Sendai, Miyagi · Things to do
Things to Do in Sendai: 11 Places with Hours, Prices and Access
11 things to do · checked October 20, 2026
11 things to do in Sendai, from the city centre outward
Hours, prices and access checked against each place's own page on October 20, 2026. They change; check before you go.
1Zuihoden瑞鳳殿
Mausoleum and museum · Reiyashita, Aoba Ward
The mausoleum of Date Masamune, founder of the Sendai domain. The original was destroyed in 1945 and the present building dates from 1979; the grounds also hold the mausoleums of the second and third lords, Tadamune and Tsunamune, and a museum. A special exhibition on Masamune starts on 22 October 2026.
- Access
- Loople Sendai bus from Sendai Station to the Zuihoden stop (the fourth stop, about 15 minutes), then about 7 minutes on foot. Or Tozai Line to Omachi-nishikoen Station, then 15 to 20 minutes on foot.
- Hours
- 1 Feb–30 Nov 9:00–16:50 (last entry 16:30); 1 Dec–31 Jan 9:00–16:20 (last entry 16:00)
- Closed on
- 31 December. On 1 January only the main mausoleum is open.
- Price
- Adults and university students ¥570; high school ¥410; elementary and junior high ¥210
2Sendai Castle Ruins (Aoba Castle)仙台城跡（青葉城跡）
Castle site, viewpoint and museum · Aobayama
The site of the castle Date Masamune built on Mount Aoba. No castle buildings remain; the stone walls and a reconstructed watchtower do. A bronze statue of Masamune on horseback stands at the main keep site, about 130 m above sea level, with a view over central Sendai to the Pacific. The Aoba Castle Exhibition Hall has a CG theatre and a paid VR tour.
- Access
- Loople Sendai bus from Sendai Station (West Exit bus terminal, stop 16) to the Site of Sendai Castle stop; stairs lead from the stop to the main keep site.
- Hours
- Grounds open at all times. Exhibition Hall: April–October 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:40); November–March 9:00–16:00 (last entry 15:40). Stone walls and statue are lit from sunset to 23:00.
- Closed on
- Exhibition Hall winter closure on 14 days the operator lists: 25 Nov; 2, 9, 16, 23 Dec; 13, 20, 27 Jan; 4, 10, 17, 24 Feb; 3, 10 Mar (2026–27). VR tour closed every Wednesday.
- Price
- Grounds free. Exhibition Hall adults ¥770, junior and senior high ¥550, elementary ¥330. VR tour adults ¥880; museum plus VR ticket adults ¥1,430.
3Osaki Hachimangu Shrine大崎八幡宮
Shrine · Hachiman, Aoba Ward
A shrine whose lacquered, gold-decorated main building, in the gongen-zukuri style, is designated a National Treasure. The approach runs under a large vermilion gate and past cedar trees. On 14 January the Dontosai festival burns New Year decorations in a bonfire and draws about 100,000 people.
- Access
- Sendai City bus from the Sendai Station West Exit bus pool (stop 10 or 15) to Osaki Hachimangu-mae. Or about 15 minutes on foot from Kunimi or Higashi-Tohoku Fukushi Daigaku-mae Station on the JR Senzan Line. Loople Sendai also stops here.
- Hours
- 9:00–16:00 as listed by Loople Sendai (the shrine’s own page does not state visiting hours)
- Price
- Free (per Loople Sendai)
4Sendai Mediathequeせんだいメディアテーク
Library, gallery and event building · Kasuga-machi, Aoba Ward
A public building with a library on floors 2 to 4, galleries on floors 5 and 6, a studio on floor 7 and an open plaza on the ground floor.
- Access
- Kotodai-koen Station (Namboku Line), exit Park 2, about 7 minutes on foot (450 m). Loople Sendai also stops here.
- Hours
- Building 9:00–22:00. Sendai City Library 9:30–20:00 (until 18:00 on weekends and holidays).
- Closed on
- The fourth Thursday of each month from January to November, and 29 December–3 January. The library also closes on Mondays (unless a holiday) and the day after a holiday.
