New India Travel: Beautiful and Sacred Sendai, Japan

Day 12 aboard the Regent Seven Seas Mariner (Alaska to Russia to Japan).

Sendai – the largest city between Sapporo and Tokyo – was spectacular today, despite the very heavy rain. Once again, we took Mother Nature’s curve ball in stride, put on our rain gear and anxiously waited for the all clear to go ashore. As we disembarked from the Mariner, crew members gave out large umbrellas to anyone who didn’t come prepared… a very nice touch! Without an umbrella or hat, you’d get drenched within seconds!

Map of Sendai courtesy of the Sendai Tourism & Convention Bureau.

We booked a Regent-sponsored tour for Sendai and are so glad we did. This is a large, sprawling city (about one million people) and you really need to drive quite a distance to get to the best shrines and temples in the Matsushima area. We weren’t sure about the availability of taxis or public transportation, so the Regent tour really was the best option.

The city itself is quite modern. That’s because downtown Sendai was bombed extensively by the U.S. during World War II. So, what you see now is fairly recent construction.

For The Many Sights of Sendai excursion, we joined other passengers on a modern air-conditioned bus. The highlights on this excursion included:

• Zuganji Temple – This Zen temple was constructed in 1606 by Date Masamune to serve as his family’s house of worship. The temple contains many painted screens and carvings, along with Date family heirlooms.

Pictured above is the Godai-do Temple which sits on one of Matsushima's 180 islands.
Photo courtesy of the Sendai Matsushima Tourist Guide.

• Godai-do Temple – Built near Zuganji, this is a tiny temple situated all alone on a pine-covered inlet.

To get to the temple, you must transverse one of two bridges.

The temple was built by the Order of Date Masamune and is only opened every 33 years. While we didn’t get to see the interior, the exterior of Godai-do was exquisite and well worth the trip.

The carvings on the eaves of the temple actually depict the 12 Chinese zodiac symbols.

• Shiogama Shrine – We then drove up the coast to the fishing town of Shiogama where the seaside Shiogama Shrine sits amid cedar trees. There is a steep staircase of 202 steps leading to the 1,200-year-old shrine. It’s quite a sight, whether you’re looking up or down the stairs!

The god enshrined at Shiogama protects fisherman, seafarers and expectant mothers. We were also told it relates somehow to salt, but we’re unclear on the exact meaning of that statement. In the spring, we’re told that the area’s cherry trees blossom in a glorious fashion.

• Kanran-Tei Pavilion – Presented as a gift in the late 16th century to the Date family by Hideyoshi Toyotomi, this artful pavilion was used for moon viewing and tea ceremonies.

To get to the Pavilion, which was actually built in Kyoto and then moved to Sendai, you walk through a wooded park area that is quite stunning. Statues dating back thousands of years dot the landscape. There is also a modern museum on the property with additional Date family artifacts.