Located around 90 minutes north of Tokyo via shinkansen (or 25 minutes by train from Sendai Airport), Sendai (仙台) is the capital of Miyagi prefecture and known as the largest city in the Tohoku region. Not only is it the gateway to the deep north of Japan, but also a city that has perfected the harmony of nature and metropolis. Sendai has lots to offer including shopping centers, historic sites, unique food, and awe-inspiring festivals.
On this page you will find the following information:
Where is Sendai?
Sendai is the capital city of Miyagi Prefecture with a population of about 1 million and is 350km northeast of Tokyo. It is most famous for its rich samurai history, particularly the Date Clan which was a powerful feudal samurai family that ruled the largest domain in Tohoku during the Edo period. In fact, their most powerful lord Date Masamune founded the city and much can be learned about him and his legacy in Sendai.
Sendai is situated along the Pacific coast of Honshu, Japan’s main island, and is easily accessible via shinkansen from Tokyo. It is often referred to as the gateway to Tohoku thanks to its convenient location which offers a pathway into the lesser traveled roads of northeastern Japan.
Despite being the largest city in the Tohoku region, the overall vibe within Sendai feels unhurried. As locals say, it is a very “easy to live in” kind of city with plenty of arts, music, history, food, and culture. Sendai is also known as “The City of Trees,” (杜の都, Mori no Miyako) mostly thanks to its harmonious blend of urban construction and nature. When deciding to travel up north in Japan, rather than being a simple access point along the way, Sendai can become a memorable destination on your trip.
How to get to Sendai
Sendai is one of the most accessible cities in the Tohoku region. In this section you will find information on how to reach Sendai from the following starting points:
We endeavor to keep this information as up-to-date as possible and in recognition that most international visitors will be using the train network to move around Japan, most directions in this article are for using the trains. For more generalized information about getting around Japan, check out our Complete Guide to Transportation Options for Tourists in Japan.
From Sendai Airport
Depending on their itinerary, some visitors fly into Sendai Airport (SDJ). Luckily, it is fairly easy to get to the city center from there. Take the Sendaikuko Access Line bound for Sendai and ride until it terminates at Sendai Station. The service will change into the local Tohoku Line, but you do not need to get off the train. The trip takes about 25 minutes and fares are 680 yen per ticket.
From Tokyo
The easiest option and our recommendation to get to Sendai is to use the Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station. There are 4 types of service that operate on this line, but the three that take you to Sendai Station include:
Hayabusa: approx. 90 ~ 94 mins / starting from 13,610 yen
Komachi: approx. 90 ~ 92 mins / starting from 13,610 yen
Yamabiko: approx. 106 ~ 144 mins / starting from 12,760 yen
On average the Hayabusa and Komachi get to Sendai quicker, but do not have an option to buy an unreserved seat ticket. Yamabiko, however, does offer an unreserved seating ticket making it a slightly cheaper option. Be advised that some of the trains terminate at Sendai while others simply stop there and continue north, so be sure to listen to the announcements and get off at Sendai Station. International visitors holding a valid Japan Rail (JR) Pass or JR East Pass can use any service on the Tohoku Shinkansen at no additional charge.
From Narita Airport
For visitors wanting to head Sendai from Narita Airport, you’ll first need to head into Tokyo – to either Tokyo Station or Ueno Station – using either of the rapid airport services and then transfer to the Tohoku Shinkansen. To do so via Tokyo Station, take the Narita Express (NEX) to Tokyo and then transfer to the shinkansen and follow the directions above – covered by the JR Pass. Alternatively, you can take the Keisei Skyliner to Ueno Station and then switch onto the Tohoku Shinkansen. This option is actually a little faster, but is not covered by the JR Pass. Depending on your options the trip can take between 2.5 to 3 hours and cost around 14,000 yen.
From Haneda Airport
When heading to Sendai from Haneda Airport, it’s easiest to do so via Tokyo Station. To reach Tokyo, take the Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho and then switch onto the JR Yamanote Line to Tokyo – a journey of 25 to 30 minutes / 720 yen. Once at Tokyo, follow the directions above onto Sendai – all services are covered by the JR Pass.
