History / Culture / Tour Spots in Central Sendai City Area

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Central Sendai City

Category

Travel / Tourism

History / Culture / Tour

Zuihoden Mausoleum

4.0

617 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Miyagi Pref. Sendaishi Aoba-ku Otamayashita 23-2

Zuihoden, the mausoleum of Date Masamune who died in 1636 at the age of 70, was built at his request. It consists of the main shrine, hall of worship, place of mercy, and Nirvana gate, conveying to the present the characteristics of luxurious and elegant Momoyama culture. Although it was designated as a National Treasure in 1937, it was destroyed by fire during the war in 1945. It was rebuilt in 1979, and large renovation works were carried out in 2001, and the beautiful colors were restored.

Interesting architectural structure surrounded by a peaceful green surroundings. Very serene when I was there and there wasn’t a lot of people as well. This was where the late Date Masamune was...
Osaki Hachimangu Shrine

4.0

299 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Miyagi Pref. Sendaishi Aoba-ku Hachiman 4-6-1

This is a shrine created in 1607 by the feudal lord Masamune Date. The shaden, comprised of the honden (or inner sanctuary), ainoma (which is also called ishinoma-zukuri) passageway, and haiden (or hall of worship) was designated as a National Treasure in 1952 for being the only remaining structure of the Azuchi-Momoyama period. Worshippers deeply believe that the deity enshrined here wards off evil and calamities and invites good luck, as well as helps to gain victory or have easy childbirth. It is known for its Matsutaki Matsuri festival, the largest New Year’s event in all of Japan. New Year’s decorations and amulets are burned and the event is also called Dondo-yaki because of the intensity of the fire. The shrine is also famous for its “Hadaka Mairi” when half-naked worshippers form a procession to the shrine in the winter. Visitors can access the shrine by taking a bus that leaves from in front of Sendai Station, getting off at the Osaki Hachimangu-Mae stop and walking for five minutes.

Im a big fan of shrines and one year I went into every shrine I saw walking around Tokyo for a month. For some reason it felt like something was missing. It might be because they were setting up for...
Sendai City Museum

4.0

160 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Miyagi Pref. Sendaishi Aoba-ku Kawauchi 26 (Sendai castle Sannomaru trace)

This museum primarily displays items related to the history and culture of the Sendai Clan, based on materials donated from the Date family. The trademark golden crescent moon crested helmet is a piece of the black lacquer five-layered body armor (an important cultural property) used by Lord Masamune Date, which is housed here along with the 8-meter-wide large painting of the ''Tempo Kuniezu Mutsu-no-Kuni Sendai-ryo.'' Also on display are many treasured archives related to the national treasures of the envoys to Europe during the Keicho Era, which are UNESCO World Heritages. Special exhibits and other scheduled exhibits are also held 3-4 times a year.

This is a small but interesting museum, largely focusing on the history of Sendai and how it came to be. A lot of the displays have English translations which is handy. You can also get an audio...
Johgi Nyorai (Saihoji Temple)

4.0

69 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Miyagi Pref. Sendaishi Aoba-ku Okura Up / down 1

Ths temple is known for the hauntingly beautiful “Candle Festival” that takes place on August 15. It is said to have been founded by Taira no Sadayoshi, who protected a statue of Amitabha bequeathed to him by Taira no Shigemori and escaped the purge of the Minamoto Clan. In 1706, Hayasaka Genbei, a subordinate’s descendant, became a monk by the name of Kanrensha Ryonen and established the temple. It’s about a 45-minute drive from the Sendai-Miyagi Interchange on the Tohoku Expressway.

