As we all know the coming changes to JR Pass will likely make the nationwide pass obsolete for all, but the most cunning (or very niche) visitors – we foresee changes to the way people approach to Japan with increasing focus on staying in the cities, which enable them to make a full use of regional passes, or to take advantage of many day trips.
We’d like you to share your ideas for using those hubs to the fullest for short-term and medium-term tourism-related stays, including your ideas for itineraries, day trips, eating out, entertainment and just having a general fun all around.
Today we’d like to discuss Sendai, which is the largest city in Tohoku and also a major transport hub with links to the western and northern part of the region. While **Sendai Airport** might be a good way in for people coming from Hokkaido, Kansai or farther afield, **Tohoku shinkansen** is your way in from Tokyo.
|**Info Panel**|**Sendai**|
|:–|:–|
| Main transport hub | Sendai (JR, shinkansen, subway, bus terminal) |
| Airport | Sendai Airport (direct train, buses) |
| Entertainment district | Ichiban-cho |
| IC card | Suica (major), icsca (non-major) |
| Peak season | Early August (Sendai Tanabata Matsuri) |
| Day trip destinations | Matsushima Bay, Yamadera, Hiraizumi, Geibikei Gorge |
Please note that all 10 major IC cards are compatible with whole icsca transportation.
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2 comments
I’m currently enjoying my last night in Sendai before heading back to Tokyo. I haven’t seen much of the city, but I liked everything I’ve seen so far! The area around Sendai Stations has many shopping malls and restaurants within walking distance thanks to a huge elevated walkway over most of the streets around the station.
You can be as far as Hakodate in a little over 3 hours with the right Shinkansen. Tokyo is just 1 hour and 40 minutes away.
It’s a bit of a niche recommendation, but I really enjoyed the [Supernova arcade](https://maps.app.goo.gl/kZyMNKnuF5wg9rTXA) which is about 30 minutes by bus from Sendai Station.
This is our plan for our November trip to Japan!
If anyone is interested, our current plan is to spend two days in Nikko and do some hiking around there. Then when we’re leaving Nikko, activate the JR East pass and travel to Sendai where we’ll spend three night.
On the next day we’ll travel to Matsushima, take a boat tour, and then travel down to Shiogama.
On the following day we’ll travel to Yamadera, I think we’re looking at this small hike: https://en.japantravel.com/yamagata/the-omoshiroyama-yamadera-trail/45322.
When we leave Sendai, we’ll travel to Aizu Wakamatsu and stay in our splurge ryokan for the trip: https://www.mukaitaki.com/s/
And finally, back to Tokyo – and that covers all 5 days of the pass! I hope it works out as well as we hope it does, and maybe our planned itinerary will help you as well.