SENDAI
SENDAI PLAN
Three days, Sendai plus Matsushima and Yamadera
Both classic day trips out of Sendai in one visit, with the third afternoon back in the city for shopping. Built for a long weekend.
3 days Best in Autumn Best in Winter Checked on 3 August 2026
Budget for one adult
Adult estimate: ¥5,260 with a Loople ticket bought by 30 Sep 2026; ¥5,330 if bought from 1 Oct 2026.
Includes one Loople day ticket (¥630 / ¥700), Zuihoden ¥570, Yamadera return ¥1,720 plus ¥500 admission, Matsushimakaigan return ¥840 and Zuiganji ¥1,000. Excludes food, shopping, accommodation, extra transport and the optional sightseeing cruise.
The Loople day ticket rises to ¥700 on 1 October 2026. Tickets bought by 30 September remain usable after the change without paying the difference. Other budget items retain their earlier source-check date.
Sendai Transportation Bureau — October 2026 fare revision · Fare-change source checked 2026-09-20
Day 1 3 stops
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Zuihoden
Adult ¥570. Open 9:00-16:50 from 1 February to 30 November, last entry 16:30; 9:00-16:20 in December and January. Closed 31 December.
Loople Sendai
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Sendai Castle ruins (Aoba Castle)
The ruins themselves are open ground with no gate. The Kenbunkan exhibition hall is free, 9:00-17:00, open every day.
Eat near the castle site before heading back down. There is more choice up there than you would expect.
Loople Sendai
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Jozenji-dori
A public avenue. Nothing to pay and nothing to enter.
The zelkova-lined avenue. An easy afternoon after a morning of hills.
Day 2 3 stops
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Sendai Station, heading for Yamadera
JR Senzan Line, ¥860 one way, about 60 minutes. Yamadera is en route to Yamagata rather than a terminus, so look for the through services.
The JR Senzan Line runs to Yamadera. There are over a thousand steps waiting at the other end, so wear the right shoes.
JR Senzan Line
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Risshakuji, better known as Yamadera
Adult ¥500, cash only. Open 8:00-16:00 from April to September and 8:30-15:00 from December to March, with the gate closing at 16:00. The temple publishes no hours for October or November.
The climb to the inner shrine and back is the bulk of the day. Give it more time than you think you need.
JR Senzan Line back to Sendai
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Around Sendai Station
The station has dedicated gyutan and sushi lanes on its third floor, and a zunda area that opens earlier.
You will have very little left in your legs. Do not schedule anything demanding for this afternoon.
Day 3 4 stops
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Sendai Station, heading for Matsushima
JR Senseki Line to Matsushimakaigan, ¥420 one way, about 40 minutes. Both the Marugoto Pass and the SENDAI AREA PASS cover it.
JR Senseki Line
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Matsushima-Kaigan
The sightseeing cruise leaves hourly from 9:00 to 16:00. The standard Nio-maru course is ¥1,500 for an adult and takes about 50 minutes.
If you want the sightseeing cruise, head for the pier first. Departures are fixed.
Walk
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Zuiganji
Adult ¥1,000 since 1 April 2026. Opens 8:30; closing runs from 15:30 in December and January to 17:00 from April to September.
JR Senseki Line back to Sendai
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Sendai Morning Market
Five minutes on foot from the station. Closing days are published month by month rather than as a standing rule, so check the market association before you go.
A short walk from Sendai Station. Many stalls close on Sundays.
Opens in transit mode with the day's stops already in place. Confirm actual departures in Google Maps.
Check the transport behind this itinerary
Use these checked guides and tools before fixing the order of your days.
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