Location: Sendai
Top Things to do in Sendai
Top 10 Things to do in Sendai, Japan
Sendai (仙台市, Sendai-shi, Japanese: [seꜜndai]) is the capital city of Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, the largest city in the Tōhoku region, and the second largest city north of Tokyo. As of 1 August 2017, the city had a population of 1,086,012, and is one of Japan's 20 designated cities. The total area of the city is 786.30 square kilometres (303.59 sq mi).
Restaurants in Sendai
1. Jozenji-dori Avenue
Overall Ratings
4 based on 365 reviews
Reviewed By Renata T
It's one of the main streets of Sendai, large and with many trees. There is some cultural places with activities during the year.
2. Rakuten Kobo Stadium Miyagi
Overall Ratings
4 based on 263 reviews
Reviewed By braybrigade - Utah
What a spectacle! We loved watching the July 4th game vs the Chiba Lotte Marines. The cheers are catchy, the crowd's enthusiasm is genuine. There is good food, and good souvenirs. My toddler loved the game (and the ice cream), and even made friends with the ladies behind us. Rakuten Eagles won, which made a fitting end to a great evening!
3. Zuihoden
Overall Ratings
4 based on 449 reviews
Reviewed By Chuzaa - Vancouver, Canada
We took a cab from the Sendai (Aoba) Castle site to the Zuiho-ji Temple for JPY1,070. It took about 15 minutes through the city streets.
The original Zuiho-den Mausoleum was completed in 1637, one year after the death of Lord Daté Masamune. Many years later, because of its elaborate structure and decoration, the Japanese government designated it as a national treasure in 1931. However, it was completely destroyed in July 1945 by the US bombers at the very end of WW II. The current one was re-built in 1979 by the city government to the original specifications, including the decorating sculptures. Some repairs and design corrections were made in 2001.
Our taxi took us only to the front of the Zuiho-ji Temple from where we could see stone steps going up the hill where the Zuiho-den Mausoleum was. There were some canes made available at the lower end of the steps for those who need one. (You are expected to return it when you come back from the Mausoleum complex.)
The Zuiho-den Mausoleum is quite impressive to look at. The entire buildings, including the main gate are painted pitch black with Japanese lacquer (urushi) and many wooden carved decorations and gold-plated bronze metal ornaments are added. Since what you see here are 1979 re-construction, they are not original buildings. But, because they are relatively new, they can show us their original glory probably better than the burned down ones.
Mountain cherry blossoms were beautiful with the blue sky on the day we visited (April 12, 2017).
After visiting the Zuiho-den, we walked five extra minutes and visited by walking to the Kan’no-den and the Kansen-den Mausoleums for the two other lords of the Daté clan immediately after Masamune. The originals of these mausoleum were also lost in WWII and the current mausoleum buildings were re-constructed in 1985.
4. Sendai Station
Overall Ratings
4 based on 414 reviews
Reviewed By YubaPrincess - London, United Kingdom
Like Tokyo station, Sendai Station provides convenience (food outlets and various retail outlets, clean restrooms, proximity to the bus port and the city loop bus, ready connection to local trains, a taxi stand, hotels nearby). On our time of travel, there was a food fair of products made in Aomori, Fukushima and other northern areas of Japan-- delightful!
5. Loople Sendai
Overall Ratings
4 based on 208 reviews
Reviewed By V87 - Edinburgh
A cheap and easy way to see the sites of Sendai. It costs ¥620 yen for a hop on hop off bus tour and it stops at a number of popular tourist spots including the mausoleum of Date Masamune and Sendai Castle. It starts and finishes at the terminal at Sendai Station- you will see a big red sign directing you where to buy tickets. Buses run every 20 minutes. The buses are really cute and look like old trams. There are not enough of them running, however, and big queues develop at the stops meaning either lots of people have to stand or wait on another bus. It is quite a journey with winding roads so this isnt always too pleasant. Aside from this, the buses are a very useful way to tour around and there are announcements in English and Japanese. The drivers were all lovely. Recommended if you're short of time in Sendai or want to easily jump between sites.
