Gyutan

Gyutan

basic information

Sendai is the original home of gyutan, a dish consisting of pieces of thinly sliced beef tongue, cooked over a charcoal grill. Besides the standard version of grilled tongue and pickled vegetables seen above, gyutan is also popular in domburi form, as a curry, or in a beef stew.

The dish originated fairly recently in 1948 when a yakitori restaurant owner in Sendai devoted his business to the preparation of beef tongue dishes. It has grown rapidly in popularity and spread throughout Japan.

Common side dishes of gyutan are oxtail soup, and mugi gohan (steamed white rice with barley). In its domburi variety, gyutan is served over a bowl of steamed white rice, while the curry gyutan is accompanied by rice as well.

The two most popular gyutan restaurant chains are Rikyu and Kisuke. Both of these chains have branches on Gyutan Dori (gyutan street) on third floor of Sendai Station. The restaurants of Gyutan Dori open their doors at 10:00 while most of the city branch gyutan chains open for lunch around 11:00. Menus generally range in price from about 1000 yen to about 2000 yen.

Downtown Sendai

Downtown Sendai

basic information

Sendai from the AER Building's observation deck

Sendai has a compact downtown which is generally centered to the west of JR Sendai Station. An aerial view of the entire city is available for free from the observation deck of the AER Building next to the station.

The broad streets and abundance of greenery have resulted in Sendai's nickname, "the city of trees". Many parks and public spaces contribute to the greenery.

Ichibancho Shopping Arcade

Trees can even be found in the covered shopping area, Ichibancho Arcade. This covered mall connects several streets together in the downtown area to create the largest arcade in the Tohoku region. The shopping area includes several different arcade malls and covers a T-shaped area along Ichibancho and Chuo dori.

Shops along the arcades range from the budget 100 yen chains, to an Apple store with the full range of restaurants, clothing and souvenir stores in between.

Asaichi ("morning market") is another shopping option that offers visitors a look at local, seasonal fish and produce. A few stalls sell prepared foods such as onigiri, while flower vendors have seasonal plants and cut flowers. The market is located on a small street, only about 100 meters in length.

Fresh produce and flowers at Asaichi Morning Market

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how to get there

AER Building:

The building is a two minute walk north of Sendai Station's west exit across the street from the entrance of the Hapina Nakakecho shopping arcade. The observation deck is located on the 31st floor.

Asaichi Market:

From the west exit of Sendai Station, walk across the elevated walkway towards the E Beans building. The morning market is located along a street behind the E Beans building. The walk takes about five minutes.

Ichibancho Shopping Arcade:

Just across from the AER building to the north of Sendai station, follow the covered shopping arcade (known as Hapina Nakakecho, Clis Road and Marble Road Omachi) for about 15 minutes until the covered street ends and you meet the perpendicularly running Ichibancho Shopping Arcade.

How to get to and around Sendai

hours and fees

AER Observation Deck
Hours:	10:30 to 20:00
Admission:	Free

Asaichi Market
Hours:	Early morning until produce runs out, usually open all day
Closed:	Weekends and national holidays

Ichibanjo Shopping Arcade
Hours:	Shops typically open between 10:00 and 11:00 and close between 19:00 and 21:00
Closed:	Varies depending on the store but many are open year round

Osaki Hachimangu Shrine

Osaki Hachimangu Shrine

basic information

Date Masamune ordered the construction of Osaki Hachimangu in 1607 and the buildings are now a national treasure of Japan. The shrine deity, Hachimangu, is the Shinto god of war and considered to be a general guardian and protector of the city.

Osaki Hachimangu was recently restored and the shrine's renewed structure is a striking example of Date architecture and style. The main hall of the shrine is uniquely covered in black lacquer, gold leaf and brilliant colors. Some omikuji (fortunes sold by the temple for protection and good luck) are black to reflect the shrine's distinctive coloring.

