Sendai, the Tōhoku region’s biggest city receiving more than 20 million tourists each year, is an amazing destination that encompasses both city and countryside characteristics, even in the city center. This is why the locals proudly advertise their hometown as the City of Tree (Morio no Miyako, 杜の都). The city, with a good balance of urban and natural attractions, is the perfect destination to visit if you want a break from Tokyo.
Where to Go and What to See in Sendai
To help you plan your visit to Sendai, below is a list of the top attractions in the city for you to consider. They are listed in the order according to their distance from Sendai Station.
- The Top Three Observation Decks in Sendai
- Sendai Morning Market (仙台朝市)
- Jōzenji-dōri Avenue (定禅寺通り)
- Nishi Park (西公園)
- Zuihōden Temple (瑞鳳殿)
- Tsutsujigaoka Tenmangū Shrine (榴岡天満宮) Tsutsujigaoka Park (榴岡公園)
- Sendai Castle (仙台城)
- Sendai Tōshōgū Shrine (仙台東照宮)
- Miyagi Prefecture Museum of Art (宮城県美術館)
- Ōsaki Hachimangū (大崎八幡宮)
- Mori no Ichiba (仙台場外市場 杜の市場)
- Rinnō-ji Temple (輪王寺)
- Shifuku-ji Temple (資福寺)
- Sendai City Tomizawa Site Museum (地底の森ミュージアム)
- Mikamine Park (三神峯公園)
- Nishikigaoka Hillside Mall (錦ケ丘ヒルサイドモール)
- Sendai Daikannon (仙台大観音)
- Akiu Onsen (秋保温泉)
- Nikka Whisky Sendai Factory (ニッカウヰスキー 宮城峡蒸溜所)
- Sakunami Onsen (作並温泉)
- Ōkura Dam (大倉ダム) and Ōkura SUP (大倉SUP)
- Saihōji Temple (定義如来 西方寺)
- Kirin Beer Sendai Factory (キリンビール 仙台工場)
- JR Fruits Park Sendai Arahama (JRフルーツパーク仙台あらはま)
- Spring Valley Sendai Izumi (スプリングバレー仙台泉)
Click HERE to skip to Sendai City’s access information.
Explore Sendai With a Guided Tour
In addition to the above-mentioned spots, if you prefer a guide to introduce you to the beauty of Sendai, how about joining one of the below tours?
- Sendai / Matsushima Full-Day Private Tour With Government-Licensed Guide
- Tour of Nikka Whisky Miyagikyo Distillery With Whiskey Tasting
Tours Departing from Sendai:
- Zao Fox Village One-Day Bus Tour With Strawberry Picking
- Zao Fox Village and Ginzan Onsen One-Day Bus Tour
- Naruko Gorge Autumn Leaves & Ginzan Onsen One-Day Bus Tour
Tip: If you want a professional photography to take photos for you when you visit Sendai, you can book a photography session HERE!
How to Get to Sendai and Navigate Its Best Spots to Visit
Planning a trip to Sendai? Our comprehensive guide simplifies your logistics! Learn the fastest and easiest ways to reach Sendai from anywhere in Japan, and discover the most efficient public transportation methods to navigate effortlessly between all the city’s top attractions.
For more information, refer to our article on How to Get to Sendai and Navigate Its Best Spots to Visit!
The Must-Try Specialty: Zunda Mochi (ずんだ餅)
As you explore Sendai, you will encounter this light green traditional dessert no matter where you go. The Zunda Mochi is a local dish of Miyagi Prefecture, which is made by mixing mashed green soybeans with sugar before the paste is poured over freshly made mochi rice cake.
It is simple yet addictive, especially when the dessert is properly prepared. For a list of the best places to try this famous local dish, refer to our Best Traditional Japanese Dessert Cafes in Sendai article!
The Top Three Observation Decks in Sendai
In Sendai, apart from the Sendai Castle, there are a few more spots in the city center where you can overlook the cityscape of the City of Trees. The good news is two of them are close to Sendai Station, making it easy for us to access these free observation decks!
For more information, refer to our article on The Recommended Observation Decks in Sendai!
