At first glance, Sendai looks like any other urban city – soaring skyscrapers, block upon block of offices and apartments, and a population of more than a million people packed into a limited area. Yet the city’s evolution over four decades can be clearly traced if you look close enough.
From a samurai state to a blooming garden city, war-ravaged and then earthquake-damaged districts, and now the bustling metropolis that you see, Sendai is a time capsule. Read on to find a list of the best things to do around Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.
1. Sendai's authentic nightlife (from USD 130.0)
Immerse yourself in Sendai’s vibrant drinking culture on this curated izakaya (pub) hopping adventure! Delve into the heart of Sendai’s iconic alleyways, Bunka Yokocho and Iroha Yokocho, and get acquainted with the city’s charming past while visiting quaint izakayas.
Sample the regional delicacies of Tohoku at three distinct venues. Each stop offers a unique taste and, perhaps, a new favorite dish. Under the guidance of an English-speaking local, you’ll not only savor authentic flavors but also gain insight into ordering etiquette and the city’s rich history.
Sendai Izakaya Bar Hopping Tour
Duration: 2.5hours
2. Zuihōden Temple
If it’s your first time visiting Sendai, one of the top places you shouldn’t miss is the lovely scenes of Zuihoden Temple. Known as the mausoleum of one of the most influential feudal lords during Edo period, Zuihoden Temple is an excellent destination for culture and history enthusiasts. Its ornate style came from the Momoyama period that consists of intricate woodwork and a mixture of bright and vivid colors. Surrounding the temple are cedar trees that add beauty to the whole place. There’s also a museum beside the temple that showcases personal artifacts.
Zuihōden Temple
Address: ２３-2 Otamayashita, Aoba Ward, Sendai, Miyagi 980-0814, Japan
Website: Zuihōden Temple
Opening hours: 9am - 4:30pm (daily)
3. Hirose River
Hirose River is one of the famous rivers in the country that stretches over 45 kilometers (27 miles). It starts from Sekiyama Ridge to Natori River. It’s a perfect destination to visit if you want to witness breathtaking landscapes. Its location in the heart of Sendai City makes it easy to access. Apart from that, there are tons of attractions nearby you can visit after walking the mile-long river. You won’t have to worry about cars on the road since the river has its walkway. Make sure to catch the sun setting on the horizon.
Hirose River
Address: Sendai 980-0823 Miyagi Prefecture
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4. Kotodai Park
Kotodai Park is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike. It features three different zones, such as History Zone, Busy Zone and, Ikoi Zone. Ikoi Zone features surrounding Himalayan cedar trees and has expansive circular flower beds that create a soothing atmosphere for anyone having a hard day. If you want to see historical spots, the Historic zone is the place to go. For more exciting things, do check out the activities that you can find at Busy Zone. This park really has everything for people of varying interests.
Kotodai Park
Address: 3 Chome-9-2 Honcho, Aoba Ward, Sendai, Miyagi 980-0014, Japan
Website: Kotodai Park
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
5. Sendai Umino-Mori Aquarium
Whether you’re looking for the perfect dating place or a destination to bring your family, you can never go wrong with Sendau Umino-Mori Aquarium. It’s ideal for both a romantic and a family date. One of the things that makes this place lovely is its mission to showcase humans’ amazing connection with the seas. Since its establishment in 2015, the aquarium has continued to undergo a lot of changes to make sure that facilities are up to date. Make sure to watch the performances of dolphins and penguins during the exhibits.
Sendai Umino-Mori Aquarium
Address: Japan, 〒983-0013 Miyagi, Sendai, Miyagino Ward, Nakano, 4 Chome−６
Website: Sendai Umino-Mori Aquarium
Opening hours: 10am - 5pm (daily)
6. Sendai Toshogu Shrine
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Posted by Tohoku Tourism on Sunday, April 15, 2018
One of the things you will notice when exploring Japan is the number of Shinto shrines all over the place. Whether it’s in the city center, a rural village, there’s always a quaint building in a grove of trees that comes with a torii gate. If you happen to be in Sendai, you can witness one of these in Sendai Toshogu Shrine. Its location is in the political center of Sendai Domai, which makes it accessible. One of the best things about visiting the shrine is that you will get a moment to relax and take in the beauty of the surrounding nature.
