What would you like to see in Sendai and Matsushima?
Choose Zuihoden and Sendai Castle Site for Date Masamune’s mausoleum architecture and city views, or Sendai City Museum for Date family exhibits. See Sanriku marine life at Uminomori Aquarium and ornate temple interiors and contrasting gardens in Matsushima. Takinoyu in Naruko is a public bath to visit separately during a hot-spring stay.
Attraction admission, hours and directions
Sendai Castle Site
Site of Sendai Castle仙台城跡
Climb to Sendai Castle Site for city views and Date Masamune’s statue at Honmaru. Explore the castle site and scenery; there is no castle keep interior to visit.
- AdmissionThe castle site is free to explore. Separate facilities such as Honmaru hall are excluded.
- HoursThe castle site is always open; separate exhibition facilities have their own hours.
- DirectionsTake Loople from Sendai west-exit stop 16 to stop 6, Sendai Castle Site. Climb the stairs to see Honmaru’s statue and views; allow time for walking, stairs and sightseeing in addition to the bus ride. Return in the same direction.
Sendai Tourism Association: castle-site admission, Loople stop and Honmaru stairsSendai City: 24-hour access to the castle siteLoople Sendai: 20-minute weekday timetable except August; 15 minutes on weekends, public holidays and throughout August; JPY 300/700 fares
Zuihoden
Zuihoden Mausoleum瑞鳳殿
Explore Date Masamune’s ornate mausoleum at Zuihoden. Choose a day when the wooded approach and stairs are manageable for your group.
- AdmissionAdmission costs JPY 570 for adults and university students, JPY 410 for senior high-school students and JPY 210 for primary and junior high-school students.
- HoursZuihoden opens from 09:00 to 16:50 in February–November, with last admission at 16:30, and from 09:00 to 16:20 in December–January, with last admission at 16:00. It is closed on 31 December. Only Zuihoden opens on 1 January; Kansenden, Zennoden and the history museum are closed.
- DirectionsClimb the approach from Loople Zuihoden-mae. There are roughly 80 steps to the entrance and 30 more within the grounds. From Omachi-Nishi-koen Station on the Tozai Line, walk 15–20 minutes.
Zuihoden: individual admission, day-pass discount, closures and accessZuihoden English guide: stairs and individual visits
Sendai City Museum
仙台市博物館
Explore Date family material at Sendai City Museum to learn about Date Masamune and Sendai’s history, then continue to the castle site for city views.
- AdmissionPermanent-exhibition admission costs JPY 460 for adults and university students, JPY 230 for senior high-school students and JPY 110 for primary and junior high-school students. Special exhibitions cost extra.
- HoursThe museum opens from 09:00 to 16:45, with last admission at 16:15. Closures on Mondays and after public holidays have exceptions. It is closed from 28 December to 4 January. Follow the official opening calendar.
- DirectionsWalk about eight minutes from Tozai Line International Center south exit 1, or three minutes from Loople Museum/International Center/Ryokusaikan-mae.
Sendai City Museum: admission, hours and closuresSendai City Museum: subway exit and Loople stop access
Zuiganji
Zuiganji Temple瑞巌寺
Look for different paintings, carvings and ceiling details in Zuiganji’s rooms. Combine the ornate temple interiors with sea views in Matsushima.
- AdmissionAdmission costs JPY 1,000 for adults and senior high-school students, and JPY 500 for primary and junior high-school students.
- HoursZuiganji opens at 08:30. It closes at 17:00 in April–September, 16:30 in March and October, 16:00 in February and November, and 15:30 in January and December. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing.
- DirectionsTake JR Senseki Line to Matsushima-Kaigan and walk about ten minutes. Tohoku Main Line Matsushima is another station, about 25 minutes away on foot.
Zuiganji official English guide
Entsuin
Entsuin Temple円通院
Take a leisurely walk through Entsuin’s four contrasting gardens after visiting nearby Zuiganji’s main hall.
- AdmissionAdmission costs JPY 500 for adults and JPY 300 for primary and junior high-school students.
- HoursEntsuin opens daily from 09:00 to 16:00 in April–November and from 09:00 to 15:30 in December–March. The facility recommends arriving at least 30 minutes before closing. Evening events are separate.
- DirectionsWalk about five minutes from JR Matsushima-Kaigan or 20 minutes from JR Matsushima. These are different stations, so check which one your train serves.
Entsuin: admission, seasonal hours and walks from each station
Sendai Uminomori Aquarium
Sendai Umino-Mori Aquarium仙台うみの杜水族館
Choose Uminomori for Sanriku marine life. Its large tank recreates the regional sea, alongside exhibits from Japan and around the world.
- AdmissionAdmission costs JPY 2,400 for adults, JPY 1,800 for visitors aged 65+, JPY 1,700 for junior and senior high-school students, JPY 1,200 for primary students and JPY 700 for preschool children aged 4+.