6. Nikka Whisky Sendai Factory Miyagikyo Distillery
Overall Ratings
4 based on 240 reviews
MIYAGIKYO Distillery. The location was selected for whisky production because of its clean air, just the right humidity for storage, and abundant underground water filtered through a layer of peat. In Yoichi, Masataka Taketsuru saw numerous reminders of Scotland, and this convinced him that this should be the home of Japanese Whisky. The Miyagikyo Distillery is also in northern Japan, in Sendai (lat.38 N), Miyagi Prefecture, northern Honshu. Travelling in the area one day, Masataka came upon this site completely enclosed by Mountains and sandwiched between two rivers. He immediately knew that this was the perfect site for whisky distilling. Sendai's fresh water, suitable humidity and crisp air produce soft and mild malt.
Reviewed By Itzsteve
Nikka Miyagikyo Distillery
Access:
We drove to the distillery from Utsunomiya after a brief stop in Yamagata. Parking was easy and access to the main tour building was very convenient.
Tour Experience:
During our visit, the tour was only offered in Japanese, which was expected based on a quick phone call to distillery staff. There is no charge for the tour, which is very nice.
If you are someone who frequently visits other Distilleries, you might find the tour lacking in detail and in the allowed proximity to the production processes. One of my favorite whiskies from Nikka is produced using their Coffey still. Tour members are not allowed to enter the building with the Coffey still, so that was somewhat disappointing. The giant pot stills are amazing to see in person. Tour participants finish their experience in the gift shop and tasting room. Some small samples of Nikka whiskies are offered to each tour participant.
Overall:
I would recommend visiting the Miyagikyo distillery, if you are already in the area. Even though I am an avid whisk(e)y lover, I did not find the experience worthy of making a special trip. In my personal opinion, the whole tour felt rather detached and cold. I think Nikka could learn a lot by benchmarking some of the Scottish or American Bourbon distillery tour experiences.
7. Yurtec Stadium Sendai
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 103 reviews
Reviewed By Ikchhit - Sendai, Japan
Its a nice stadium and the garden next to it beautiful. Its good spot to go with family and have a nice weekend picnic or sth. Recommended for weekend fun!
8. Osaki Hachiman Shrine
Overall Ratings
4 based on 209 reviews
Reviewed By Chuzaa - Vancouver, Canada
We drove to the Osaki Hachiman-gu Shrine in the northeastern section of the city of Sendai. Our rental car GPS took us correctly to the shrine’s parking lot behind the main shrine building. From there, it’s a five-minute walk to the main shrine building.
Like the Zuiho-den Mausoleum, the Shrine was also constructed in the late Azuchi Momoyama Period (1573-1603, completed in 1607) with a major financial help by Lord Daté Masamune, the first of the Sendai Fiefdom.
The shrine buildings are all painted with pitch black Japanese lacquer (urushi). This is very unusual for Shinto shrines anywhere in Japan. The uniqueness of this shrine construction and decoration made it a National Treasure in 1952.
The deities of the Hachiman-gu shrine are aligned with some of the earliest mythical imperial family members of Japan and guardians of warriors, farmers and fishermen. The name Osaki is from the family that brought the Hachiman deities to the Sendai area.
Incidentally, it is strongly encouraged to offer some funds when one visits a shrine or a temple like this where there is no admission fee. In the central section of the front of the shrine building is a large box to throw some money in. Just learn it from Japanese prayers near you. Traditionally the Japanese people offer some small amount of change before start praying to the deity of a shrine or a temple. You’re not a follower of the shrine or the temple, so the money is not for praying, but for a small compensation by you for the maintenance. An appropriate amount today should be JPY100 – 200 per person.
9. Akiu Fall
Overall Ratings
4 based on 142 reviews
Reviewed By YubaPrincess - London, United Kingdom
The hiking trail along the Rairaikyo gorge offers lovely views of rocks that were naturally shaped through centuries by wind and water, of sightings of water gushing out of rocks, and of leaves that have begun to turn color as the temperatures drop. The hiking trail leads to more than one destination, each is delightful. There are even benches where travellers can rest and simply enjoy the visual stimulation. The sound of the waterfall and the smell of the trees is so refreshing! Highly recommendable.
Tips: 1) Take the bus to Akiu from Aoba-dori (if unsure, ask the busport at Sendai Station) and alight at Rairaikyo. 2) Enjoy onsen (hot spring water bathing) nearby (such as the public baths at Hotel Sakan).
10. Sendai Mediatheque
Overall Ratings
4 based on 164 reviews
Reviewed By BorneoMel - Borneo
This facility is a lovely place to relax and meet friends and enjoy diverse art installations. I really enjoyed the range of great gifts that were available in the gift shop and having some tea at the pleasant coffee shop. If I lived in Sendai it would quickly become a favorite hang out spot for me.
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