Where should you go 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 materials. See Sanriku marine life at Uminomori Aquarium, or ornate halls and different gardens in Matsushima. Takinoyu is a public bath to visit separately during a Naruko onsen stay.
Attraction prices, hours and directions
Sendai Castle Site
Site of Sendai Castle仙台城跡
Climb Sendai Castle Site for city views from above. See Date Masamune’s statue at Honmaru too. This is a castle-site walk and viewpoint, rather than a keep interior visit.
- AdmissionCastle-site entry is free. 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 Station West Exit stand 16 to stop 6, Sendai Castle Site. After getting off, climb the stairs to Date Masamune’s statue and Honmaru viewpoint. Walking, stairs and sightseeing are additional to the bus ride. Return around the loop in the same direction.
Sendai tourist association: castle-site entry, Loople stop and Honmaru stairsSendai City: 24-hour castle-site accessLoople Sendai: 20-minute weekdays except August; 15-minute weekends/public holidays and all August; ¥300/¥700
Zuihoden
Zuihoden Mausoleum瑞鳳殿
Visit Zuihoden to see Date Masamune’s ornate mausoleum architecture up close. The visit includes a forest approach and stairs, so choose a day when you are comfortable climbing them.
- AdmissionAdmission costs ¥570 for adults and university students, ¥410 for high school students, and ¥210 for elementary and junior high school students.
- HoursFrom February to November, the mausoleum opens 09:00–16:50, with last admission at 16:30. From December to January, it opens 09:00–16:20, with last admission at 16:00. It closes 31 December. Only Zuihoden opens on 1 January; Kansenden, Zennoden and the museum close.
- DirectionsGet off Loople at Zuihoden-mae and climb the approach. There are about 80 steps to the entrance and about 30 within the grounds. From Omachi-Nishi-koen on the Tozai Line, walk about 15–20 minutes.
Zuihoden: individual admission, day-pass discounts, closures and accessZuihoden English guide: stairs and individual visits
Sendai City Museum
仙台市博物館
Visit Sendai City Museum for Date Masamune and the city’s history. Explore materials left by the Date family, then consider the castle site too.
- AdmissionPermanent exhibition admission costs ¥460 for adults and university students, ¥230 for high school students, and ¥110 for elementary and junior high school students. Special exhibitions cost extra.
- HoursThe museum opens 09:00–16:45, with last admission at 16:15. Monday and post-public-holiday closures have exceptions. It closes 28 December–4 January; follow the official calendar.
- DirectionsWalk about eight minutes from South Exit 1 of Kokusai Center on the Tozai Line. Loople uses Museum, International Center and Ryokusaikan-mae, about three minutes away on foot.
Sendai City Museum: admission, hours and closuresSendai City Museum: subway exit and Loople-stop access
Zuiganji
Zuiganji Temple瑞巌寺
At Zuiganji, look closely at paintings, carvings and ceiling decorations that vary between rooms. Choose this for ornate temple interiors alongside Matsushima’s coastal scenery.
- AdmissionAdmission costs ¥1,000 for adults and high school students, and ¥500 for elementary and junior high school students.
- HoursOpens 08:30. Closes 17:00 in April–September; 16:30 in March/October; 16:00 in February/November; 15:30 in January/December. Last admission is 30 minutes earlier.
- DirectionsTake the JR Senseki Line from Sendai to Matsushima-Kaigan, then walk about 10 minutes. Tohoku Main Line Matsushima is a different station, about 25 minutes away on foot.
Official Zuiganji English guide
Entsuin
Entsuin Temple円通院
Take your time in Entsuin’s four gardens, each with a different atmosphere. Continue here for a garden walk after visiting nearby Zuiganji’s main hall.
- AdmissionAdmission costs ¥500 for adults and ¥300 for elementary and junior high school students.
- HoursFrom April to November, the garden opens 09:00–16:00. From December to March, it opens 09:00–15:30. It opens year-round. The facility recommends arrival at least 30 minutes before closing. Night events are separate.
- DirectionsWalk about five minutes from JR Matsushima-Kaigan, or about 20 minutes from JR Matsushima. Distinguish the two stations when choosing trains.
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 Aquarium for Sanriku marine life. Its large tank recreates the Sanriku sea, alongside exhibits from Japan and around the world.
- AdmissionAdult admission costs ¥2,400; ages 65+ pay ¥1,800; junior high and high school students pay ¥1,700; elementary school students pay ¥1,200; preschool children ages 4+ pay ¥700.
- HoursOperating information checked on 9 October 2026 lists 28 September–3 November at 09:00–17:30, last admission 17:00, and 4 November–19 March at 10:00–17:00, last admission 16:30. Check your date in official information for other periods or temporary changes.