- HoursThe operating guidance checked on 9 October 2026 lists opening hours of 09:00–17:30 for 28 September–3 November, with last admission at 17:00, and 10:00–17:00 for 4 November–19 March, with last admission at 16:30. Check the official guidance for your date for other periods or temporary changes.
- DirectionsTake the JR Senseki Line to Nakano-Sakae in about 18 minutes, then walk about 15 minutes from the South Exit. Miyako Kotsu buses cost JPY 200 per adult each way; they are not free shuttles. Allow additional train and bus waiting time.
Uminomori Aquarium: admission and seasonal hoursUminomori Aquarium: approximately 18 minutes by JR, walking route and JPY 200 bus
Takinoyu
Taki-no-Yu滝の湯
Consider Takinoyu near the station during a Naruko stay. On your return day to Sendai, fit the bath around your departure. The gorge walk is a separate activity on the previous day.
- AdmissionAdult bath admission costs JPY 300. Buy your ticket at the entrance machine.
- HoursThe bath opens from 07:30 to 21:00, with last admission at 20:30 as listed by the city. Check temporary operating changes for your date.
- DirectionsWalk about five minutes from Naruko-Onsen Station to 47-1 Yumoto, Naruko Onsen. After bathing, leave time to return to the station and change at Kogota for Sendai.
Osaki City: Takinoyu JPY 300, last admission and addressOsaki Tourism Corporation: approximately five-minute walk to Takinoyu
Bansuisodo · 晩翠草堂
Choose a short visit to poet Doi Bansui’s former home and displays. Loople returns to Sendai Station in one loop direction, so budget sightseeing and return riding time separately.
| Item | Visiting information |
|---|---|
| Admission | Ordinary admission is free. Two Loople rides at JPY 300 per adult cost JPY 600. |
| Hours and closures | 09:00–17:00. Closed Mondays (the following day if Monday is a public holiday) and 29 December–3 January. |
| Directions | Sendai Station West Exit stop 16 → Loople to Bansuisodo-mae → entrance on Aoba-dori marked by a stone monument. The ordinary city-bus stop with the same name is about three minutes’ walk away. |
| Other access and return journey | About five minutes’ walk from Aoba-dori Ichibancho Station on the Tozai Line. If using Loople, return from the stop where you alighted, continuing in the same loop direction to Sendai Station. |
| Time for your visit | The tourism association suggests about 15 minutes. These itineraries allow around 20–30 minutes for a visit and rest. |
Sendai Tourism Association: Bansuisodo entrance and Loople stopLoople Sendai: 20-minute weekday timetable except August; 15 minutes on weekends, public holidays and throughout August; JPY 300/700 fares
Frequently asked questions
Should I get off at Matsushima or Matsushima-Kaigan Station?
For Zuiganji and Entsuin from Sendai, get off at Matsushima-Kaigan Station on the JR Senseki Line. Zuiganji is a ten-minute walk away. Matsushima Station on the Tohoku Main Line is a different station, a 25-minute walk from the temple.
Do Sendai Castle Site and Zuihoden have the same admission price?
Ordinary walks around Sendai Castle Site are free; separate exhibition facilities are excluded. Individual Zuihoden admission is JPY 570 for adults and university students, or JPY 460 with an eligible Loople day-pass discount that day. The bus pass itself is extra.
Sendai Tourism Association: castle-site admission, Loople stop and Honmaru stairsZuihoden: individual admission, day-pass discount, closures and access
Is there a free shuttle from Nakano-Sakae to the aquarium?
No. Walk about 15 minutes each way from Nakano-Sakae’s South Exit, or take the Miyako Kotsu bus for JPY 200 per adult each way. If using the bus, check the return timetable.
Uminomori Aquarium: approximately 18 minutes by JR, walking route and JPY 200 bus
Official sources and dates checked
- Zuihoden: individual admission, day-pass discount, closures and access ·
- Entsuin: admission, seasonal hours and walks from each station ·
- Uminomori Aquarium: approximately 18 minutes by JR, walking route and JPY 200 bus ·
- Uminomori Aquarium: admission and seasonal hours ·
- Sendai City Museum: admission, hours and closures ·
- Loople Sendai: 20-minute weekday timetable except August; 15 minutes on weekends, public holidays and throughout August; JPY 300/700 fares ·
- Zuihoden English guide: stairs and individual visits ·
- Osaki Tourism Corporation: approximately five-minute walk to Takinoyu ·
- Osaki City: Takinoyu JPY 300, last admission and address ·
- Sendai City: 24-hour access to the castle site ·
- Zuiganji official English guide ·
- Sendai City Museum: subway exit and Loople stop access ·
- Sendai Tourism Association: castle-site admission, Loople stop and Honmaru stairs ·
- Sendai Tourism Association: Bansuisodo entrance and Loople stop ·
- JR Senzan Line: Yamagata–Yamadera–Sendai station order ·
- JR Senzan Line: Sendai–Yamadera–Yamagata station order ·