- Price
- Free to enter (per Loople Sendai)
5Jozenji-dori Avenue定禅寺通
Tree-lined avenue · Kokubuncho / Kotodai-koen
A zelkova-lined avenue about 700 m long, running east to west through central Sendai and treated as a symbol of its "City of Trees" image. Bronze sculptures stand along the median walkway. Events here include the Sendai Aoba Festival in early summer, the Jozenji Street Jazz Festival in autumn and the Pageant of Starlight in winter.
- Access
- Kotodai-koen Station on the Namboku Line; Loople Sendai stops at Jozenji-dori Ave. / Sendai City Hall.
6Akiu Onsen秋保温泉
Hot spring town · Akiu, Taihaku Ward
A hot spring town in the hills west of the city, historically counted among Japan’s three great hot springs. Sakan, a long-established inn, is associated with Date Masamune. Ichitaro-no-yu in Tenshukaku Nature Park takes day visitors, and the free Akiu Sato Center has a tourist desk and a foot bath. An illuminated foliage event runs along the Sato Center’s Raiyokyo path from 24 October to 15 November 2026.
- Access
- From Sendai Station West Exit bus pool: Takeya Transport’s Sendai Seibu Liner about 40 minutes (pool No. 63); Miyagi Kotsu Akiu line about 50 minutes. By car about 30 minutes.
- Hours
- Akiu Sato Center (tourist hub): 9:00–18:00, open daily, free admission
7Akiu Great Falls秋保大滝
Waterfall · Akiu, Taihaku Ward
A straight drop about 55 m high and 6 m wide, listed among Japan’s 100 Famous Waterfalls and designated a national site of scenic beauty. A viewing platform is 5 to 10 minutes on foot from the large car park; the base of the falls is 20 to 30 minutes on foot. Foliage around the falls typically peaks from late October to early November.
- Access
- Weekends and holidays: Miyagi Kotsu bus bound for Akiu Otaki from Sendai Station West Exit bus pool, platform 8, about 60 to 80 minutes. Weekdays: from JR Ayashi Station, bus 83 to 87 (about 40 minutes) to the Akiu Otaki stop.
- Hours
- Open at all times; usually unlit at night
- Closed on
- No closed days
- Price
- Free
8Matsushima (day trip)松島
Bay and day trip · Matsushima, Miyagi District
A bay of about 260 small pine-covered islands, counted among Japan’s three most scenic spots. Near the waterfront are Zuiganji, Godaido (lit at night together with the red Fukuurabashi bridge) and Fukuurajima, reached on foot over the bridge. Boat trips run from the waterfront, with oyster lunch cruises in winter.
- Access
- JR Senseki Line from Sendai Station platform 10 to Matsushikaigan Station, about 40 minutes, ¥410 (take a train ending at Ishinomaki or Takagimachi). Or JR Tohoku Line to Matsushima Station, about 25 minutes, ¥410, then 15 to 20 minutes on foot to the waterfront.
9Yamadera (Risshakuji), day trip山寺（立石寺）
Mountain temple and day trip · Yamadera, Yamagata City
Risshakuji, known as Yamadera, is reached by 1,015 stone steps; the full round trip takes about 1.5 hours. The path starts at Konpon Chudo and leads to Okunoin, with the Great Buddha Hall beside it. Admission is paid at the temple gate and only in cash.
- Access
- JR Senzan Line to Yamadera Station, then about 5 minutes on foot to the trail entrance. The Senzan Line rapid takes about 1 hour 5 minutes from Sendai to Yamagata; the time to Yamadera is not stated on the pages checked.
- Hours
- April–September 8:00–16:00; October–November 8:00–15:30; December–March 8:30–15:00 (gate closes 16:00). May close earlier in bad weather.
- Price
- Adults (junior high and up) ¥500; children from age 4 ¥200; cash only
10Sendai Tanabata Festival仙台七夕まつり
Seasonal festival (August) · Central Sendai shopping streets
Streamers and decorations fill the downtown shopping streets, including Ichibancho 4-chome; Visit Miyagi counts it among the Three Great Festivals of Tohoku. The organiser is the Sendai Tanabata Festival Sponsorship Association, based at the Sendai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
August only. Held 6–8 August 2026; 2027 dates not yet announced by the organiser.
