Where to Stay in Sendai & Matsushima: Choosing the Right Area

The area around Sendai Station, served by the Tohoku Shinkansen, the Sendai Airport Access Line, the Senseki Line and the Namboku and Tozai subway lines, with a large number of business and city hotels. You can walk from the station to Aoba-dori and Ichibancho, and it makes a good base for day trips to Matsushima or toward Yamagata.

Best for

• ✓First trips to Sendai
• ✓Travelers using the shinkansen or the airport
• ✓Day trips to Matsushima or Akiu

Keep in mind

During big events such as the Sendai Tanabata Festival, hotels around the station tend to fill up early.

Nearest stations

🚉 JR Sendai Station; Sendai Station (Namboku and Tozai subway lines)

The heart of downtown Sendai, where the covered shopping arcades of Ichibancho sit next to Kokubuncho and its many restaurants. It is close to the zelkova-lined Jozenji-dori Avenue, and you can walk to events such as the SENDAI Pageant of Starlight.

Best for

• ✓Those who want to eat and drink out at night
• ✓Anyone who wants to stroll and shop

Keep in mind

The Kokubuncho area stays busy until late, so if you want quiet, choose a hotel a little farther away.

Nearest stations

🚉 Kotodai-Koen and Hirose-dori stations (Namboku subway line); Aoba-dori Ichibancho Station (Tozai subway line)

A hot spring area along the Natori River in Sendai's Taihaku Ward, lined with large hot spring hotels and ryokan. You can get there by bus from Sendai Station, and scenic spots such as Akiu Great Falls and Rairaikyo Gorge are nearby.

Best for

• ✓Those who want to unwind at a hot spring ryokan
• ✓Family trips with children
• ✓Anyone combining Sendai sightseeing with a hot spring stay

Keep in mind

There is no train station, so you travel by bus or hotel shuttle from Sendai Station.

Nearest stations

🚉 Bus from Sendai Station (no train station)

A hot spring area on the upper reaches of the Hirose River in Sendai's Aoba Ward, with ryokan scattered along the mountain stream. It has Sakunami Station on the JR Senzan Line, so you can also stop over on the way to or from Yamagata.

Best for

• ✓Those who want a quiet mountain hot spring
• ✓Travelers combining their trip with Yamagata

Keep in mind

There are few restaurants or shops in the hot spring area, so plan on eating at your ryokan.

Nearest stations

🚉 Sakunami Station (JR Senzan Line)

An area facing Matsushima Bay, one of the Three Views of Japan, with Zuiganji Temple, Godaido Hall and Entsuin Temple clustered near the shore. Ryokan and hotels overlooking the bay line the waterfront, and you can tour the islands by sightseeing boat.

Best for

• ✓Those who want to relax with sea views
• ✓Anyone who enjoys visiting temples or taking sightseeing boats

Keep in mind

It is away from the restaurants and shops of central Sendai, so choose it expecting to spend your evenings at your accommodation.

Nearest stations

🚉 Matsushima-Kaigan Station (JR Senseki Line); Matsushima Station (JR Tohoku Main Line)