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The March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake caused widespread destruction of coastal communities in the Tōhoku Region of Northern Japan. Miyako City in Iwate Prefecture, was inundated by record-breaking tsunami waves which destroyed much of the city’s coastal rail networks. Although much of the infrastructure in the region has since been rehabilitated, reconstruction of the city's rail lines has stagnated due to differences over perceived economic viability, financing, and importance to the community. This paper critically examines how Japanese laws rooted in rational planning and derived from Meiji Era policies, frame and limit the ability of cities in rehabilitating key transportation infrastructures after a disaster event. Using the case of Miyako City, interviews were conducted with city officials, community organizations, and rail representatives in January 2013, December 2013, and March 2015 to better understand the perspectives of major stakeholders regarding rail reconstruction. Finally, the author offers several reconstruction scenarios based on the situation described by these stakeholders. Keywords: Disasters, Japan, Rail, Reconstruction, Tsunami, Urban Planning