- Access
- A short walk from Sendai Station, Hirose-dori Station or Kotodai-koen Station (Visit Miyagi).
- Hours
- Held 6–8 August 2026. The 2027 dates are not yet published on the organiser’s site.
- Price
- Free (per Visit Miyagi)
11SENDAI Pageant of StarlightSENDAI光のページェント
Seasonal winter illumination (December) · Jozenji-dori
Trees along Jozenji-dori are lit each December, from the east end in front of Sendai Mitsukoshi to the west end in front of the Jozenji Garden Hills guest house. The organiser is the SENDAI Pageant of Starlight foundation.
December only. 4–27 December 2026, evenings.
- Access
- Kotodai-koen Station on the Namboku Line, about a one-minute walk (Visit Miyagi, 2025 listing).
- Hours
- 4–27 December 2026. Sunday–Thursday 18:00–21:00; Friday and Saturday 18:00–22:00; Thursday 24 December 18:00–22:00.
- Price
- Free to view (Visit Miyagi listing)
Good to know
Central Sendai's main sights sit on one bus loop. Loople Sendai starts at Sendai Station (West Exit bus terminal, stop 16), takes about 70 minutes for the full circuit and calls at Zuihoden, the Sendai Castle ruins, Osaki Hachimangu, Sendai Mediatheque and Jozenji-dori. The first bus leaves at 9:00 and the last at 16:00. A single ride is ¥300 and a one-day pass ¥700 (¥1,000 with the Tozai and Namboku subway lines).
Everything else needs a train or a longer bus ride. Matsushima is about 40 minutes by the JR Senseki Line, Yamadera is on the JR Senzan Line, and Akiu Onsen and Akiu Great Falls are in the hills to the west; the bus to the falls runs through from Sendai Station only on weekends and holidays. Two events are tied to the calendar: Tanabata, held on 6–8 August in 2026 (the 2027 dates are not yet published on the organiser’s site), and the Pageant of Starlight on Jozenji-dori, 4–27 December 2026.
Dates that change what you can do this winter: Zuihoden closes earlier from 1 December, the Aoba Castle Exhibition Hall has its winter closure days from 25 November, and the Loople timetable on its site is the 1 September 2025 revision, so check it before you plan a day around it.
Loop-bus sights, the evening areas, or a day trip
How you get there, what it costs to get in, and when you can still start. Adult prices. Loople Sendai fares and times come from its own site (timetable dated 1 September 2025).
| Where | From Sendai Station | Entry (adult) | Time limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loople Sendai stops: Zuihoden, Sendai Castle ruins, Osaki Hachimangu | Loople from West Exit stop 16; full loop about 70 min; ¥300 a ride, ¥700 one-day pass. Zuihoden’s page notes the Loople runs one way, so return from Zuihoden by route bus | Zuihoden ¥570 (¥460 with a Loople pass) · Castle ruins grounds free, Exhibition Hall ¥770 · Osaki Hachimangu free | Last Loople departure 16:00 · Zuihoden last entry 16:30 (Feb–Nov) · Exhibition Hall last entry 16:40 (Apr–Oct), 15:40 (Nov–Mar) |
| Sendai Mediatheque and Jozenji-dori | Namboku Line to Kotodai-koen Station; Mediatheque exit Park 2 is about 7 min on foot | Mediatheque free · Jozenji-dori no fee stated | Mediatheque building until 22:00 · Pageant of Starlight 18:00–21:00 (Fri–Sat 22:00) in December |
| Akiu Onsen and Akiu Great Falls | Onsen: bus about 40–50 min, car about 30 min. Falls: direct bus weekends and holidays only (60–80 min), or weekday bus from Ayashi Station (about 40 min) | Falls free · Akiu Sato Center free | Falls open at all times, unlit at night · Sato Center 9:00–18:00 |
| Matsushima | JR Senseki Line to Matsushikaigan, about 40 min, ¥410 | Entry fees are not listed on the tourism association’s page | — |
| Yamadera | JR Senzan Line to Yamadera Station, then about 5 min on foot to the trail | ¥500 (children from 4: ¥200), cash only | Oct–Nov to 15:30; Dec–Mar to 15:00, gate closes 16:00 |
By kind of trip
First trip, one day on the loop bus
These four are all Loople Sendai stops. The last bus leaves Sendai Station at 16:00, Zuihoden’s last entry is 16:30 from February to November, and the Aoba Castle Exhibition Hall’s is 16:40 from April to October.
