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2 cities
Province · Tohoku
Miyagi
Sendai, the city of trees, Matsushima Bay, the hot springs of Akiu and Naruko, and the crater lake of Mount Zao.
In the photo: Islands of Matsushima, in Miyagi.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
The province
Get to know Miyagi
Miyagi sits in the center of the Tohoku region, facing the Pacific. The capital, Sendai, is the largest city in Tohoku. It was founded in the early 17th century by the feudal lord Date Masamune and is called the city of trees for its avenues shaded by zelkovas, such as Jozenji-dori.
In Sendai, the ruins of Aoba Castle occupy a hill overlooking the city and there is an equestrian statue of Date Masamune. The Zuihoden mausoleum, richly decorated in bright colors, stands on a cedar-covered slope. The local specialty is grilled ox tongue, gyutan, and the sweets made with zunda, a green soybean paste. In August, the Tanabata festival fills the shopping arcades downtown with paper decorations hung from bamboo poles.
Matsushima Bay has more than 200 small pine-covered islets and is one of Japan’s three classic scenic views, along with Amanohashidate and Miyajima. Boats cruise the bay, and on land you can visit the Zen temple Zuigan-ji and the small Godaido hall on an islet connected by bridges. Oysters from the bay are served grilled or raw in winter.
In the interior, Akiu and Naruko are hot-spring resorts. Akiu has a wide waterfall, and Naruko sits beside a gorge and is one of the centers for kokeshi wooden dolls. On the border with Yamagata, Mount Zao shelters the Okama, a green crater lake reached by a mountain road.
Destinations
1 destination in Miyagi
Cities
2 cities in Miyagi in the guide
Miyagi
Capital
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
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.
When to go
Sendai’s Tanabata takes place from August 6 to 8. Summers are mild and humid. The Naruko and Akiu gorge colors appear from late October through November. In December, the trees along Jozenji Avenue are lit up. Sendai’s winter has little snow; in the Zao mountains snow is abundant, and the road leading to Lake Okama often closes from November to April.
Getting there
The Tohoku Shinkansen links Tokyo to Sendai in about 1½ hours. Sendai Airport (SDJ) has domestic flights and some to Asian cities, and a train takes about 25 minutes to Sendai Station. Matsushima is about 40 minutes from Sendai on the JR Senseki Line. Buses depart Sendai Station for Akiu, and trains run to Naruko.
Your questions
Frequently asked questions about Miyagi
How do you get from Sendai to Matsushima?
By the JR Senseki Line to Matsushima-Kaigan Station, in about 40 minutes. The boat piers, Zuigan-ji and Godaido are near the station, and you can see everything on foot in half a day.
What to eat in Sendai?
Grilled ox tongue, served with rice, soup and pickles, is the best-known dish. Zunda, a sweet green soybean paste, appears in rice cakes and in ice cream. In Matsushima Bay, oysters are the winter specialty.
When is Sendai’s Tanabata held?
From August 6 to 8. The downtown shopping arcades display large colorful paper decorations attached to bamboo poles, and there are fireworks on the evening before the festival.
Can you see Lake Okama from Mount Zao?
Yes, when the Zao Echo Line is open, generally from late April to early November. From the parking area, a short walk leads to the crater viewpoint. Weather can change quickly on the mountain, and fog may hide the lake.
Beyond the guide
