Sendai Things to Do

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Zuihoden Mausoleum is the site of entombment of one of the most powerful feudal lords of the Edo Period, Date Masamune. Masamune was the first in a long line of Date lords to rule over Sendai from Aoba Castle. His son and grandson, Date Tadamune and Date Tsunamune, are entombed in nearby mausoleums, while other descendants are laid to rest in less elaborate graves and tombs.

Zuihoden was designed in the ornate style of the Momoyama Period. It features intricate woodwork and a rich variety of vivid colors. Masamune's son and grandson are entombed in smaller mausoleums designed in the same style.

Massive cedar trees surround the paths in the area, and are meant to symbolize the long history of the Date clan. A museum beside the Zuihoden main building shows some of the personal artifacts of the Date family, and even some specimens of their bones and hair.

Sendai is known as "The City of Trees." The main streets, Aoba-dori and Jozenji-dori, are lined with rows of beautiful zelkova trees, The Christmas illumination, the "Sendai Pageant of Starlight" is spectacular, not to mention the beauty of fresh verdure in spring and the scarlet-tinged leaves in autumn. Ichiban-cho-dori Street, which crosses Chuo-dori Street and runs parallel to Aoba-dori Street, is a shopping area. A local market, with many smaller stores lining the side streets, make for a delightful shopping excursion. After shopping, relax and dine at your choice of 4,000 fancy restaurants, all clustered around Kokubun-cho, located on the west side of Ichiban-cho-dori Street.

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By chance I found out about Sendai having a tramway museum. The museum is small and free of charge. It's a bit hard to find though and I needed help as I lost my way. But basically follow the map that hanging at the subway station and keep your eye on the line above that goes from the end station to the depot. If all goes well, you walk about 12 minutes.

The trams in Sendai run from 1926 till 1976. Today you find a few vintage trams in the museum.

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I was told about this Mediatheque by the Dutch guy I travelled along the Transsiberian with. He was an architect and he especially travelled to Sendai to see this amazing structure. So, I thought, why not check it out too.

This building from 2001 can be visited for free. If you want to take pictures inside you need to get a special pass which means you wear a tag so that people now you are taking pictures. But you are not allowed to take pictures of the people there, so be careful and respect the rules.

There is free internet as well here.

I was amazed how Sendai has a great shopping areas around the Train Station. They have the elevated floors only for the sky walking which stretches to all the area, it reaally is designed nicely like the Train Station in OSAKA but I find Sendai much wonderful as it's not too crowded to compare! you can find branded wears from apparels to Japanese food chains in the ground area.

For the Donto Festival, which is held on January 14 each year, the Osaki Hachiman Shrine is decorated with pine boughs, and visitors pray for health and prosperity during the coming year as the prayer cards (ofuda) of the past year are burnt in a bonfire.

Pictures will come later! thanks..

The shrine, which has been designated a national treasure, is representative of elaborate Momoyama style architecture. The shrine was built by Masamune Date in 1607, who patterned it after the Toyokuni Shrine in Kyoto.

Pictures will come later as I have to look for them...oh too many thing sto do;-)

Well when you look up your guidebook, it says Matsushima is the place you go when visiting Sendai. But I prefer Yamadera -Temples on the mountain-, which is actually in Yamagata prefecture. You have to take steep steps to go up to the temples, which might kill you. But the scenery is awesome! You will like it, I'm sure.