定義山の西方寺。仙台の山奥にあります。天皇塚は縁結びスポットらしいです。本堂は新しく、きれいでした。駐車場も十分にあります。
Rinno-ji Temple

4.5

83 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Miyagi Pref. Sendaishi Aoba-ku Kitayama 1-14-1

Rinnoji Temple is located about 15 minutes by taxi from Sendai Station. It was first founded in Fukushima in 1441, but when the Date clan moved from the castle there to other places, it was reestablished in each location, but it was finally moved to its current site in Sendai in 1602. Its Zen garden, known as one of the many famous gardens in the Tohoku region, attracts many visitors from in and outside the city of Sendai, giving them an opportunity to appreciate seasonal blooms, such as cherry blossoms and hydrangeas. Its statue of Seated ShakaNyorai (an incarnation of the Buddha), Sendai City's Tangible Cultural Property, is exhibited on the 1st and 15th of every month. Every Saturday, the temple sponsors Zen meditation sessions that are open to the public.

Take the train from Sendai Station to Kitayama Station and walk downhill for about 15 minutes to the entrance to this temple . Well worth the visit with a beautiful garden area and pond to walk...
The Miyagi Museum of Art

4.0

97 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Miyagi Pref. Sendaishi Aoba-ku Kawauchimotohasekura 34-1

An art museum located in Kawauchi-Motohasekura, Aoba Ward, Sendai City. Opened in 1981, the museum was expanded in 1990 with the Churyo Sato Gallery thanks to pieces of works and collections donated by Churyo Sato, a sculptor from Miyagi Prefecture. The museum houses pieces of art which have a connection with Miyagi Prefecture and the Tohoku region of Japan, as well as contemporary art from the Meiji period and a collection of Western art with a focus on modern German art.

The Sendai Art Museum is located in a beautiful area and can be reached by bus or by subway. The museum has a great collection of wonderful works. The visitor to Sendai International Center has to go...
Site of Sendai Castle (Aoba Castle Ruins)

Travel / Tourism

Miyagi Pref. Sendaishi Aoba-ku Kawauchi 1

This is a castle built by Date Masamune, the first feudal lord of Sendai. Located in the Aobayama Hills, Sendai Castle Honmaru was a natural fortress utilizing the natural terrain consisting of a cliff wall that looks over the Hirose River to the east, a mountain forest in the west called “the back woods”, and the Tachinokuchi valley on the south side. Most of the castle was destroyed by fire in 1882, and Ninomaru became the current site of Tohoku University and Sannomaru has since been transformed into the Sendai City Museum.
Sendai Toshogu Shrine

3.5

52 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Miyagi Pref. Sendaishi Aoba-ku Toushougu 1-6-1

"This Shinto shrine, located next to Toshogu Station on the JR Senzan Line, is one of many Toshogu shrines dedicated to the great shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu built across the country. Established in 1654 by Date Tadamune, the second lord of the domain, the shrine is believed to grant worshippers better luck, protection from misfortune, familial tranquility, success in academic endeavors, business prosperity, and certain victory in competitions. Out of the many Toshogu shrines across the country, only the Sendai Toshogu Shrine and the Toshogu shrine in Nikko have main shrine buildings which are adorned with decorations made of the ""seven treasures"" - gold, silver, pearl, silver, agate, lapis lazuli, crystal, and coral. The main shrine building, along with several other structures on the grounds such as the Karamon gate which is only opened during the shrine's annual festival on April 17, are designated National Important Cultural Properties."

急に思い立って仙台東照宮の石鳥居と石段の石材を確認してきた。伊達家２代目忠宗の奥方が故郷備前の犬島の花崗岩をわざわざ船で運んできて石鳥居を建造したとのこと。芭蕉もここを訪れたことが「七日快晴。加衞門同道ニテ権現宮ヲ拝。」と『曽良旅日記』にある。権現宮とは東照宮のことで、新暦では元禄２年6月23日だった。
Sendai Astronomical Observatory

4.5

40 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Miyagi Pref. Sendaishi Aoba-ku Nishikigaoka 9-29-32

10 minutes by car from the Sendai-Miyagi Interchange, this Sendai City municipal observatory is located in Nishikigaoka, Aoba Ward. It was relocated and rebuilt in the suburbs of Sendai City in 2008. It features a planetarium, 1.3 meter-diameter Hitomi telescope, and exhibits that let you observe the universe through models and videos. You can experience planetarium programs like “Kids Time” with notable children’s characters, enjoy excellent Saturday night entertainment in “Night Planetarium”, and participate in events like star-gazing or workshops.