Osaki Hachimangu hosts several festivals throughout the year. One of the more popular ones is Matsutaki Matsuri. This 300 year old festival celebrates the end of New Year's. The festival, common throughout Japan but particularly large at Osaki Hachimangu, involves burning decorations from New Year's celebrations and dedicating them to the shrine deities (kami).

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how to get there

Osaki Hachimangu is about a 15 minute walk from Kunimi Station on the JR Senzan Line (15 minutes, 190 yen from Sendai Station). Alternatively, you can access the shrine by city buses from Sendai Station. However, the Loople Sendai does not serve Osaki Hachimangu.

How to get to and around Sendai

hours and fees

Hours:	Shrine gift shop selling mikuji open from 9:00 to 16:00
Closed:	No closing dates
Admission:	Free

Aoba Castle

Aoba Castle

basic information

The view from where Aoba Castle once stood

Aoba Castle was built in 1600 by the powerful feudal lord Date Masamune. Because of considerations for the castle's defense, Masamune chose to locate his fortifications on Mount Aoba, 100 meters above the town below.

In the last 400 years the castle endured the anti-feudal fervor of the Meiji Period, a giant fire in 1882 and the carpet bombing of 1945. Now all that is left of the castle are remnants of the outer stone walls and a guard tower. The location's lookout onto the city below presently serves an aesthetic rather than military role, though a statue of Masamune, armor-clad and horseback, recalls the site's origins.

A museum commemorating Aoba Castle's history can be viewed on the site. It features models of the castle as it stood in the Edo Period, artifacts from the castle, and a theater that shows a short movie on the castle. The movie is in Japanese, but headsets that play an English audio track are available.

Gokoku Shrine

Aoba Castle Museum

The prefectural branch shrine of Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine, called Gokoku Shrine, is also located on the castle's former foundations. The shrine also has a museum, but does not offer any information in English. The museum focuses on Japan's modern military history.

Within walking distance from the castle are a few other sites of interest. A short walk down Mount Aoba's northern slope leads to the Sendai City Museum. The museum features relics of the Date clan, and presents varying temporary exhibitions.

About a kilometer and a half walk south-west from the castle lies Sendai Yagiyama Zoo. The selection of animals at Yagiyama is impressive for a small zoo, and the tourist to Japan will surely appreciate the section dedicated to local animals. Unfortunately, some may consider the facilities a bit wanting. Across from the zoo is the Yagiyama Bennyland amusement park.

A Camel at Yagiyama Zoo

Sendai City Museum

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how to get there

Aoba Castle can be reached in about 20 minutes from Sendai Station by the Loople Sendai bus. Get off at bus stop #5 for the Sendai City Museum or bus stop #6 for the former castle grounds. A day pass for the Loople bus costs 600 yen, otherwise one ride costs 250 yen. It takes about ten minutes to walk between the city museum and the former castle grounds.

Sendai Yagiyama Zoo and Yagiyama Bennyland are about a 20 minute walk from Aoba Castle. Otherwise they can be reached by frequent regular city buses from Sendai Station. Get off at "Doubutsu Koen Mae" bus stop, about 30 minutes from Sendai Station. The one way fare is 250 yen.

How to get to and around Sendai

hours and fees

Aoba Castle Museum
Hours:	9:00 to 17:00
Closed:	no closing days
Admission:	700 yen

Sendai City Museum
Hours:	9:00 to 16:45 admission ends at 16:15
Closed:	Mondays, the day after national holidays Dec 28-Jan 4
Admission:	400 yen for permanent collection

Sendai Yagiyama Zoo
Hours:	9:00 to 16:45 admission ends at 16:00 From Nov-Feb, 9:00 to 16:00, admission ends at 15:00
Closed:	Mondays (unless a national holiday, then the next day) Dec 28-Jan 4

Rinnoji Temple

Rinnoji Temple

basic information

Rinnoji, lying to the north of Sendai's downtown, may first appear to be a somewhat unexceptional temple. However, beyond the main hall of the temple is a beautiful Japanese garden and pagoda that are well worth visiting.

