Free Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
Free Cancellation
July 16100% refund
July 17No refund
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Sendai / Matsushima Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
2 Adults x $285.60
$571.20
Approx Total
$571.20
Pickup included
Inclusions / Exclusions
Mobile ticket
Offered in: Japanese, English
Meet up with guide on foot within designated area of Sendai
Licensed Local English Speaking Guide
Customizable Tour of your choice of 3-4 sites from 'What to expect' list
Transportation fees, Entrance fees, Lunch, and Other personal expenses
Private transportation
You cannot combine multiple tour groups.
Guide Entry fees are only covered for sights listed under What to Expect.
Overview
This value-packed trip with a government-licensed and experienced multilingual tour guide is a fantastic and efficient way to explore Sendai and Matsushima!
Sendai is a city that sits at the doorstep of the nation’s more wild side. It’s a day trip from secluded mountain retreats, rugged coastlines, and remote islands. At the same time, it’s one of Japan’s most modern and sophisticated cities with a culinary scene that will challenge and surprise.
Let us know what you would like to experience and we will customize a six-hours tour that's best for you!
Note*1: Please select your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create your customized itinerary.
Note*2: The National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter certification is issued by the Japanese government requires a good knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
APA Hotel Sendai Kotodaikoen4-10 Futsukamachi, Aoba-ku, , Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, JP, 980-0802
Alpha Hotel in Jozenji23-16 Tachimachi, Aoba-ku, , Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, JP, 980-0822
Cruise port pick-up is not available. This private tour is a walking day tour. A private vehicle is not included. Public transportation or local taxis maybe used to transfer between sites. Exact transportation costs can be discussed with the guide after a reservation is finalized. Please have Japanese Yen on ...
hand for your transportation costs. If you wish to arrange for a private vehicle, please contact us directly. All Private vehicles must be booked 5 days in advance. Maximum number of passengers: 7. Read more ▼
Itinerary
Zuihoden
Zuihoden is also known as the Mausoleum of Date Masamune who was the first lord of the Sendai Domain.
He was also known for being a great architect and is known for having designed this building during the Momoyama Period.
Zuihoden is a riot of gorgeous wood carvings and panels as well as some pretty art work and you can also go for a walk around the grounds.
The paths are shaded by beautiful cedar trees which are also mean to be a symbol of the longevity of the Date family.
1 minute
Sendai Castle Guidance House
The Sendai Castle Ruins were the inspiration for a famous Japanese poem called ‘The moon over the desolate castle’ and this tells you all you need to know about their condition now.
The ruins also do include a model of the original gate to give you a feel of how Sendai Castle would have looked in the days of old.
There is also a small museum here that takes you through the history of the castle although don’t expect anything too grand as Sendai is not one of the cities in Japan that is best known for a complete or particularly impressive castle.
If that is what you are looking for then there are plenty of other options in other cities.
1 minute
SS30
If you want to get the best views in Sendai then you need to head to SS 30 Observation Lounge.
This building is actually an office block so there is not much to check out here except for two observation decks on the 29th and 30th floors.
These are free to visit and give you panoramic vistas across all of Sendai so try to come in the morning or the late afternoon when you will get the best photo opportunities from the decks.
1 minute
Chiteinomori Mueum
The Museum of the Forest of Depths of the Earth is dedicated to telling you the story of the stone age in Japan.
On a visit here you can find out all how the Saki Stone Age would have looked in the days of old and learn more about the excavation of the Tomizawa Ruins.
The museum has a huge number of galleries and if you want to know more about the 20,000 year Saki Stone Age then this is the best place to come.
1 minute
Nikka Whisky Sendai Factory Miyagikyo Distillery
The free tour walked a group of us through different stages and buildings of production. Even though it was only about 45 minutes long, it gave a good overview as to how and where they produce their product. My favorite part (besides the sampling at the end of course) was the barrel room where you could see rows and rows or whiskey being aged to perfection.
1 minute
Matsushima Bay
Located half an hour outside of Sendai, Matsushima (松島) is famous for its bay, which is dotted by many pine clad islets and has been ranked one of Japan's three most scenic views for centuries. The small town is also known for Zuiganji, one of the Tohoku Region's most important Zen temples.
Matsushima was hit by the earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011, but escaped major damage thanks to its protected location inside the island dotted bay. Most tourist attractions, shops and hotels reopened within a few weeks or months of the earthquake.
1 minute
Zuiganji
Zuiganji (瑞巌寺) is one of the Tohoku Region's most famous and prominent Zen temples, and is well known for its beautifully gilded and painted sliding doors (fusuma). Zuiganji was originally founded in 828 as a temple of the Tendai sect, and was converted into a Zen temple during the Kamakura Period (1192-1333). After years of decline, Zuiganji was restored to prominence by the feudal lord Date Masamune who rebuilt it as his family temple in 1609.
