5 Things to Do in Sendai, Japan

MORE JAPAN TRAVEL:
HOW TO SPEND 10 DAYS IN JAPAN | TOKYO | HAKONE | KYOTO | NARA | KOBE | HIMEJI | OSAKA | MATSUSHIMA

Get ready to hanami.

Miyagi’s capital city of Sendai is a less-traveled tourist spot, and more famous to the casual traveler as the victim of 2011’s destructive tsunami, which wracked the coast. But the resilient Sendai has recovered in stride, and offers travelers to Japan a more laid-back and local experience to the traditional tourist track.

My sister had digs in Sendai’s suburbs for the last year, so we had a bonafide guide to some of the best cultural sights and things to do. In early April, the city’s northern latitude made it one of the last to boast cherry blossom season and the coveted art of hanami: flower viewing in a public park.

1. Hanami

It’s a party in the park, where that park is draped in the white-pink of sakura blossoms, hanging overhead like clouds and scattering silky petals on your picnic blanket. Oh, and you can drink with your friends. BYOB or stock up goodies and booze from the nearby food booths.

Nishi Park was our daytime choice for a stroll, and the place was already filling with happy revelers enjoying the spring sunshine. In April, we’d been pushing the envelope to catch any cherry blossoms at all; Tokyo and Kyoto had long since withered with the rain. But up north, it was still splendid.

At night, we snagged a tarp, some convenience store favorites and a box of cakes and set up shop at the popular Tsutsujigaoka Park. As the lantern lights came on and the sun went down, we had a blast with this local pastime in good company.

If you’re planning a summer trip instead of spring, Sendai’s famous Tanabata Festival takes place every August.

2. Zuihoden

The mausoleum of the Masamune clan is striking for its vivid colors and serene cedar forest. The complex introduces you to the clan’s history and legacy. I’d recommend seeing this first and catching the “Loople” tourist bus up the hillside to the castle next.

3. Sendai Castle

Sendai Castle (also known as Aoba) was the effort of legendary Date Masamune of the 1600s, an iconic city figure nicknamed the “One Eyed Dragon.” While only some foundations of his castle remain, the man is immortalized in a great statue on horseback on the top of the hillside. Head up for views of the city, a peek at a beautiful shrine and a chance to try gift goodies in the city’s famed flavor, zunda (green soy bean).

4. Eat & Shop

If your Japan trip will be packed with temple sightings, shinkansens and landmarks like ours had, it’s important to slow down for a bit to enjoy something the country does best: food and shopping. Sendai was the perfect place for a slice of life. We cavorted through malls and sampled some fun restaurant chain classics like Bikkuri Donkey.

5. Take a Day Trip to Matsushima Bay

One of Japan’s alleged three “best scenic views” is a quick 30-40 minute train from the city center of Sendai. Check out our half-day island experience in my blog here.

MORE JAPAN TRAVEL:
HOW TO SPEND 10 DAYS IN JAPAN | TOKYO | HAKONE | KYOTO | NARA | KOBE | HIMEJI | OSAKA | MATSUSHIMA