- DirectionsTake the JR Senseki Line from Sendai to Nakanosakae, about 18 minutes, then walk about 15 minutes from the South Exit. Miyako Kotsu buses between station and aquarium cost ¥200 per adult one way; they are not a free shuttle. Waiting for trains and buses takes additional time.
Uminomori Aquarium: admission and seasonal hoursUminomori Aquarium: approximately 18-minute JR journey, walk and ¥200 bus
Takinoyu
Taki-no-Yu滝の湯
During a Naruko Onsen stay, visit the public bath Takinoyu near the station. On your return-to-Sendai day, decide whether time remains to bathe before catching your transport. The gorge walk is a separate day beforehand.
- AdmissionAdult bath admission costs ¥300. Buy a ticket at the entrance machine.
- HoursThe bath opens 07:30–21:00, with city-listed last reception at 20:30. Check temporary operation for your date.
- DirectionsWalk about five minutes from Naruko-Onsen Station to the bath at 47-1 Yumoto, Naruko Onsen. After bathing, leave time to return to the station and change at Kogota for Sendai.
Osaki City: Takinoyu ¥300, last reception and addressOsaki tourism organisation: approximately five-minute walk to Takinoyu
Bansuisodo · 晩翠草堂
Choose this for a short visit to poet Doi Bansui’s former home and displays. Loople returns to Sendai Station around a one-direction loop; allow visiting and return time separately.
| Item | Visiting information |
|---|---|
| Admission | General admission is free. Loople costs ¥300 per adult ride, or ¥600 for two rides. |
| Hours and closures | The former home opens 09:00–17:00. It closes on Mondays, or the next day if a public holiday, and 29 December–3 January. |
| Directions | From Sendai Station West Exit stand 16, take Loople to Bansuisodo-mae and use the Aoba-dori-side entrance with its stone marker. The ordinary city bus stop of the same name is about three minutes away on foot. |
| Other access and return | Walk about five minutes from Aoba-dori Ichibancho on the Tozai Line to the former home. For Loople, return from the same stop in the same loop direction to Sendai Station. |
| Time for a visit | The tourist association suggests about 15 minutes. The itineraries below allow about 20–30 minutes for sightseeing and a break. |
Sendai tourist association: Bansuisodo entrance and Loople stopLoople Sendai: 20-minute weekdays except August; 15-minute weekends/public holidays and all August; ¥300/¥700
Frequently asked questions
Should I get off at Matsushima or Matsushima-Kaigan?
From Sendai to Zuiganji and Entsuin, use JR Senseki Line Matsushima-Kaigan. Zuiganji is about 10 minutes on foot. Tohoku Main Line Matsushima is different and about 25 minutes from the temple.
Do Sendai Castle Site and Zuihoden cost the same?
Ordinary castle-site walks are free; separate exhibition facilities are excluded. Individual Zuihoden admission is ¥570 for adults and university students, or ¥460 with an eligible Loople day pass for that date. The bus pass itself costs extra.
Sendai tourist association: castle-site entry, Loople stop and Honmaru stairsZuihoden: individual admission, day-pass discounts, closures and access
Is there a free shuttle from Nakanosakae to the aquarium?
No. From Nakanosakae’s South Exit, walk about 15 minutes one way or take Miyako Kotsu for ¥200 per adult one way. If choosing the bus, check the return service time too.
Uminomori Aquarium: approximately 18-minute JR journey, walk and ¥200 bus
Official sources and verification dates
- Zuihoden: individual admission, day-pass discounts, closures and access ·
- Entsuin: admission, seasonal hours and walks from each station ·
- Uminomori Aquarium: approximately 18-minute JR journey, walk and ¥200 bus ·
- Uminomori Aquarium: admission and seasonal hours ·
- Sendai City Museum: admission, hours and closures ·
- Loople Sendai: 20-minute weekdays except August; 15-minute weekends/public holidays and all August; ¥300/¥700 ·
- Zuihoden English guide: stairs and individual visits ·
- Osaki tourism organisation: approximately five-minute walk to Takinoyu ·
- Osaki City: Takinoyu ¥300, last reception and address ·
- Sendai City: 24-hour castle-site access ·
- Official Zuiganji English guide ·
- Sendai City Museum: subway exit and Loople-stop access ·
- Sendai tourist association: castle-site entry, Loople stop and Honmaru stairs ·
- Sendai tourist association: Bansuisodo entrance and Loople stop ·
- JR Senzan Line: Yamagata → Yamadera → Sendai stop order ·
- JR Senzan Line: Sendai → Yamadera → Yamagata stop order ·