Stayed for five days at Kikuchi Ryokan and would recommend to anyone visiting Ishinomaki for one or more nights. The location is ideal for visiting the Manga Museum (literally down the street, around the corner and halfway across a small bridge). The main commercial street with restaurants, shops and community cafes are also one block away and the Ishinomaki City Information Center (for post-tsunami recovery/rebuild info, NOT a tourist info center or travel agency) is about 1.5 blocks away. It is also right around the corner from the road/steps that lead up to Hiyori-yama, the park overlooking the ocean, famed for its significance as a evacuation safety place for workers and residents during that fateful day in March 2011 when the great Tohoku earthquake triggered a tsunami that devastated much of the harbor and homes/businesses in the coastal plain below the mountain. Luckily Kikuchi Ryokan, while sustaining some damage, was repaired with the help of local volunteers enabling the family to re-open the inn. It is walking distance from the train station if you do not have too much luggage. My nephew and I stayed in a tatami room in the annex, they provided us two separate futons (so comfortable!) and our room came with a TV, air conditioning, toiletries, yukata robes, small table and two floor level seats. We opted for the breakfast plan and thoroughly enjoyed each delicious breakfast. Breakfast is served between 7 AM and 9 AM in the inn's dining room, but would advise that you go early as breakfast is prepared and set out for all guests at 7 AM. Neither the innkeeper, Masamitu Kikuchi, nor the rest of the family/staff onsite speaks English. (Our reservation email was translated via email by his niece, Kozue, in Tokyo.) However, all pertinent information such as nearby convenience stores (Family Mart and 7-11--important for foreign travelers who need to use an ATM) are provided on an info sheet at the check-in counter and in the rooms. There are two coin operated washer and dryers onsite at the inn. Despite our limited Japanese speaking abilities, Kikuchi-san was a charming and gracious host. We were sad to leave, it really felt like staying at a relative's home. Highly recommend for its great value for price, excellent location, cleanliness, comfort and warm hospitality. Would definitely stay here again if I come back to Ishinomaki, but definitely next time I will learn some Japanese before I return!
My friend and I decided to go up to Ishinomaki for a trip to Cat Island and settled on Kikuchi Ryokan after seeing it was about halfway between the station and the ferry, 15 minutes on foot either way. Very convenient. While the staff did not speak English, they were very welcoming; the ryokan owner even going so far as to kindly give us and two others a ride to the ferry the next morning. Additionally, the rooms were clean, the dining area was neat, and the whole place was well-kept. My biggest concern going in was meals, as I have dietary restrictions with grains but I was able to eat nearly everything placed before me. I was incredibly impressed with the service here! Definite recommendation!