1 minute
Oshima - Matsushima
Oshima
Oshima (雄島) is a small, pine tree-covered island close to the pier of Matsushima. The island can be accessed over a short bridge free of charge and offers some pleasant, short walks. There are multiple small shrines and viewpoints dotted about the island.
Oshima used to be a retreat for monks, and decorated meditation caves can still be found on the island. The bridge to Oshima was destroyed in the 2011 tsunami, but was rebuilt and reopened two years later.
1 minute
Entsu-in Temple
Entsuin Temple (円通院, Entsūin) was built in 1647 next to Matsushima's most important temple, Zuiganji Temple, to house the mausoleum of Date Mitsumune, the son of the ruling local feudal lord Date Terumune. The temple was built in mourning and is devoted to Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy, as Mitsumune died an untimely death at the age of 19.
1 minute
Kanrantei
Kanrantei (観瀾亭) is a Momoyama-style tea house originally built in Kyoto by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who gave it to Date Masamune for his service. Date's son eventually moved it to its current location overlooking Matsushima Bay. Kanrantei means "place to view ripples on water", due to its beautiful view over the water and surrounding islands.
1 minute
Godaido
Godaido (五大堂, Godaidō) is a small temple hall on an islet just next to the pier. Due to its prominent location, it has become a symbol of Matsushima. Godaido was built in 807 and contains five statues which were enshrined by the same priest who founded nearby Zuiganji. The statues are displayed to the public only once every 33 years, and were last displayed in 2006.
1 minute
Fukuurajima
Fukuura Island (福浦島, Fukuurajima) is one of the few pine covered islands in Matsushima Bay that is accessible to the public. The island is reached via a 252 meter long, red painted bridge that costs 200 yen (round trip) to cross. The bridge was damaged by the tsunami of March 11, 2011 and had to undergo repair works.
1 minute
Sendai City Museum
Sendai City Museum was built in the Sannomaru enclosure on the site of the remains of Sendai castle for the purpose of preserving, exhibiting, and studying a set of materials (cultural assets) donated by the Date family of Sendai (One of the samurai families that has continued since the Kamakura Era.) .
The museum houses a collection of documents from the Keicho mission to Europe—a national treasure that includes a portrait of Hasekura Tsunenaga that is also a national treasure as well as a registered UNESCO Memory of the World—and historical and artistic collections, mostly from the Edo period, that concern Sendai.
5 minutes
Sample Menu
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
This is a walking tour. Pick up is on foot.
Free Cancellation
July 16100% refund
July 17No refund
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her
Reviews by TravelOne travelers
Showing 1-5 of 10 reviews with 5 stars
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Matsushima Day Trip with Yumi
Published on May, 2025
Yumi is an excellent guide. She took us around the the Matsushima area and we were able to visit most of the locations on our itinerary in 6 hours. She is very knowledgeable and thoroughly explained the history of Matsushima. We had a great time
Matsushima Tour on Date Masamune
Published on Feb, 2025
My guide Riko san after knowing that I am very interested in Date Masamune related places, she planned an amazing day tour at Matsushima. I got to see the Michinoku Date Masamune History Museum where the life of Date Masamune is being shown scene by scene, and Riko san also took me to the Zuiganji, for which is the Date family temple and it has a lot of Date Masamune related treasure. With Riko san detailed explanation, as a big fan of Japan Sengoku period, I had the best day trip!
Experience Sendai with an kind hearted Ichiro Kusaka.
Published on Dec, 2024
As a guide, he is very knowledgeable, flexible and went above and beyond to accommodate what I want to see. Meticulously planned and efficiently executed.
As a person he is very kind hearted, soft and polite. Very pleasant. I would highly recommend him to anyone who wants to see Sendai and Matsushima .
Wonderful tour of Matsushima
Published on Oct, 2024
Riko gave a wonderful tour of Matsushima and surrounding areas. The tour was perfectly paced and very enjoyable. We toured the shrines around Matsushima bay, the beautiful islands and bridges, ate wonderful food and learned a lot about the area and its culture. I would highly recommend a tour in Matsushima. I highly recommend Riko as a tour guide there!
Wonderful tour of Matsushima
Published on Oct, 2024
Riko gave a wonderful tour of Matsushima and surrounding areas. The tour was perfectly paced and very enjoyable. We toured the shrines around Matsushima bay, the beautiful islands and bridges, ate wonderful food and learned a lot about the area and its culture. I would highly recommend a tour in Matsushima. I highly recommend Riko as a tour guide there!
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