夏休みの一日に、伺いました。子供さんが多くにぎやかではありました。目的はプラネタリウムだったのですが、常設展示もいろいろな方向から天体などをとらえており楽しめました。小さいお子さんにはムツカシイ内容かもしれませんが・・・・・プラネタリウムも、季節の夜空が楽しめ、普段は見えない自分の頭上の夜空が実はこんなに明るいものだと知ったものです
3M Sendai City Science Museum

4.5

38 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Miyagi Pref. Sendaishi Aoba-ku Dainoharashinrinkouen 4-1

3M Sendai City Science Museum, which is located in the northeast corner of Dainohara Forest Park, is a municipal science museum that developed out of a science education facility originally founded in 1952. The Museum has interactive displays relating to the sciences, natural history, and everyday life. By enabling visitors to “see, touch and try” the latest technologies (and natural history specimens), the Museum aims to foster an interest in science. 3M Sendai City Science Museum also has science shows and experimental “laboratories”; a real effort has been made to ensure that a visit to this Museum is fun and enjoyable for both children and their parents.

A nice museum for demonstrating scientific concepts to children. Very fun. We stayed an hour and a half but you could eaily spend much longer. Some of the displays and exhibits have aged badly but...
Aoba-jinja Shrine

3.5

22 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Miyagi Sendai-shi Aoba-ku Aobamachi 7-1

"A seven minute walk from Kita-Sendai Station on the JR Senzan Line and Sendai Subway Namboku Line. This Shinto shrine was established in 1874 and is dedicated to Date Masamune (known as Takefuruhiko-no-Mikoto), former lord of the bygone Sendai Domain. The shrine holds the Sendai Aoba Festival on the third Sunday in May each year in honor of the anniversary of Masamune's death on May 25. Six of the shrine's structures, including the main shrine building and front shrine, have been designated National Tangible Cultural Properties. The Toki no Taiko (""Drum of Time""), one of the shrine's treasures kept in the front shrine, was made some 300 years ago and is still used to announce the time each morning in Sendai."

伊達家の旧家臣団が中心となって建てられたという青葉神社。伊達政宗公が祀られています。本殿には政宗公の正室である愛姫も合祀されているようです。仙台市民ならば一度は訪れておきたいスポット。
Sendai Literature Museum

3.5

10 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Miyagi Pref. Sendaishi Aoba-ku Kitane 2-7-1

This museum displays for public viewing and preserves for generations to come the collections and related works of writers from the local Miyagi and Sendai regions. The first floor is the entrance hall, and the second floor has an information corner, a children’s book room in which they can freely look at picture books and materials. The permanent exhibit is on the third floor and displays literary works, mementos, notes, and pieces in the handwriting of various writers from the region, such as Inoue Hisashi, Kumagaya Tatsuya, and Isaka Kotaro. Workshops on tanka poetry or literature are hosted from time to time as well.

仙台駅からバスで１５分歩いて１時間位掛かります。丁度井上ひさしの劇列車と言う企画展を観て来ました。仙台に関わる作家が如何に多いか理解できました。静かな静かな場所。
Shifuku-ji Zen Temple

4.0

6 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Miyagi Pref. Sendaishi Aoba-ku Kitayama 1-13-1

A Buddhist temple located in Sendai City considered one of the Five Temples of Kitayama. The temple is deeply connected to Date Masamune, the first lord of Sendai Domain, and it is well known that Masamune's father, Terumune, invited the monk Kosai Souotsu to the temple to teach young Masamune. The temple was moved to its current location from Iwadeyama in 1638 in conjunction with the Date clan's forced relocation by the Edo government. The temple grounds are also famous for their hydrangea blossoms and the temple is also known as the Hydrangea Temple and the Flower Temple. The best time to see the blossoms is from late June to mid-July. Over 200-year-old specimens of Japanese white pines and Chinese firs, species protected by the Sendai City government, also grow on the grounds. The temple conducts an event each year in which visitors can enjoy a cup of coffee in picturesque areas such as the main temple and the temple's rock garden.