Zuihoden · Sendai Castle Ruins (Aoba Castle) · Osaki Hachimangu Shrine · Sendai Mediatheque
Free to enter
No entry fee is charged for the Osaki Hachimangu grounds, Sendai Mediatheque or Akiu Great Falls, and the Sendai Castle grounds are free (only the Exhibition Hall charges).
Osaki Hachimangu Shrine · Sendai Mediatheque · Akiu Great Falls · Sendai Castle Ruins (Aoba Castle)
Autumn colour
The foliage around Akiu Great Falls typically peaks from late October to early November. An illuminated foliage event runs along the Akiu Sato Center’s Raiyokyo path from 24 October to 15 November 2026.
December evenings
The Pageant of Starlight runs 4–27 December 2026 on Jozenji-dori. Sendai Castle’s stone walls and statue are lit from sunset to 23:00, and Matsushima runs oyster lunch cruises in winter.
SENDAI Pageant of Starlight · Jozenji-dori Avenue · Sendai Castle Ruins (Aoba Castle) · Matsushima (day trip)
Day trips out of the city
Matsushima is about 40 minutes by rail and Yamadera is on the Senzan Line; Akiu is a bus ride into the hills. Allow for the early closing times at Yamadera in winter.
Matsushima (day trip) · Yamadera (Risshakuji), day trip · Akiu Onsen · Akiu Great Falls
Questions
How do I get around Sendai’s main sights?
Loople Sendai, the sightseeing loop bus, leaves Sendai Station West Exit bus terminal stop 16 from 9:00 to 16:00, every 20 minutes on weekdays and every 15 minutes on weekends, holidays and in August. A full loop takes about 70 minutes. A single ride is ¥300 for adults and ¥150 for children; the one-day pass is ¥700 (¥350), or ¥1,000 (¥500) including the Tozai and Namboku subway lines. Its site shows the 1 September 2025 timetable.
When are Tanabata and the Pageant of Starlight?
The Sendai Tanabata Festival was held on 6–8 August in 2026; the organiser’s site has not published 2027 dates. The SENDAI Pageant of Starlight runs 4–27 December 2026 on Jozenji-dori, 18:00–21:00 Sunday to Thursday and 18:00–22:00 on Fridays, Saturdays and 24 December.
How do I get to Akiu Great Falls?
On weekends and holidays a Miyagi Kotsu bus bound for Akiu Otaki leaves from Sendai Station West Exit bus pool, platform 8, taking about 60 to 80 minutes. On weekdays, take a bus from JR Ayashi Station (about 40 minutes). From the large car park the viewing platform is 5 to 10 minutes on foot. Entry is free.
How do I get to Matsushima from Sendai?
Take the JR Senseki Line from Sendai Station platform 10 to Matsushikaigan Station, about 40 minutes and ¥410, on a train ending at Ishinomaki or Takagimachi. Alternatively the JR Tohoku Line reaches Matsushima Station in about 25 minutes for ¥410, followed by a 15 to 20 minute walk to the waterfront.
What does Yamadera cost and when does it close?
Admission to Risshakuji is ¥500 for adults and ¥200 for children aged 4 and over, cash only. The grounds are open 8:00–16:00 from April to September, 8:00–15:30 in October and November, and 8:30–15:00 from December to March (gate closes at 16:00). It may close earlier in bad weather. The climb is 1,015 stone steps.