Japan National Route 45 Map T-Shirt | Sendai to Aomori | Sanriku Coast Road Trip

About This Product

An original route map T-shirt by Hasegawa Shizen Kobo featuring Japan National Route 45, which runs north along the Pacific side of the Tohoku region from Sendai City in Miyagi Prefecture to Aomori City in Aomori Prefecture, with a strong focus on the Sanriku Coast.

This T-shirt is not simply a map with the line of National Route 45 drawn across it.

The designer personally drove National Route 45 from Sendai to Aomori, got lost along the way, stopped at roadside stations, saw the sea and towns of Sanriku, traveled through communities that have rebuilt after the Great East Japan Earthquake, and even experienced the curious feeling of Route 45 signs almost disappearing in Aomori. This T-shirt preserves the record of that entire day in a single design.

On the day of the drive, the journey began at around 6:50 a.m. near the Kotodai-koen-mae intersection in Sendai.

From there, the route continued north through coastal cities and towns including Ishinomaki, Kesennuma, Rikuzentakata, Ofunato, Kamaishi, Miyako, Kuji, and Hachinohe before finally reaching Aomori City at around 9:00 p.m.

From morning until night, the journey lasted approximately 14 hours, with most of the day spent traveling along National Route 45.

This T-shirt was created from the idea:

“I want to preserve the Route 45 that I actually drove as a single T-shirt.”

About the Design

The map features the National Route 45 route from Sendai City to Aomori City.

National Route 45 is a major national highway connecting Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture with Aomori City in Aomori Prefecture along the Pacific side of the Tohoku region.

Traveling north from Sendai, the route passes through the coastal areas of Miyagi Prefecture and enters Iwate Prefecture.

It continues through major Sanriku areas such as Rikuzentakata, Ofunato, Kamaishi, Miyako, and Kuji before entering Aomori Prefecture, passing through the Hachinohe area, and continuing toward Aomori City.

One of the greatest attractions of this road is the chance to experience the distinctive Sanriku landscape, where the sea and mountains lie very close together.

You may pass through a port town, enter a mountainous area, and then suddenly see the sea again.

Although it is all part of the same National Route 45, the character of the road changes dramatically from one region to another.

The roadside stations included in this design were not simply selected automatically from a map.

Instead, I created a rule based on their actual relationship to National Route 45:

Roadside stations located approximately 500 meters or more away from National Route 45 are generally not included.

For this reason, locations such as Michi-no-Eki Miyako and Michi-no-Eki Noda are intentionally not shown on the map.

Rather than filling the design with every possible roadside station, I wanted to create a map that more closely reflects the experience of actually traveling along National Route 45.

The roadside stations shown were selected by checking their position in relation to Route 45 and by considering places encountered during the actual journey.

There is also another interesting feature of National Route 45 after entering Aomori Prefecture.

From around Sanbongi in Towada City to the route’s endpoint near Aoimori Park and the Prefectural Government intersection in Aomori City, National Route 45 overlaps with National Route 4 for approximately 76 km.

However, when actually driving this section, road signs mainly identify the road as “National Route 4.”

After following Route 45 all the way north from Sendai, the number “45” almost disappears from view once you reach this part of Aomori.

“I should still be on Route 45, but the signs say Route 4.”

This is a section where multiple national routes share the same roadway, known in Japan as an overlapping route section.

This is the kind of detail that is difficult to understand just by looking at a standard road map.

It was one of those interesting discoveries that became clear only by actually driving the route.

This T-shirt was also designed with the relationship between National Route 45 and National Route 4 in mind.

Another important part of understanding National Route 45 is the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.

Many communities along National Route 45 suffered enormous damage from the tsunami.

By actually traveling the road, this journey became an opportunity not only to see the towns as they are today, but also to encounter newly developed roads, rebuilt communities, and places where memories of the disaster are still preserved.

It was a drive along the beautiful Sanriku Coast, but at the same time, it was also a journey to see with my own eyes how the Tohoku region has rebuilt and recovered since the disaster.

Not everything went according to plan during the trip.

In Kuji, changes in the road layout caused some confusion, and I had to turn back once and search for another route.

Along the way, I also came across the scene of a traffic accident.

This T-shirt could not have been created simply by tracing a road line on a computer.

It comes from actually holding the steering wheel and checking the route step by step:

“Is this really National Route 45?”
“Does the road change here?”
“Is this where it begins sharing the road with National Route 4?”

The goal was not only to create a visually attractive map, but also to make it as faithful as possible to the actual road.

And above all, to preserve the National Route 45 that I personally experienced in the form of a T-shirt.

This design is recommended for anyone who loves national highways, long-distance driving, motorcycle touring, the Sanriku region, or simply the pleasure of traveling by road.

Design: Hasegawa Shizen Kobo

Product Features

• Features the National Route 45 route from Sendai to Aomori

• Original map design based on the designer’s actual driving experience

• Roadside stations selected with emphasis on their actual proximity to National Route 45

• Original rule generally excluding roadside stations located approximately 500 m or more from Route 45

• Route representation takes into account the approximately 76 km overlap with National Route 4 in Aomori Prefecture

• Made with Comfort Colors 1717

• Primarily made from 100% ring-spun US cotton

• Substantial 6.1 oz/yd² (approx. 207 g/m²) fabric

• Garment-dyed for natural, distinctive color and character

• Soft, lived-in feel

• Relaxed fit for comfortable everyday wear

• Tubular construction with no side seams

• Reinforced shoulder construction for durability

• Pre-shrunk

• Unisex style

• Sizes: S–3XL

Please note that fiber content may vary depending on the color.

Size Guide

The following are approximate measurements for the Comfort Colors 1717. Measurements are taken with the garment laid flat.

How to Read the Measurements
Width: Measured across the shirt near the underarm while laid flat
Length: Measured from the shoulder area to the bottom hem
Sleeve length: Based on the manufacturer’s measurement method

Please note that actual measurements may vary by approximately ±1.5 in (±3.8 cm) due to the manufacturing process.

If you are unsure which size to choose, we recommend measuring a T-shirt you already own while laid flat and comparing it with the size chart above.

About the Product Images

Some product images may use AI-generated model mockups to help show how the T-shirt may look when worn. These models are not real people.

The actual appearance, color, and print placement may vary slightly depending on the selected size, body type, and screen display settings.

Please refer to the product description, size chart, and product images for the final product specifications.

Care Instructions

• Machine wash: cold, max 30°C (90°F)

• Do not bleach

• Tumble dry: low heat

• Iron or steam: low heat

• Do not dry clean