From Nagano
There are a couple ways to get to Sendai from Nagano of which the easiest and fastest is via Omiya Station. From Nagano Station, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Omiya and transfer to the Tohoku Shinkansen onto Sendai – a total journey of around 2.5 to 3 hours / 17,010 yen.
From Aomori
Once again, the Tohoku Shinkansen will be your best friend on this journey. From the Shin-Aomori Station, take the Tohoku Shinkansen Hayabusa train bound for Tokyo and alight at Sendai Station – a total journey of around 96 minutes / 14,770 yen (reserved seats only)
From Hokkaido
For travelers looking to hit both Hokkaido and Sendai in one trip, the best advisable mode of transportation would be by plane. New Chitose Airport in Sapporo is the more commonly used airport for travelers within Japan. There are regularly non-stop flights from New Chitose Airport to Sendai Airport for a journey of around 70 minutes. Once you’ve landed in Sendai Airport, follow the directions above to get to the central city area.
Getting Around Sendai
Sendai, like many other major cities in Japan, has a convenient network of buses, trains, and subways that can get you to almost anywhere you need to go. While some areas might be a bit of a hassle to get to, most major tourist destinations within the city itself have an accessible train or bus. In addition, from Sendai Station there is a straight-shot train ride to Yamagata Prefecture. This same train also stops at the Risshaku-ji Temple (Yamadera), a must-see for travelers heading into the Tohoku region. The train is a perfect way to easily get to and from Yamagata in a day-trip, or to move from Sendai to Yamagata and beyond while hitting major tourist destinations.
Recommended Tour:
Spiritual Pilgrimages of Sendai Daikannon Statue and Yamadera Temple / March - November
This tour will grant you a day of spiritual significance, historical interest, and natural beauty. Sendai’s Daikannon (White Robbed Colossus) Statue and Yamagata’s Yamadera Temple (Risshaku-ji) are some of the most breathtaking sights located in the Tohoku region of Japan. You will not only witness Daikannon's impressive statue outside, but also venture inside to learn about the spiritual artifacts housed within its 100 meter walls. Then your journey will take you to Yamadera Temple. Here you will partake in the 1,000+ stone step pilgrimage up the mountain temple while learning about its history, spiritual importance, and artistic influence. The temple is surrounded by gorgeous nature during all seasons, and its tranquil yet inspiring aura provide the perfect scenery for reflection. These two spiritual behemoth destinations are on the must-see list when visiting Tohoku.
Tourism within Sendai
For tourism within the city, Sendai has a retro sightseeing bus service called Loople that allows you to pay your fare in exact cash (no change issued), use an IC Card, or you can purchase a day pass for unlimited rides during one day. Loople is a one-way circulation bus that stops at all the major destinations in Sendai including the Sendai Castle Ruins, among other must-see destinations. The bus itself has narration in multiple languages as it circulates the city. The ticket booth for Loople and its departure location can both be found at bus stop no. 16 at Sendai Station.
Recommended Tour:
Historic Sendai Tour: Date Masamune’s Legacy / All Year Round
This is the perfect tour for history lovers – especially samurai history! This tour of Sendai gives you insight to the city's dynamic heritage and to the influential Date Clan that fostered the city’s prosperity into what it is today. Starting with a in-depth storytelling of Date Masamune and his family at the mausoleum, you will then venture throughout the city hitting many of the significant highlights. This includes a museum tour which offers an overarching look at samurai history, the Date Clan, and Sendai's roots in general. You will then visit locations such as the site of the Sendai Castle Ruins, a preserved Edo period tea house, and an architecturally significant Date Clan shrine.
This tour allows you to take in not only the interesting history of the city, but also get a close look at the National Treasures that exemplify the power of the Date Clan and artistic style of early seventeenth century architecture.
Plan your visit to Japan
Heading to Sendai using the rail system is quick, easy, and comfortable. Unfathomable in its size and efficiency, moving around the country by train opens-up all regions of Japan for exploration. Our ‘Plan Your Visit’ page has everything you need to know about visiting Japan – from tips on the best time to travel, times to avoid, entering and exiting the country, money matters, staying connected, accommodation, staying safe and healthy, and plenty more to ensure that you get the most out of your time here.
