishumachi (______) exit of the Aikawaya (______) department store.
There are also a number of other small hotels and ryokan located throughout the city, including one that is the exact same ryokan where Emperor Meiji stayed during his trip to the north, give or take a few fires, floods, and complete rebuildings.