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

Kobe Harborland

Kobe Harborland

basic information

Kobe Harborland is a shopping and entertainment district along the waterfront of Kobe's port area, offering many cafes, restaurants, shopping malls, a Ferris wheel and other forms of entertainment. It is popular dating spot among young couples.

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how to get there

Kobe Harborland can be accessed from JR Kobe Station or in a 5 minute walk from Meriken Park.

How to get to and around Kobe

Shiodome

Shiodome

basic information

Shiodome viewed from Hama Rikyu Gardens

Shiodome Shiosite is one of Tokyo's newest cities within the city. Its spectacular skyscrapers accommodate many offices, the headquarters of Nippon Television and a large variety of shops, cafes, restaurants, theaters and hotels.

Shiodome used to be a marshy tideland in the beginning of the Edo Period (1603 - 1867), when it was reclaimed and given its present name, literally meaning "place where the tides stop".

In 1872, Shiodome became the site of Shimbashi Station, the Tokyo terminal of Japan's first railway line, connecting Tokyo with Yokohama. The station was later renamed Shiodome Station and converted into a large railway freight terminal, which it remained into the 1980s. The redevelopment of Shiodome started a few years later.

A replica of the former Shimbashi Station building is one of Shiodome's attractions. Standing next to the Shiodome City Center skyscraper, it houses a small museum about the history of the railway station and the Shiodome area with English explanations.

Caretta Shiodome is a skyscraper of 51 floors, most of which are occupied by the offices of Dentsu, Japan's leading advertising company. The other floors accommodate a musical theater, a museum on advertising and a range of shops, cafes and restaurants, including the "sky restaurants" on the building's top floors.

Nippon Television Tower (Nittele Tower) is the headquarters of Nippon Television, one of Japan's private, nationwide television networks. A shop with goods related to NTV's personalities and programs and several restaurants can be found there.

Note that additional sights and buildings are currently still under construction and will be opening to the public in the coming months and years.

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how to get there

Shiodome is directly connected with Shimbashi Station on the JR Yamanote Line, JR Keihin-Tohoku Line and the Asakusa and Ginza Subway Lines as well as Shiodome Station on the Oedo Subway Line and the Yurikamome, an elevated train to Odaiba.