Sendai

Sendai, Japan

Once you've arrived at Sendai Airport with Air China, you can take the Sendai Airport Access Line (rail service) directly to the heart of Sendai. Hop on Sendai's vintage sightseeing bus to see the Aoba Castle Ruins and the statue of Date Masamune overlooking Sendai. In Sendai, you will find both the famous Zuiganji Temple and the statue of Lu Xun at Tohoku University. Delight your taste buds with gyutan, a Sendai beef tongue delicacy. This diverse city of food, beauty and shopping is a gateway to Tohoku, the north eastern region of Japan. Sendai welcomes you in all seasons.

You might also want to learn about: Sendai International Airport(SDJ)

Getting around

• Ichimoku Senbonzakura (cherry blossom tree)

  Spring: In spring, you can't miss cherry blossom trees, and the wonderful varieties lining Sendai's streets and landscapes. See how Ichimoku Senbonzakura trees in Miyagi beautifully contrast with the snow-capped Zao Mountains. Hirosaki Castle in Aomori Prefecture was built in the Edo period and boasts a unique view of the Japanese castle framed by cherry blossoms. In Akita Prefecture, take a step back in time and stroll the Edo period streets of Kakunodate under the weeping cherry blossoms. Matsushima, one of the Three Views of Japan, is a great spot to see the sea, islands and cherry blossoms. If the snow has not yet melted, take a walk through the snowy walls of the Zao mountains and take in some more delightful cherry blossom views. When Sendai's greenery is in full bloom, Miyagi Prefecture hosts the Aoba Festival, where you can enjoy lively performances and the Suzume Odori parade (sparrow dances). The Oirase stream in Aomori Prefecture also offers a refreshing cherry blossom tour.

• Tanabata, the Star Festival

  Summer: Join festivals steeped in nature, history and culture, such as the Tanabata Festival in Sendai City, the Aomori Nebuta Festival, the Kanto Festival in Akita, and Sansa Odori, the dancing festival in Morioka City, Iwate. You can participate in these festivals even during the short summer months! The main ski resorts also organize activities in the summer, the "green season", where you can go hiking, fishing and much more...

• Entsuin temple

  Fall: Maple and harvest season. Famous spots to admire maple leaves include: Naruko Gorge in Miyagi Prefecture, Geibikei Gorge in Iwate Prefecture, Zao Echo Line in Yamagata Prefecture, Oirase Gorge in Aomori Prefecture, Ou Mountains in Akita Prefecture and Mount Bandai in Fukushima Prefecture... Yamagata and Fukushima Prefectures are known both at home and abroad for their seasonal fruits. In Miyagi, there are many hot springs offering different landscapes and experiences such as Akiu Onsen, Sakunami Onsen, Naruko Onsen and Togatta Onsen, as well as Ginzan Onsen in Yamagata, and Lisaka Onsen in Fukushima. Experience a unique hot spring tour anywhere in the Tohoku region.

  
  
  
• Miyagi Zao Mountains

  Winter: Visit Sendai in winter and marvel at Sendai's great winter light show where you can enjoy both the beauty of snowy Japan and a variety of winter activities. The most popular ski resorts in Japan include Zao Onsen Ski Resort in Yamagata, the Eboshi Resort in Miyagi, Appi Kogen Ski Resort and Shizukuishi Ski Resort in Iwate. Ski resorts in the Zao Mountains are known for their excellent powder snow due to their proximity to the Pacific Ocean and exceptional ocean currents, and offer breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean from ski lifts. Ice Rink Sendai has also become a famous sightseeing attraction as it has fostered some of the world's top ice figure skaters.