Hotel El Faro is next door to Onagawa Station, located in a tiny revitalized port town on the serene Onagawa Bay. This unique and social accommodation is actually a collection of mobile homes painted in cheerful pastel hues to resemble a flower garden. The motif is complemented by plots of real flowers around the park-like grounds, a common space that invites guests to relax out in the fresh air. A number of family-friendly outdoor activities are offered, such as barbecues and mini-campfire building.

As with other places in Onagawa, what might at first blush be perceived as novelty for its own sake actually has meaning, stemming from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Proprietress Sasaki-san founded El Faro with three partners in 2012. Born and raised in Onagawa, she had enjoyed working at her family’s inn from a young age. When the tsunami struck in 2011, her family’s establishment, along with 80% of the town, was destroyed. Sasaki-san sought to rebuild an inn as soon as possible as part of Onagawa’s recovery. Unfortunately, due to the widespread devastation, the establishment of a permanent structure actually proved a hindrance so early on in the town’s reconstruction. A mobile facility, however, was a different story: trailer homes could be moved as needed to meet the needs of patrons and the recovery effort. Thus, the El Faro concept was born.

By 2017, the bulk of reconstruction Onagawa had been completed, including an iconic new train station building. It just so happened that there was still an empty lot beside the train station, so the trailers were hauled to their present location to become the Hotel El Faro visitors know today.

Other than the trailer park setup, El Faro’s facilities are much like those of a regular hotel. Each “guest room” is an individual trailer with all the amenities of a standard business hotel room. The lobby trailer functions like a standard hotel lobby, and in the dining trailer guests can enjoy breakfasts showcasing the best local catch of the season.