The temple was founded in 1441 by Date Mochimune, a member of the Date clan that later controlled large parts of northern Japan in the Edo Period. Rinnoji is the family temple of the Date clan, and although it was not always located at its present spot in Sendai, it moved there together with the Date family in the early 1600s. All of the buildings have been recently restored to their original appearances.

Visitors to Rinnoji's inner gardens can walk along the various paths, admire the koi (carps), the three-storied pagoda and the well tended trees, flowers and plants. There are also several benches for visitors to sit and relax as they take in the scenery.

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how to get there

From Sendai Station, take the JR Senzan Line to Kitayama Station (10 minutes, 190 yen). Rinnoji is a 10 minute walk to the southeast of the station.

How to get to and around Sendai

hours and fees

Hours:	The inner gardens of Rinnoji are open from 8:00 to 17:00
Closed:	No closing dates
Admission:	300 yen

Zuihoden Mausoleum

Zuihoden Mausoleum

basic information

Zuihoden, the mausoleum of Date Masamune

Zuihoden Mausoleum is the site of entombment of one of the most powerful feudal lords of the Edo Period, Date Masamune. Masamune was the first in a long line of Date lords to rule over Sendai from Aoba Castle. His son and grandson, Date Tadamune and Date Tsunamune, are entombed in nearby mausoleums, while other descendants are laid to rest in less elaborate graves and tombs.

Zuihoden was designed in the ornate style of the Momoyama Period. It features intricate woodwork and a rich variety of vivid colors. Masamune's son and grandson are entombed in smaller mausoleums designed in the same style.

Massive cedar trees surround the paths in the area, and are meant to symbolize the long history of the Date clan. A museum beside the Zuihoden main building shows some of the personal artifacts of the Date family, and even some specimens of their bones and hair.

A Detail of Zuihoden Mausoleum

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how to get there

Zuihoden can be reached in about 15 minutes from Sendai Station by the Loople Sendai bus. Get off at bus stop #4. A day pass for the Loople bus costs 600 yen, otherwise one ride costs 250 yen.

How to get to and around Sendai

hours and fees

Hours:	9:00 to 16:30 (until 16:00 from December to January)
Closed:	December 31 and January 1
Admission:	550 yen (100 yen discount to Loople day pass holders)

Fukushima Prefecture

Fukushima Prefecture

basic information

Aizu's Tsuruga Castle

Fukushima is a prefecture on the Pacific coast in the southern Tohoku Region. The prefectural capital is Fukushima City. Fukushima's best known tourist attraction is the former castle town of Aizu-Wakamatsu.

Sendai Travel Guide

Sendai Travel Guide

basic information

With roughly one million inhabitants, Sendai is by far the largest city in the Tohoku Region and one of the country's fifteen largest cities.

The modern city of Sendai was founded around the year 1600 by Date Masamune, one of feudal Japan's most powerful lords. Many of Sendai's tourist attractions are related to Masamune and his family.

Less than an hour northeast of the city center lies the town of Matsushima, whose bay is dotted by pine clad islets and is known for one of Japan's three most scenic views.

Miyagi Prefecture

Miyagi Prefecture

basic information

Matsushima Bay

Miyagi is located on the Pacific coast in the southern Tohoku Region. Miyagi's capital Sendai is the region's largest city. Just outside of Sendai is Matsushima, a coastal town well known to offer one of Japan's three most scenic views.

Akita Prefecture

Akita Prefecture

basic information

Kakunodate's samurai district

Akita is a large prefecture at the Sea of Japan coast in the northern Tohoku Region. Prefectural capital is Akita City. Among Akita's main attractions are its natural beauty of mountains and the sea, hot springs and the city of Kakunodate, which preserves one of Japan's most interesting samurai districts.

Aomori Prefecture

Aomori Prefecture

basic information

Oirase Stream

Aomori is the northernmost prefecture on Japan's main island Honshu. Prefectural capital is Aomori City. The former regional capital city, Hirosaki, offers a nice castle which becomes a major cherry blossom viewing spot each spring.