Best Sendai Tours from Tokio

Sendai, the largest city in Japan's Tohoku region, is known as the “City of Trees” for its lush greenery and wide, tree-lined avenues. Founded in the early 17th century by the powerful samurai lord Date Masamune, Sendai still carries traces of its feudal past, most notably at the site of Sendai Castle ruins overlooking the city. Modern Sendai offers a lively downtown with shopping arcades, izakayas, and seasonal festivals, including the famous Tanabata Festival each August when colorful streamers decorate the streets. Visitors can also enjoy local specialties such as gyutan (grilled beef tongue), zunda mochi (sweet soybean paste rice cakes), and fresh seafood from the nearby coast. Just outside the city lies Matsushima Bay, celebrated as one of Japan's three most scenic views with its pine-covered islands.