Sendai Morning Market (仙台朝市)
When you visit Sendai, what you can not miss out on is the Sendai Morning Market. It is filled with fresh local produce and food stalls. The price tags here are so friendly that other prefecture’s citizens travel to Sendai for their grocery shopping!
For more information, refer to our Sendai Morning Market article!
Jōzenji-dōri Avenue (定禅寺通)
Jōzenji-dōri was originally the approach to Jōzenji Temple. But nowadays, the zelkova-lined path is a small outdoor sculpture museum. Artworks from famous sculptors, such as Emilio Greco (エミリオ・グレコ) and Venanzo Crocetti (ヴェナンツォ・クロチェッティ), are placed, making it an artistic promenade in Sendai’s city center.
In December, the avenue is one of the best places in Sendai for illumination shows. It is the venue for the event Sendai Pageant of Starlight (SENDAI 光のページェント), where thousands of LED lights are used to create a fantastic experience for the visitors.
How to Get to Jōzenji-dōri Avenue
From Sendai Station, take Sendai Subway’s Namboku Line (南北線) and get off at Kōtōdaikoen Station (勾当台公園駅). The avenue is a 3-minute walk from the station.
Nishi Park (西公園)
Nishi Park is the oldest park in Sendai, which opened in 1875. In the Edo period, the park was where the houses of the Sendai Domain’s vassals were located. In the Meiji period, Miyagi Prefecture acquired land ownership and transformed the area into Sakuragaoka Park (桜ケ岡公園).
After the Second World War, because Sakuragaoka Park is located towards the west side of Tsutsujigaoka Park (榴岡公園), it was renamed Nishi Park.
When the cherry blossom season peaks in early April, temporary stalls will serve food, and at night, the 300 lanterns hung in the tree will be lit up.
Tip: If you are a Goshuin collecter, remember to stop by Sakuragaoka Shrine (櫻岡大神宮) in the park for the gorgeous cherry blossom Goshuin, which is only given out during the cherry blossom festival!
In addition to being one of Sendai’s most famous cherry blossom spots, you will also find a retired steam locomotive (operated on the Ou Main Line (奥羽本線) until 1968), a giant 7.4-meter tall Kokeshi Doll, some sculptures, and a plum tree (臥竜梅) brought back by Date Masamune from the Korean peninsula in 1592.
If you are a bit hungry when you get to the park, head to Gengo Chaya (源吾茶屋) for some deliciously prepared traditional desserts!
The park is equally stunning in autumn too!
How to Get to Nishi Park
- From Sendai Station, take Sendai Subway’s Tōzai Line (東西線) and get off at Ōmachi Nishi Kōen Station (大町西公園駅).
Important: There is no car park in Nishi Park.
Zuihōden Temple (瑞鳳殿)
One of the best attractions in Sendai that is scenic all year round is Zuihōden, the mausoleum complex of Sendai Domain’s first lord, Date Masamune and his heirs. Not only is the temple’s precinct filled with stunning nature, but the buildings are also intricately decorated with vivid colors and various auspicious images. In fact, when Hanyu Yuzuru was asked for recommended places to visit in Sendai in an interview, the famous figure skater immediately thought of that spot!
For more information about the temple, refer to our article on Zuihōden!
Tsutsujigaoka Tenmangū Shrine (榴岡天満宮) and Tsutsujigaoka Park (榴岡公園)
If you visit Sendai between late February and late April, head to Tsutsujigaoka Tenmangū Shrine to adore the lovely plum and cherry blossoms. Just like all the Tenmangū in Japan, Tsutsujigaoka Tenmangū enshrines Sugawara no Michizane (菅原道真). Because plum blossom is Michizane’s favorite flower, plum trees are planted here and there in the shrine’s precinct.
As to the cherry blossom? We have to thank the 4th lord of the Sendai Domain, who brought back 1,000 weeping cherry saplings from Kyoto that started the cherry tree planting in Sendai.
For more information, please refer to our article on Tsutsujigaoka Tenmangū Shrine and Tsutsujigaoka Park!
Sendai Castle (仙台城)
Sendai Castle, also known as Aoba Castle, is the base of the Date clan, who ruled the Sendai Domain in the Edo period. Parts of the castle (which was built by Date Masamune) were restored in the late 20th century. It is where you would find the symbol of Sendai, the Equestrian statue of Date Masamune, and a perfect spot for a panoramic view of Sendai’s cityscape!