Sendai Toshogu Shrine
Address: 1 Chome-6-1 Toshogu, Aoba Ward, Sendai, Miyagi 981-0908, Japan
Website: Sendai Toshogu Shrine
Opening hours: 8:30am - 5pm (daily)
7. Yagiyama Zoological Park
If you’re planning to witness the beautiful scenery of Miyagi Prefecture with your family, one of the adventures you shouldn’t miss is its exciting Yagiyama Zoological Park. It’s a perfect destination to bring the kids with you. It has all the highlights that will delight you, including elephants, penguins, tigers, pandas, and birds. There are tons of animal exhibits to watch for a reasonable price. Although the layout of the park can be a little confusing, you won’t have to worry. The park provides maps and signs for tourists. You can also enjoy a tasty meal at its on-site restaurant.
Yagiyama Zoological Park
Address: DJapan, 〒982-0801 Miyagi, Sendai, Taihaku Ward, Yagiyamahoncho, 1 Chome−４３
Website: Yagiyama Zoological Park
Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 9am - 4pm (closed on Mon)
8. Sendai City Museum
The first stop is the Sendai City Museum, which keeps a detailed documentation of the Date Clan and its relationship to the city. Samurai Lord Date Masamune, known better as the “one-eyed dragon”, founded Sendai in 1600. With the fearsome feudal lord building his castle in the middle of the town, the once sleepy fishing village exploded in population and trade.
The City Museum first opened in 1961 on the former grounds of the Sendai Castle. It boasts a rotating display of more than 90,000 artifacts, including weapons, ceremonial pieces, and artworks, evincing the illustrious history of Sendai during the Edo period. Many of these materials were donated directly by descendants and supporters of the Date Clan. Beyond the main exhibitions, the museum also has a library containing a vast database of information. As you will soon find, the legacy of the Date Clan lingers in Sendai to this day.
Sendai City Museum
Address: 26 Kawauchi, Aoba-ku, Sendai
Website: Sendai City Museum
9. Sendai Castle
Sendai Castle was severely damaged during the anti-feudal bloodlust during the Meiji Period, and then again by the bombs during WWII. While only the outer stone walls and guard tower remain of the original fortifications, a magnificent statue of Masamune in full armor, astride a rearing horse, reminds visitors of the site’s former glory.
The remnants of Sendai Castle can be found 20min from the museum, on the top of Mount Aoba. Rising 100 m (328 ft) above the town, the hill was strategically chosen for the defense of the stronghold. Today, the vantage point offers a fantastic view of the sprawling city below.
Sendai Castle
Address: 1 Kawauchi, Aoba-ku, Sendai
Website: Sendai Castle
10. Osaki Hachiman-gu Shrine
Osaki Hachiman-gu Shrine houses the Date Clan’s patron deity, Hachiman. Aside from being Sendai’s guardian, he is also the Shinto God of War. The shrine is a designated National Treasure, and this honored status is evident from its grand design. Black lacquered wood gilded with gold details form the external structure, while the ornate painted screens inside further allude to the wealth and power of the Date Clan.
On 14 January each year, thousands of half-naked pilgrims throng to Osaki Hachiman-gu in a festival known as the Donto Mastumi. A huge bonfire is lit, and the smoke spiraling to the skies symbolizes the riddance of bad luck and unwanted memories. Even if you are unable to make it for this unique ritual, do visit the shrine for a blessing of health and good fortune.
Osaki Hachiman-gu Shrine
Address: 4-6-1 Hachiman, Aoba-ku, Sendai
Website: Osaki Hachiman-gu Shrine
11. Jozenji Street
It may be hard to imagine, but this concrete-scape that is Sendai was once the ‘City of Trees’. The last feudal lord of Sendai encouraged his people to cultivate forests in their backyards for wood, that being a highly demanded material and fuel source then. As a result, lush foliage bloomed in houses, around shrines, and just about everywhere on the streets.
While most of the city’s greenery was lost during the WWII air raids, visitors to Sendai can get a glimpse of it along Jozenji Street. Rows of Zelkova trees are planted here in the heart of the city, in remembrance of the former landscape. The rounded crowns of the Zelkovas paint a picturesque scene that changes with each passing month. Bright green gives way to warm copper tones, then a blazing red before they shed for a new season. Best of all, this scenery can be enjoyed while you pop in and out of the stores in this shopping and financial district.
Jozenji Street
Address: From 1 Chuo to 2 Omachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai
Website: Jozenji Street
12. Sendai Mediatheque
The Mediatheque is a library cum gallery that signifies Sendai’s leap into the future. Conceived of as a ‘barrier-free’ zone, the resources and spaces in the building are designed to facilitate exchanges between people of different cultures, abilities, technical background and so on.
