Sendai and Matsushima, Japan: things to do, when to go and how to get there

Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Sendai is the capital of Miyagi Prefecture and the largest city in the Tohoku region in northeastern Honshu. It was founded in the early 17th century by Date Masamune, the one‑eyed feudal lord who ruled the area and left the castle on Mount Aoba, the Osaki Hachimangu shrine and his mausoleum, Zuihoden. The modern city, rebuilt after the 1945 bombings, has broad tree‑lined avenues planted with zelkovas, which give it the nickname “the city of trees.”

The local cuisine is known for grilled beef tongue (gyutan) and zunda, a sweet paste of green soybeans served over rice cakes. In August, the Tanabata festival fills the downtown arcades with colorful paper decorations; in December, Jozenji and Aoba avenues are lit up in the trees.

About 25 km to the northeast, Matsushima Bay gathers more than two hundred small pale‑rock islands covered in pines and has been considered, since the Edo period, one of Japan’s three classic views, alongside Amanohashidate and Miyajima. In the village are the Zen temple Zuigan‑ji, the small Godaido hall on a tiny islet and the red bridge to Fukuura Island. The poet Matsuo Basho passed through here in 1689 on the journey that became “The Narrow Road to the North.”

The two form a single trip: Sendai serves as the base, with the bullet‑train station and the airport, and Matsushima can be done in half a day or with an overnight stay at a bayfront inn. From Sendai you can also reach the Akiu hot springs, the Yamadera temple, and, farther north, Hiraizumi.

This destination brings together 2 cities: Sendai, Matsushima.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Sendai and Matsushima is

Dados cartográficos: © OpenStreetMap contributors, via Wambacher / geoBoundaries (ODbL 1.0). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Sendai and Matsushima

✈ Aeroporto de Sendai (SDJ), in Natori · 18 km to Sendai

The Tohoku Shinkansen (bullet train) connects Tokyo to Sendai in about 1h30. Sendai Airport is around 15 km from the center, with a train to Sendai Station taking about 25 minutes. For Matsushima, the Senseki Line takes you from Sendai to Matsushima‑Kaigan Station in about 40 minutes.

Suggested arrival point: Sendai

Miyagi · Sendai and Matsushima Capital Suggested arrival point

Sendai

Sendai is the capital of Miyagi and the largest city in Tohoku, founded by Date Masamune in the early 17th century. It has the Zuihoden mausoleum, the castle ruins on Mount Aoba with views over the city, and the Osaki Hachimangu shrine. It is known for its tree-lined avenues, the Tanabata festival in August, and grilled beef tongue. The Akiu hot springs lie to the west.

Miyagi · Sendai and Matsushima

Matsushima

Matsushima is the village on the bay of the same name, with more than two hundred pine‑covered islets, considered one of Japan’s three classic views. It has the Zen temple Zuigan‑ji, the Godaido hall on a small islet, Fukuura Island connected by a red bridge, and boat tours of the bay. It is about 40 minutes by train from Sendai.

The local experience

Things to do in Sendai and Matsushima

Matsushima · Miyagi · Bay

Matsushima Bay

A stretch of sea dotted with tuff islets topped by twisted pines, one of Japan’s three classic views, seen from boat tours or from the viewpoints on the surrounding hills.

Sendai · Miyagi · Mausoleum

Zuihoden

Date Masamune’s mausoleum, founder of Sendai, set on a cedar-covered hill: a lacquered pavilion in black, gold and vivid colors, in the Momoyama style, with the mausoleums of two successors alongside it.

Sendai · Miyagi · Castle

Sendai Castle (Aoba Castle)

The site of Date Masamune’s castle atop Mount Aoba: stone walls, a rebuilt corner tower, the founder’s equestrian statue and a lookout over the city.

Matsushima · Miyagi · Temple

Zuigan-ji Temple

A Zen temple rebuilt by Date Masamune in 1609, with the main hall designated as a national treasure, an avenue of cedars and meditation caves carved into the rock, just minutes from the bay.

See 3 more places in Sendai and Matsushima

Matsushima · Miyagi · Temple

Godaido

A small Buddhist hall from 1604 on an islet in Matsushima Bay, connected to the shore by red bridges with grated planks, next to the boat pier.

Sendai · Miyagi · Shrine

Ōsaki Hachimangū

A Shinto shrine built by Date Masamune in 1607, with a main hall lacquered in black, gold and color, a national treasure of Japan, set in a grove northwest of central Sendai.

Sendai · Miyagi · Waterfall

Akiu Falls (Akiu Ōtaki)

A drop of about 55 meters on the Natori River, west of Sendai, seen from a lookout beside Fudo Temple or from the base; also accessible from the Akiu Onsen hot springs and the Rairaikyo gorge along the route.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From spring to autumn. Cherry trees usually bloom in mid‑April; May and June are mild; July and August are hot and humid, with Tanabata in early August. October and November bring fall foliage, including in Akiu. Winter, from December to February, is cold and dry, with little snow in the city and the oyster season in Matsushima.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Two days allow one day in Sendai, visiting Zuihoden, the castle ruins and Osaki Hachimangu, and another in Matsushima, with a boat ride around the bay and a visit to Zuigan‑ji. With three days, there’s time for Akiu or a day trip to Yamadera.

Which city to stay in

In Sendai, the station area concentrates hotels and the train and bus departures; the areas around Ichibancho and Kokubuncho avenues, a few minutes’ walk away, have restaurants and nightlife. In Matsushima, the inns are on the bayfront, near the pier and Zuigan‑ji, many with hot‑spring baths and views of the islands. Akiu Onsen, west of Sendai, has ryokan along the Natori River.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Sendai and Matsushima

Can you visit Matsushima as a day trip from Sendai?

Yes. The Senseki Line train takes about 40 minutes to Matsushima‑Kaigan Station, which is a short walk from the pier, Godaido and Zuigan‑ji. Half a day is enough for the bay boat tour and the temple; with a full day you can include Fukuura Island and a lookout.

How many days should I reserve for Sendai and Matsushima?

Two days cover the essentials: one in Sendai and another in Matsushima. If you also want to visit the Akiu hot springs or the Yamadera temple in Yamagata, allow a third day.

Do I need a car in Sendai and Matsushima?

No. Sendai has a subway and the Loople tourist bus, which stops at Zuihoden and the castle ruins, and Matsushima is walkable from the station. There are buses to Akiu departing from Sendai Station.

When is Sendai’s Tanabata?

The festival takes place every year in early August, over three days. The covered downtown arcades, such as Ichibancho and Clis Road, receive large hanging paper decorations. The city is crowded on those days; book accommodation in advance.

Is Sendai a good starting point for other places in Tohoku?

Yes. Sendai Station serves the Shinkansen that goes to Ichinoseki, the gateway to Hiraizumi, and on to Morioka and Aomori. The Senzan Line goes to Yamadera and Yamagata in about an hour.

Beyond the guide

Sendai and Matsushima

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.