For more information, please refer to our Sendai Castle article.
Sendai Tōshōgū Shrine (仙台東照宮)
Speaking of Tōshōgū, what first comes into your mind might be the Nikkō Tōshōgū in Tochigi Prefecture (栃木県). But that isn’t the only Tōshōgū Shrine in Japan. In fact, after Tokugawa Ieyasu passed away, more than 500 Tōshōgū were built across Japan by all feudal lords to demonstrate their loyalty to the Tokugawa shogunate.
Sendai’s Tōshōgū was erected in 1654 by the second lord of the Sendai Domain, Date Tadamune (伊達忠宗). More than 130,000 carpenters and 580,000 workers were involved in building this magnificent shrine.
Locating at Sendai Castle’s northeast, the locals have treated Tōshōgū as their guardian shrine.
The Japanese believe demons and devil spirits are coming from the northeast. So there is always a shrine or temple erected northeast of something important. For example, Mt. Hiei’s Engyoji is the temple that has guarded Kyoto since its inception.
The torii gate was offered by Tadamune. Because his wife was from the Bizen Province (now Okayama Prefecture), he specially sourced the building material from Okayama, far away from Sendai.
In spring and autumn, Sendai Tōshōgū Shrine is a great spot to adore the natural scenery in Sendai.
The granite torii gate, the Honden Hall, the Karamon Gate, and the Sukibei (透塀) in the photo were all designated as part of Japan’s important cultural properties. It is the spot in Sendai to peep into the most advanced building techniques at the time.
Sukibei is the transparent fence.
Tip: An antique market is held in the precinct from 7 am to 2 pm on the 4th Sunday of each month.
Sendai Toshogu’s Opening Hours and Access Information
- Sendai Toshogu is open from 8:30 am to 5 pm.
- From JR Tōshōgū Station (東照宮駅), it is a 3-minute walk.
- If you plan to take Sendai City Bus, get off at Tōshōgū Icchōme (東照宮1丁目). The shrine is then a 3-minute walk away.
Miyagi Prefecture Museum of Art (宮城県美術館)
Important: The museum is currently closed for building renovation until 2026.
Miyagi Prefecture Museum of Art is the perfect attraction to stop by if you love examining Japanese and Western paintings, sculptures, and crafts. The museum houses mainly artworks from artists related to the Tōhoku region, most of which were made from the late 19th century onwards.
Among the exhibits, what amazes most visitors are the indoor and outdoor sculptures which reflect the exemplary skills of the sculptors. If it is lunchtime when you visit the Miyagi Museum of Art, get a bento box and head to the museum’s garden to enjoy food whilst surrounded by trees and interesting artworks!
Moreover, if the artworks inspire you in the museum, you can make your own artwork at their Creation Room (創作室)! No reservation or fee is required, so talk to the staff!
Before you go, you can check out the current exhibition on the official website HERE.
Miyagi Museum of Art’s Opening Hours, Admission Fee, and Access Information
- Miyagi Museum of Art is open daily from 9:30 am to 5 pm except for Mondays.
- The last admission is at 4:30 pm.
- If Monday is a public holiday, it will close on the next business day instead.
- The admission fee is
- 300 yen for adults
- 150 yen for university students
- Free for elementary and high school students
- Special exhibitions are charged separately.
- Free entry to the permanent exhibition on the 5th and 18th of May.
- From Sendai Subway’s International Center Station (国際センター駅) West 1 exit or Kawauchi Station (川内駅) North 1 exit, it is a 7-minute walk.
- If you plan to take Loople Sendai, get off at the International Center Subway Station/Miyagi Museum of Art (国際センター駅・宮城県美術館前).
- If you plan to take Sendai City Bus, take either route 730 or route 739 from Sendai Station West exit bus stop no. 9, and get off at Nikō Miyagiken Bijutsukan-mae (二高・宮城県美術館前).
Mori no Ichiba (仙台場外市場 杜の市場)
Another local market that you can visit is Mori no Ichiba. The indoor market that combines the advantage of a supermarket and a morning market was only opened after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake. In addition to Sendai City and Miyagi Prefecture’s fresh produce, you can also find specialties from other prefectures in the Tōhoku region.