The Mediatheque’s glass cube façade is the architect’s bold interpretation of how technology might seep and flow into our modern spaces, with each level connected by skeletal tubes that traverse the height of the building. Challenging as it is to stop marveling at the steel and glass ingenuity that is the Mediatheque, do spend time to discover the cinema, exhibition halls, and various other media-related materials in the libraries.
Sendai Mediatheque
Address: 2-1 Kasuga-Machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai
Website: Sendai Mediatheque
13. Miyagi Museum of Art
A cool silence envelopes you the moment you enter the cavernous main hall of the Miyagi Museum of Art. As you venture deeper, you will find collections by artists hailing from the surrounding Miyagi Prefecture and Tohoku Region, and the occasional temporary exhibit by their Western contemporaries. These works, originating from the Meiji Period to the present day, range from oil paintings to handicrafts, prints to carvings. The highlight of the museum is in the open-air courtyard where visitors can examine sculptures by the esteemed Churyo Sato, a bronze sculptor whose career spans 70 years.
Impressive as it is, the Miyagi Museum is not just for trained eyes. As part of its mission to make art approachable, the museum also offers open workshops for anyone who wishes to draw, sculpt, print and more.
Miyagi Museum of Art
Address: 34-1 Kawauchi-Motohasekura, Aoba-ku, Sendai
Website: Miyagi Museum of Art
14. Tomizawa Site Museum
If you thought ancient Japan was fascinating, wait till you get to the Tomizawa Site Museum. The museum is a built-to-purpose shelter for an archaeological site dating back to the Glacial Period, more than 20,000 years ago. Fossilized roots and tools scattered around a remarkably preserved campsite paint a vivid picture of life in the Paleolithic era. To augment the experience of being hurled back in time, scenes of a glacial forest are projected on the walls periodically to give visitors a sense of the harsh environment then.
The second floor of the Tomizawa museum offers details on the flora and fauna that thrived and disappeared along with the prehistoric period. It also explains how the Paleolithic people crafted and harnessed the resources around them for survival. In short, the Tomizawa Site Museum is an unexpected foray into the history of human civilization, smack in a quintessential Japanese city.
Tomizawa Site Museum
Address: 4-3-1 Nagamachi-minami, Taihaku-ku, Sendai
Website: Tomizawa Site Museum
15. Sendai City War Reconstruction Memorial Hall
Sendai suffered extensive damages from the carpet bombs of WWII. Aside from the destruction of the historic centre, the city also lost several cultural monuments, including Sendai Castle and the mausoleum of the Date Clan.
The War Reconstruction Memorial Hall is the city’s attempt to remember the grave losses suffered by Sendai during the years of conflict. Here, you can find military relics such as uniforms, medals and weapons. A replica of a bomb shelter amongst other objects reveal a life lived in perpetual fear. More than just the tragedy though, the memorial hall also reminds residents and visitors of Sendai’s tenacious spirit – an ability to survive regardless of how dire the circumstances may seem – through extensive documentation of the post war recovery efforts.
Sendai City War Reconstruction Memorial Hall
Address: 2-12-1 Omachi, Aoba Ward, Sendai
16. Akiu Onsen
Akiu Onsen is located on the outskirts of Sendai, on the banks of the Natori-gawa River. Just a 45 min drive away from the city, the ancient onsen village is surrounded by an emerald vista of forests and mountains. Walking along the river, you will come across the unique formations of the Rai-rai Kyo Gorge, the undulating Futakuchi Valley, and most breath-taking of all, the Akiu Waterfalls that cascade from a height of 55 m (180 ft). The waterfall is said to be one of Japan’s three most beautiful waterfalls. From the basin at its foot, you can feel the cool spray washing lightly over your face, as you gaze upon its full scale.
There are several hotels in the vicinity of Akiu if you choose to spend the night. Let the therapeutic heat of the spring waters rejuvenate you, after spending all that time in the city’s bustle.
Akiu Onsen
Address: Akiu-machi, Taihaku-ku, Sendai
Website: Akiu Onsen
A city, evolving
Sendai is undoubtedly a modern city, with luxurious shopping streets and a fast-paced financial district. Nevertheless, a strong sense of culture and tradition remain palpable. The people of Sendai honor their history, even as they embrace the advent of modernity.
The best way to tour Sendai is on the Loople, a vintage bus that passes through all the major landmarks. Starting at Sendai station, you can choose to hop on and off at your own pace, or enjoy a guided tour on the ride.
History
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