Sendai, Capital city in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan
Sendai is the capital of Miyagi Prefecture in northeastern Japan, stretching between the Nanakita and Hirose rivers from mountainous terrain in the west to coastal plains in the east. The city is organized around wide avenues and low buildings, with shopping arcades extending over several blocks and parks distributed throughout residential areas.
Date Masamune founded the city in 1600 and established it as an administrative center for the northeastern region. His influence shaped the broad layout of streets and the strategic position between mountains and sea, which gave the city importance over the following centuries.
The Tanabata Festival in August transforms the shopping arcades with handmade paper decorations that dangle from storefronts, some stretching several stories high. Visitors can walk through the covered streets and watch locals admire the displays, participate in traditional activities like writing wishes on colored paper, and enjoy street performances throughout the day.
A loop bus connects main sites like the Osaki Hachimangu Shrine, Zuihoden Mausoleum, and Aoba Castle ruins, offering a convenient way to orient yourself around the city. Most major attractions sit within a compact area, so visitors can also walk or cycle between locations if they prefer a slower pace.
Japanese zelkova trees line the main streets and form green tunnels over the sidewalks, which earned the city its nickname as the City of Trees. This tree species was deliberately chosen because it grew quickly after the Second World War and helped restore the urban landscape after destruction.
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Photo license: Public domain
Photo license: Public domain
Sendai Castle
2.1 km
Matsushima
20.5 km
Sendai Daikannon
5.4 km
Taga Castle
11.2 km
Sendai Tanabata
888 m
Shiogama Shrine
13.7 km
Sportsland SUGO
16.4 km
Sendai Umino-Mori Aquarium
9.7 km
Zuihōden
2 km
Benyland
3 km
Yurtec Stadium Sendai
5.8 km
Saihō-ji
20.7 km
Ōsaki Hachimangū
2.2 km
Sendai Mediatheque
449 m
Sendai Yagiyama Zoological Park
3.5 km
Izumigatake
21.3 km
Marinepia Matsushima Aquarium
20 km
Akiu Great Falls
23.3 km
Sendai Trust Tower
1.4 km
Aer
1.2 km
アイスリンク仙台
5.8 km
Michinoku Lakewood National Government Park
20.2 km
Sendai Tōshō-gū
1.9 km
Tsutsujigaoka Park
2.6 km
SS30
1.5 km
Aoba Shrine
1.7 km
Miyagi Prefectural Auditorium
286 m
Okama Shrine
13.8 km
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