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I’m so thrilled that I can lastly publish a Sendai itinerary. As you’ll know in case you had been following this web site in 2021 or later, it took me a very long time to see Sendai for what it’s.
And what’s Sendai, you ask? Properly, it’s much more than only a place to transit en path to extra thrilling locations in Tohoku. After having explored Sendai extra deeply, I’d in all probability checklist it among the many most underrated cities in Japan, and I definitely contemplate it to be of the nation’s best-kept secrets and techniques.
Regardless of why you’ve got Sendai in your radar, or if you suppose you may have the ability to go to, I hope you’ll proceed studying. No matter you do, please don’t wait seven years to offer this place an actual likelihood like I did!
The place to Keep in Sendai
Earlier than I delve deeper into issues to do in Sendai, let’s discuss the place it is best to keep. The excellent news is that there isn’t a scarcity of motels on this metropolis. Inside strolling distance of Sendai Station you’ll discover branches of most each main Japanese resort model, together with APA, Tremendous Lodge, Dormy Inn and Daiwa Roynet. There’s additionally a Mitsui Backyard Lodge, which I haven’t stayed in, however appears to be like good (and model new).
After all, Sendai motels are solely a part of the dialogue. The town has a comparatively excessive variety of Airbnb properties, which could be a nice possibility if you wish to keep right here for some time, or in case you’re merely uninterested in the Japanese enterprise resort expertise. When you go this route, I’d encourage you to be aware of the place within the metropolis you keep, as Sendai is far greater than it appears to be like. That is very true in case you plan to take quite a lot of day journeys—you’ll wish to be near Sendai station.
Methods to Savor Your Time in Sendai
Say “Konnichiwa” with a plate of cow tongue
I do know what you’re considering: “Cow tongue” sounds neither welcoming nor promoting. Whereas this native specialty might sound a bit odd, I encourage you to not focus an excessive amount of on the substance, together with the comparatively odd look of the meat. Even in case you don’t find yourself discovering the dish to be tasty (I did, though I’m not in a rush to eat it once more), the ambiance of Umami Taisuke (or some other of the handfuls of gyutan institutions in Sendai) is well worth the stress of attempting it.
Stroll the path of Tohoku’s most well-known Samurai
As soon as your stomach is absolutely, whether or not with gyutan or extra typical Japanese meals, you’re prepared to start out strolling town’s vacationer path, which is definitely one thing of a Samurai path. That’s as a result of a lot of the high issues to do in Sendai, from the Aoba Fort Ruins to ornate Zuihoden temple, tie again to Sixteenth-century feudal lord Date Masamune, whose likeness (and legacy) pops up many times as you discover Sendai.
Pray to the world’s tallest Goddess statue
It’s tough to overlook Sendai Daikannon, which is so tall you possibly can see it whilst your practice rolls into Sendai Station. The backstory behind this mammoth, which at 100 meters is the tallest goddess statue on the earth, shouldn’t be as attention-grabbing as you may suppose, on condition that it was constructed comparatively just lately, in 1991. Nevertheless, getting up-close and private with it’s a particularly cool expertise, significantly due to the best way it towers over the encompassing western suburbs of Sendai.
Take within the well-known view over Matsushima Bay
There are different issues to do in Sendai (the city-proper, I imply), however I encourage you to get a bit out of city at this level within the Sendai itinerary. The primary possibility for doing so is to board a JR Senseki Line practice to Matsushima-Kaigan, the station nearest to well-known Matsushima Bay. Whether or not or not you find yourself taking a ship tour of those pine-covered islands, they make for a refreshing escape from town heart most any time of 12 months.
Scale the steps to Yamadera Temple
Another choice in case you’re in search of day journeys from Sendai? Head west through the JR Senzan Line to Yamadera Station (which, if we’re being technical, is in Yamagata prefecture). From right here it’s about quarter-hour by foot to the doorway of the path to scale Risshaku-ji—the mountain temple, or “Yama Dera“ in Japanese. This temple is gorgeous anytime of 12 months (I most just lately went in summer time), however is very beautiful amid the autumn leaves.
How Many Days Ought to You Spend in Sendai?
Sendai’s a metropolis you possibly can see in a pair days, if you must, however the place it’s good to cool down and spend a little bit extra time. That is particularly the case in case you use it primarily as a base for day journeys, whether or not you Matsushima and Yamadera as I described above, or to Tashirojima cat island, the controversial Zao Fox Village or any variety of different locations within the central a part of the Tohoku area.
With this being mentioned, I do suppose nearly all of vacationers can get by with simply 2 or 3 days in Sendai. This enables for a full day (and perhaps half of a second) ticking off numerous issues to do in Sendai, plus the chance to get out of city a couple of times. This assumes that you’ll journey extra broadly in Japan, and possibly deeper into Tohoku. Nevertheless, Sendai can be nice as a weekend journey from Tokyo or Osaka, assuming you reside in Japan or are staying right here some time!
Different FAQ About Visiting Sendai
Is Sendai price visiting?
The reply is totally “sure,” as I wrote about extensively in one other put up. To sum up my findings there right here, nonetheless, I like Sendai for the eclectic vary of actions it presents inside a comparatively small footprint, its proximity to beautiful nature similar to Yamadera temple and Matsushima Bay and its place as a gateway to the thrilling Tohoku area.
Is Sendai protected from radiation?
Sendai is totally protected from radiation, on condition that it’s over 100 km north of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant, the place containment efforts are previous as deliberate. If it wasn’t, don’t you suppose you’d’ve heard extra stories about illness and dying, practically a decade after the catastrophe?
How do I get from Tokyo to Sendai?
One of the best ways to journey from Tokyo to Sendai is through Shinkansen, which takes about 90 minutes finish to finish. Whereas ANA does function a couple of flights per day from Narita, these are supposed for worldwide connecting passengers, are are usually not sensible to take in case you’re already on the bottom in central Tokyo.
The Backside Line
I hope you’ve gotten what you sought if you clicked this Sendai itinerary, whether or not that’s a factual round-up of issues to do, or my very own ringing endorsement of town. And I do ringingly endorse this metropolis, regardless that it took me the higher a part of a decade to see it for what it’s. Even in case you’re strapped for time and solely have two weeks in Japan or so, I’d encourage you to contemplate spending a day or two right here, even in case you merely eat a gyutan dinner earlier than heading off to some place else within the Tohoku area. Want personalised help planning your subsequent journey to Japan? Whether or not or not your itinerary finally ends up together with Sendai, I hope you’ll contemplate hiring me to plan your journey.
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