Another good thing about Mori no Ichiba is it has a dining area. So after a shopping session, you can take your time to enjoy them.
Mori no Ichiba also has a couple of restaurants for those who can’t find what they want to eat in the market area. Note that there is no vegetarian menu.
Mori no Ichiba’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Mori no Ichiba is open daily from 9 am to 7 pm except for New Year’s Day.
- From Sendai Subway’s Oroshimachi Station (卸町駅) North 1 exit, it is around a 15-minute walk.
- You can also take Sendai City Bus and get off at Chūō Oroshi Uriichiba Seimonzen (中央卸売市場正門前).
Rinnō-ji Temple (輪王寺)
If you are after the best Japanese garden in Sendai, head to Rinnō-ji, a temple north of Sendai’s city center. In fact, the temple’s garden has been ranked one of the best in the Tōhoku region! Moreover, there are two donkeys waiting to meet you on the precinct!
For more information, please refer to our Rinnō-ji article.
Shifuku-ji Temple (資福寺)
Very close to Rinnō-ji Temple, Shifuku-ji is where you will want to visit from late June to late July. The temple known as Sendai’s hydrangea temple has more than 1,200 hydrangeas in the precinct. Although the scale is smaller than Kamakura’s Meigetsu-in Temple (明月院), the crowds are thinner when the flowers are blooming, and you might be able to enjoy a bowl of matcha and a Japanese sweet in the Shoin Hall!
The Kannon statue enshrined in the Kannon-dō (観音堂) was made by Jigaku Daishi (慈覚大師), making the Shifuku-ji the 3rd temple in the Sendai 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.
Tip: Don’t forget to stop by Rinnō-ji for the massive field of iris after seeing the hydrangeas in Shifuku-ji!
How to Get to Shifuku-ji
- From JR Hita-Sendai Station (北仙台駅), it is around a 12-minute walk.
- From Sendai Subway’s Kitayama Station (北山駅), it is around a 15-minute walk.
Sendai City Tomizawa Site Museum (地底の森ミュージアム)
To all the archaeology fans, make sure you visit Sendai City Tomizawa Site Museum. In fact, even if you don’t care much about what happened thousands of years ago, you should find this spot exciting!
The underground museum is probably the only place in the world to see a fossilized forest and the remains of human habitation that occurred 20,000 years ago at the same time!
The Forest from 20,000 Years Ago
The fossilized 20,000-year-old forest is preserved in its original state in the underground exhibition room. Most of the trees are conifers. It is your chance to see the roots and trunks of precious or even extinct plants up close!
The forest’s fossils also proved that many creatures used to live in the forest because deer dung can be seen in up to 40 spots.
Human activity is evidenced in the traces of bonfires as well as the stone tools discovered nearby.
Tip: Although it is in Japanese only, a short film introducing the Paleolithic lifestyle plays every 20 minutes!
The Above Ground Exhibition Room
Once you have your fill of the fossils underground, you can head upstairs for excavation-related materials. One of the highlights might be the diorama of the coastline 20,000 ago.
Time Required at Sendai City Tomizawa Site Museum
It will take around an hour to explore Sendai City Tomizawa Site Museum. While most of the exhibits are located underground, there are also exhibition corners on the first floor. So if you are constrained on time, make sure you don’t spend all of it on the basement level.
Sendai City Tomizawa Site Museum’s Opening Hours, Admission Fee, and Access Information
- Sendai City Tomizawa Site Museum is open daily from 9 am to 4:45 pm except for Mondays.
- The last admission is at 4:15 pm.
- If Monday is a public holiday, the museum will close on the next business day instead.
- It will also close on the next day of a public holiday, the 4th Thursday of each month, and from the 28th of December to the 4th of January.
- The admission fee is
- 460 yen for adults
- 230 yen for high school students
- 110 yen for elementary and junior high school students
- The museum is a 5-minute walk away from Sendai Subway’s Nagamachiminami Station (長町南駅) and a 20-minute walk from JR Nagamachi Station (長町駅).