伊達政宗公の幼少時の師、虎哉宗乙が住職を務めたお寺です。その後政宗公とともに米沢ー＞岩出山ー＞仙台と移りました。大河ドラマでは虎哉宗乙に不動明王について「梵天丸もかくありたい」との発言は、流行になりました。6月に参拝しましたが、山門前も境内も緑いっぱいです。
Aoba Castle Honmaru Kaikan

Travel / Tourism

Miyagi Sendai-shi Aoba-ku Tower Dai Aoba Joshi
Sendai Castle Kenbunkan

Travel / Tourism

Miyagi Sendai-shi Aoba-ku Kawauchi 1-11 (Sendai Shiro Honmaru Ato Date Masamune
Nonaka Shrine

Travel / Tourism

Miyagi Sendai-shi Aoba-ku Ichibancho 2-7-18

This Shinto shrine is located in 2-Chome Ichibancho, Aoba Ward, Sendai City. The shrine stands quietly on a back lane off of a shopping street. The shrine is said to grant worshippers prosperous business and luck in finding love and marriage. It is believed the shrine was built on top of a buried rope used to mark out neighborhood delineations when the castle town around Sendai Castle was built by Date Masamune. In late July, the shrine holds the Ichibancho Three Shrine Festival together with Ebisu Shrine and Warei Shrine.
Grave of Hayashi Shihe

Travel / Tourism

Miyagi Sendai-shi Aoba-ku Shiheimachi 19-5

This grave is located on the grounds of Ryuunin Temple in Shihei-machi, Aoba Ward, Sendai City. It is the final resting place of military scholar Hayashi Shihei. Hayashi was imprisoned by the Tokugawa Shogunate after penning “Kaikoku Heidan,” which advocated for a stronger national defense. The grave has also been designated as a National Historical Site.
Jusozan Monjudo

Travel / Tourism

Miyagi Pref. Sendaishi Aoba-ku Hachiman 6-10-18

This temple was founded by Mine Hachibe Nagahide, retainer of Date Masamune and master of this region at the time. This is one of Sendai’s Junishi-no-Omamori Honzon (gods and saints likened to the Oriental Zodiac), and is said to watch over those born in the year of the rabbit. The area at the top of the 108 steps is dotted with rabbit statues of all sizes. The main temple roof is decorated with a rare figure of two rabbits doing handstands. There are also 33 Washizu Kannon statues, installed in commemoration of 400 years since the temple was founded.
Sendai International Center

3.5

76 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Miyagi Sendai-shi Aoba-ku Aobayama Mubanchi

Sendai International Center in Sendai is in a very green area and close to it is a collection of museums. Various conferences are held in large halls and have several facilities for visitors. Close...
Gokoku Shrine

3.5

90 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Miyagi Sendai-shi Aoba-ku Kawauchi 1

I was unaware of its military significance when we visited. We basically stumbled across it while visiting the nearby Sendai Castle grounds - this shrine is adjacent to it. Theres a museum part...

Miyagi Central Sendai City

Travel / Tourism History / Culture / Tour

Reference/Local/Exhibition/Literature Museum Shrine Castle / Ruins of Castle Historical Monument Temple Church Ruin / Grave / Ancient Tomb Memorial Hall Cultural Property Event Hall / Public Hall Art Museum Museum / Science Museum Other Historic Site/Building

Miyagi Areas

Lying along the northeastern coast of Japan, Miyagi prefecture is home to lashings of natural parks, oysters, and hot springs. While the bustling city of Sendai offers some simple city entertainment, it’s the Matsushima islands that deserve the most attention, having boosted the prefecture’s reputation as one of Japan’s most scenic views.