Recommended for repeat visitors to Sendai! A local tour plan for those avid alcoholic beverage connoisseurs in Sendai [2 nights 3 days]
This tour plan is recommended for those who have visited Sendai several times and those who want to take the roads less travelled. It includes a tour of the whisky distillery and sake brewery, which are irresistible for alcohol lovers, as well as a retro alleyway that is popular with locals, the morning market, the Sendai Daikannon Temple, and historic temples.
Day 1：①Start from Sendai Station
By car or taxi:
35minutes from Sendai Station
By public transport:
From Sendai Station, take the JR Senzan Line to Sakunami Station. There is a free shuttle bus from Sakunami Station on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, the middle of consecutive holidays, Golden Week, and Obon.
②Nikka Whisky Miyagikyo Distillery
After arriving in Sendai, head to the Nikka Whisky Miyagikyo Distillery in the Sakunami area. (reservations are required).
The distillery and storage buildings covered in beautiful red bricks stand serenely on the enormous premises. Visitors can enjoy a guided tour of the Nikka Whisky distillery process and can even try some of the various beverages made on the premises!
https://discoversendai.travel/places/nikka-whisky-miyagikyo-distillery/
Lunch: At a soba restaurant in Sakunami, you can enjoy soba buckwheat noodles with walnut sauce instead of normal soy sauce based soba sauce.
By car or taxi:
About 40 minutes from Nikka Whisky Miyagikyo Distillery
By public transport:
Take the JR Senzan Line from Sakunami Station to Sendai Station. From Sendai Station, take a bus for about 40 minutes.
③Sendai Daikannon
The Sendai Daikannon is a large Bodhisattva statue located on the grounds of Daikanmitsuji Temple, standing at 100 meters tall and 21 meters below ground. The statue is one of the tallest in the world and is even visible from downtown Sendai.
https://discoversendai.travel/places/huge-statue-of-the-goddess-of-kannon/
By car or taxi:
Approximately 25 minutes from Sendai Daikannon
By public transport:
Approximately 40 minutes by bus from Sendai Daikannon.
④Stroll through the alleys
Enjoy bar-hopping and dinner such as mapo yakisoba (contains pork) at Iroha Yokocho and Bunka Yokocho.
The area is steeped in nostalgia and feels as though you’ve stumbled upon a hidden gem. The two alleys are lined with more than 150 bars and restaurants offering a wide range of tastes and pleasures. The neon lights and lanterns are reminiscent of the good old days of Japan, making you feel as though you’ve traveled back in time.
https://discoversendai.travel/places/iroha-yokocho/
Day 2：①Start from Sendai Station
On foot:
2 minutes from Sendai Station by foot.
②Sendai Asaichi (Morning market)
Let’s sample seafood, ramen and other breakfast items while taking in the lively atmosphere of the Sendai Morning Market, also known as the kitchen of the citizens of Sendai.
https://discoversendai.travel/places/sendai-asaichi-morning-market/
By car or taxi:
Approximately 7 minutes from Sendai Morning Market
On foot:
Approximately 22 minutes from Sendai Morning Market
③Moritami Sake Brewery
Head to Moritami Sake Brewery. You can tour the brewery and sample sake (reservations required).
Moritami Sake Brewery is the only sake brewery in downtown Sendai, with a history dating back to 1849, where visitors can tour the brewery and get hands on with the brewing process. At the amazake café operated by the brewery, you can enjoy amazake (a sweet fermented rice drink) and sweets made with amazake and sakekasu (the leftover solids from the sake brewing process, also known as sake lees).
https://sendai-experience.com/ja/ex/1512
By car or taxi:
Approximately 7 minutes from Moritami Brewery
④Bansuisodo House
The Japanese historic house “Bansuisodo” was the former residence of Doi Bansui, a famous lyricist, poet, and English literature scholar. Surrounded by modern buildings, it feels like stepping back in time.
https://www.sentabi.jp/guidebook/attractions/86/
On foot:
About 4 minutes from Bansuisodo by foot
⑤ Stroll through the shopping arcade
If you would like to enjoy shopping downtown, it is highly recommended to visit the department stores near Sendai Station, or the nearby shopping arcades.
Fujisaki：Founded in 1819, Fujisaki Department Store is a beloved local department store for Sendai residents, with its “Date Craft” section offering traditional Tohoku crafts and other modern arts and crafts. The food section stocks not only delicious foods unique to Miyagi, but also sake and whiskey from many of the prefecture’s breweries. The department store carries many brands and also has a duty-free counter that doubles as a tourist information center.
https://discoversendai.travel/places/fujisaki/
Mitakisan Fudoin Temple：It’s located in the Clis Road shopping arcade, which enshrines Sendai Shiro – the god of good fortune. Luck-bringing goods are sold there, so snag a charm and give your luck a little boost! If you climb the stairs at the back of the temple, you’ll find the statue of Sendai Shiro.
https://discoversendai.travel/places/sendai-shiro-mitakisan-fudoin-temple/
“Kikufuku” at Kikusuian (Ocha no Igeta)：If you get hungry while sightseeing, why not try Kikusuian’s “Kikufuku” or Zunda Mochi?
On foot:
Immediately after exiting the Nakakecho Shopping Arcade
⑥Take in the city views from the AER Observation Terrace.
Admission to the observation terrace on the 31st floor, the top floor of AER, a landmark building in the city center is free, and on a clear day it offers a spectacular view of Sendai’s cityscape and the mountains.
https://discoversendai.travel/places/shop-and-wander-aer/
Day 3：Looking for souvenirs around Sendai Station