Mikamine Park (三神峯公園)
Another popular place for cherry blossom hunting is Mikamine Park, located a 15-minute walk away from Sendai City Tomizawa Site Museum. Because there are wide varieties of cherry trees here, the cherry blossom season at Mikamine Park is longer, lasting from early to late April.
How to Get to Mikamine Park
From Sendai Subway’s Nagamachiminami Station (長町南駅) or from Sendai Station, take Sendai City Bus, and get off at Nishitaga Itchōme Nishi/Mikamine Kōen-iriguchi (西多賀一丁目西・三神峯公園入口).
Nishikigaoka Hillside Mall (錦ケ丘ヒルサイドモール)
If you plan to drive to Sakunami Onsen or Akiu Onsen and love visiting shopping malls, stop by Nishikigaoka Hillside Mall on your way back to Sendai’s city center. The shopping mall imaging the European streets is the Tōhoku region’s first outlet and is the perfect place for families to spend quality time. Besides shops and restaurants, Nishikigaoka Hillside Mall has a couple of facilities for young families to have fun.
For example, the wooden indoor creative playground, Kansei no Mori (感性の森), has many wooden items for young children to play freely with their sensibility. In the Kid’sUS.LAND, obstacle courses are set up for them to challenge themselves.
Also, while we don’t normally recommend going to aquariums, the small aquariums on Aqua Terrace Nishikigaoka (アクアテラス錦ケ丘) will break your stereotypical mental image of an aquarium.
Tip: Sendai Astronomical Observatory (仙台市天文台) is just a 10-minute walk away. Although things are conducted in Japanese, there are various planetarium activities and a fantastic film for you to enjoy.
Nishikigaoka Hillside Mall’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Nishikigaoka Hillside Mall and Aqua Terrace Nishikigaoka are open from 10 am to 7 pm.
- The last admission to Aqua Terrace Nishikigaoka is at 6 pm.
- The admission fee to Aqua Terrace Nishikigaoka is
- 1,000 yen for adults
- 700 yen for elementary and junior high school students
- 500 yen for young children from the age of 3
- From JR Ayashi Station (愛子駅), take the Ayashi Sightseeing Bus (愛子観光バス) bound for Nishikigaoka Roku-chōme (錦ケ丘六丁目) and get off at Nishikigaoka Hill Mall-mae (錦ケ丘ヒルサイドモール前).
- You can also board the bus from Sendai Station (仙台駅).
- HERE is the timetable for the service. You can translate it using Google Chrome’s translation function at the right of the address bar.
Tip:
1. Remember to get a Boarding Certificate (乗車証明書) when you get off the sightseeing bus.
2. Show the certificate to any shop in the shopping mall for a free return bus ticket when you spend more than 2,000 yen.
3. Note you still need to pay for the initial trip to the shopping mall.
You can refer to the official website HERE if you read Japanese for this offer.
Sendai Daikannon (仙台大観音)
If you have ever wondered where Japan’s tallest Kannon statue is, it is in Sendai. The statue is as tall as a 15-story building, has a beautiful and calming appearance and acts as a Buddhist art gallery and a temple!
For more information, please refer to our article on Sendai Daikannon!
Akiu Onsen (秋保温泉)
If you want to visit a hot spring town in the Tōhoku region, Akiu Onsen in Sendai has to be one of the top choices. Not only is the onsen one of the top three hot spring towns in northeastern Japan but it was also loved by two past Japanese emperors that the hot spring is known as one of Nihon San Miyu! In addition to the nice hot spring, the onsen town is also a renowned destination filled with beautiful natural attractions.
For more information, please refer to our article on Akiu Onsen!
Ōkura Dam (大倉ダム) and Ōkura SUP (大倉SUP)
On the way to Saihōji Temple, one of the most popular destinations in Sendai, you will surely go past Ōkura Dam. If you have time and plan to self-drive, we recommend stopping here and taking in the breathtaking view from the dam.
In addition, the Ōkura Dam Downstream Park below the dam is a hidden gem for cherry blossom hunting!
The Ōkura River Valley (大倉川渓谷) at Ōkura Dam’s upstream is a scenic place to enjoy water activities. The higher the dam’s water level, the further upstream you can paddle to.
If you are interested, the below two organizations can hold English tours. Fill in the inquiry form, and they will get back to you with more details about the half-day tour!
How to Get to Ōkura Dam
From Sendai Staton’s Bus Stop no. 10, take bus services bound for Jōgi (定義) and get off at Ōkura Dam (大倉ダム).
Saihōji Temple (定義如来 西方寺)
If you are a Japanese history buff or enjoy gorgeous natural scenery and temple architecture, consider stopping by Saihōji Temple when you visit Sendai. The temple shares a deep connection with the Taira clan (平家) and comprises many astonishing historical buildings.
In addition, Saihōji has a miraculous Amida Buddha that is said to grant a once-in-a-lifetime wish!
For more information, please refer to our Saihōji Temple article.
Kirin Beer Sendai Factory (キリンビール 仙台工場)
An attraction in Sendai where you can tour around the alcohol brewery and alcohol tasting is Kirin Beer Sendai Factory. While the tour does incur a small cost, Kirin’s factory is easier to get to compared to Nikka Whisky because of the free shuttle bus services departing from JR Tagajō Station (多賀城駅). It even has its dedicated bus stop at the station’s south exit!
For more information and to reserve a spot for the factory tour, please refer to the official website HERE. The website will prompt you to enter your birth year to confirm you are over 20 years old.
You will also find the free shuttle bus timetable when you click on Kirin Brewery Sendai at the bottom of the webpage.
JR Fruits Park Sendai Arahama (JRフルーツパーク仙台あらはま)
The tourist park close to the stunning Sendai Bay was opened in March 2021 to revitalize the local economy after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake. The facility was also created to bring back smiles to people’s faces. In the 11-hectare-wide farm, 8 different types of fruits of 156 varieties are grown, including strawberries, grapes, figs, kiwis, and apples. So no matter what season you visit JR Fruits Park Sendai Arahama, there are fruits for you to pick!
Tip: It is best to make a reservation by calling +81-22-290-0766 if you want to do fruit picking. You can kindly ask your hotel staff to call on your behalf if you don’t speak Japanese.
Furthermore, you can enjoy the light meal and dessert menus created by Hotel Metropolitan Sendai’s chef in the farm’s restaurant, Les Pommes (レポム). Each dish is prepared from fresh fruits and vegetables from local farms. You can also source the farm’s fruits and vegetables picked from farms nearby at the farmer’s market Arahama Marche (あらはまマルシェ).
Tip: Utilize the phrases in our Essential Japanese Travel Phrases for Vegetarians and Vegans article to order vegetarian desserts! We have confirmed that there is no savory vegetarian menu in the restaurant.
Also, there might be fruit or vegetable processing events at Arahama Kitchen (あらはまキッチン). Check with the staff upon arrival if you are interested!
JR Fruits Park Sendai Arahama’s Opening Hours and Access Information
- JR Fruits Park Sendai Arahama is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm except for Tuesdays.
- Farmer’s market is open until 4 pm.
- The restaurant is open from 11 am to 3 pm.
- If Tuesday is a public holiday, it will close the next business day instead.
- It also closes from the 29th of December to the 4th of January.
- From Sendai Subway’s Arai Station (荒井駅), take buses bound for Earthquake Heritage Arahama Elementary School (震災遺構仙台市立荒浜小学校前) and get off at Earthquake Heritage Arahama Elementary School.
Spring Valley Sendai Izumi (スプリングバレー仙台泉)
Spring Valley Sendai Izumi is a well-known ski resort among the locals. But what they might not be aware of is that the facility is also a summer resort for both children and adults to enjoy from mid-July to early November. It features exciting outdoor activities, including zipline and adventure courses of different difficulties. You can even experience realistic combat and battlefields that challenge your survival skills!
In addition, Spring Valley Sendai Izumi is also a great spot to view fall foliage from late October to early November!
Spring Valley Sendai Izumi’s Business Hours and Access Information
- The business hours in the summer and the winter season differ. Please refer to the official website HERE and translate it using Google Chrome’s translation function at the right of the address bar.
- Spring Valley Sendai Izumi is around a 40-minute drive from the city center.
- From Sendai Subway’s Izumi-Chūō Station (泉中央駅), it will take around 50 minutes by bus.
