Situated approximately 14km southeast of Sendai Station in Miyagi Prefecture, Sendai Airport (airport code: SDJ) is the largest airport in the Tohoku region. It is directly connected to JR Sendai Station by the Sendai Airport Access Line, a 17-minute ride on the rapid train, or 25 minutes on the local, with no transfers required.

Sendai Airport serves a select range of international destinations, primarily across East and Southeast Asia. Routes currently include Seoul (Asiana Airlines), Hong Kong (Greater Bay Airlines and Hong Kong Express), Taipei and other Taiwanese destinations (EVA Air, Starlux, and Tigerair Taiwan), Shanghai (Air China), and Bangkok Don Mueang (Thai AirAsia X, seasonal).

Note that schedules and routes are subject to change, so check the Sendai Airport official website for the latest information before booking.

Best seasons to visit Sendai: Summer, with festivals like the Sendai Tanabata Festival; autumn, with its colorful leaves; and winter, with its spectacular snowy landscapes, are among the best seasons to visit Sendai and the greater Tohoku region.

Once you arrive at Sendai Airport from overseas, you will go through the following procedures in order: quarantine, immigration, baggage claim, and customs.

A convenient tool that simplifies this process is the Visit Japan Web app, which allows you to complete immigration and customs procedures online before arrival. With Visit Japan Web, quarantine, immigration, and customs can all be processed by presenting a QR code and your passport. Registering in advance is strongly recommended for a smoother arrival experience. The app also facilitates tax-free shopping procedures.

Departing from Japan involves the following steps: security screening, customs, and passport inspection. The security process uses body scanners and moves quickly.

Before leaving Japan, check your baggage carefully for any items that cannot be carried on board, as well as any duty-free purchases. A large volume of duty-free goods may extend the time required at customs inspection, so allow plenty of time and arrive at the airport early.

Travelex: International Arrivals Lobby, 1st Floor Located near the arrivals entrance in the International Arrivals Lobby, Travelex offers foreign currency exchange services and is open year-round.

Yamato Transport, located in the shopping area on the 2nd floor, allows you to ship your luggage directly from Sendai Airport to your accommodation anywhere in Japan. This is especially useful for visitors who plan to sightsee immediately after landing before heading to their hotel.

Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the Sendai Airport Passenger Terminal Building. For travelers who want a more reliable connection, an eSIM is a convenient option that lets you get online without picking up a physical device.

Alternatively, you can rent a pocket Wi-Fi router, with NINJA WiFi offering locker pickup near the 1F International Arrivals Entrance and the 2F International Check-in Counter. (LIVE JAPAN readers can get 20% off NINJA WiFi Pocket WiFi rentals via this campaign page.)

For a comparison of options and tips on staying connected, check out internet options in Japan here.

1F Information Counter: For any questions or assistance while in the airport, the Information Counter on the 1st floor has staff available in English and other languages.

Tohoku Tourist Information Center
The Tohoku Tourist Information Center provides sightseeing and transportation information for the wider Tohoku region. Bus tickets and attraction tickets — including for the Matsushima sightseeing boat and Sendai Uminomori Aquarium — are available here.

The second floor houses 11 stores, including a large souvenir shop, a specialty sake shop, a drugstore stocked with cosmetics and travel essentials, and a duty-free shop in the International Departures area.

General Store Hagi is the airport's main souvenir shop, offering the widest selection of Tohoku specialties — from confectionery and local sweets to meats, marine products, and regional delicacies. It's the best single stop for Sendai and Tohoku souvenirs before departure.

1. Hagi-no-Tsuki: Sendai's most iconic confectionery, made by long-established Kasho Sanzen. A round, yellow sponge cake filled with custard cream, individually boxed and ideal as a gift.

2. Sendai Hitokuchi Zunda Mochi: Bite-sized rice cakes coated in zunda, a regional paste made from mashed edamame beans. Individually wrapped and easy to share.

3. Patissier's Apple Stick: A popular Aomori Prefecture souvenir: crispy, flaky pastry wrapped around generous slices of sweet apple. One of the region's best-selling confectioneries.

4. Mou: A fried kamaboko (fish cake) made from ground fish and tofu. Light, airy, and mildly flavored — works as a snack or side dish.

5. Shiroishi U-men with Soy Sauce: A thin noodle specialty from Shiroishi City in Miyagi Prefecture, with a history of nearly 400 years. The noodles are oil-free, just 9cm long, and come with their own sauce, so they are ready to cook at home.

For duty-free merchandise, Duty Free Shop VEGA is located in the International Departure Waiting Area on the 2nd floor. In addition to brand-name cosmetics, alcohol, and sundries, it also carries popular souvenirs from across Japan.

The airport has 10 restaurants covering a range of styles from gyutan specialist restaurants and zunda cafés to ramen shops, cafés, and sandwich counters. Many locals frequent the airport specifically for its dining options. Most menus are illustrated with photographs, making it easy to order without Japanese, and some restaurants offer halal menus.

Located on the first floor near Domestic Arrivals, Jinchu serves gyutan (grilled beef tongue) — Sendai's signature dish. The beef tongue is grilled by skilled chefs visible from the dining area. A to-go menu is also available for travelers who want to take it back to their hotel.

Zunda Saryo specializes in zunda–a Sendai regional specialty made by mashing boiled edamame beans into a paste. The signature item is the Zunda Shake, a creamy, edamame-flavored drink served in a cup, perfect for enjoying while shopping or waiting before check-in. Zunda-based souvenirs are also available here.

Smile Terrace is a free rooftop observation deck overlooking the runway and tarmac. Three coin-operated 20x telescopes (100 yen each) give close-up views of arriving and departing aircraft, while the open deck offers a panoramic view stretching across Sendai City to the Zao Mountain Range.

A dedicated prayer room is available on the second floor in the International Departures lobby, open to visitors of all faiths and beliefs. The room is approximately 5 square meters and is equipped with water for ritual washing and floor markings indicating prayer directions.

The Sendai Airport Access Line connects Sendai Airport Station (directly attached to the passenger terminal) to JR Sendai Station with no transfers required. The rapid train takes approximately 17 minutes; the local train takes approximately 25 minutes. Trains run frequently throughout the day and are the fastest and most convenient option for reaching central Sendai.

From Sendai Station, the Shinkansen connects to Tokyo (approximately 90 minutes on the Hayabusa), and local JR and subway lines provide access to Matsushima, Yamagata, and the wider Tohoku region.

The Sendai Airport Access Line also stops at Morisekinoshita Station (one stop from the airport), which is the nearest station to AEON MALL Natori, making the mall a convenient first or last stop for travelers.

Bus stops at Sendai Airport are located just outside the International Arrivals lobby on the 1st floor. After exiting, you’ll find clearly marked bus bays to the right, with multiple routes serving destinations across Miyagi and neighboring prefectures.

Yamagata Station Area
Buses bound for Yamagata Station depart from Bus Stop No. 2 at Sendai Airport. These services are operated by Yamakobus (Yamagata Office). For details, see the official website.

Sakata & Tsuruoka (Shonai Area)
For travelers heading to Sakata or Tsuruoka in Yamagata’s Shonai region, buses also depart from Bus Stop No. 2. These routes are run by Shonai Kotsu. see the official website.

Natori
Local buses to nearby Natori depart from Bus Stop No. 1. These services are operated by Daishinto Co., Ltd. For details, see the official website.

Iwanuma
Buses to Iwanuma depart from Bus Stop No. 3, with two route variations:
・Via Rinku Industrial Park (Sendai Bus)
・Via Iwanuma City Hall (Miyakou Bus)

Yamagata Zao Onsen (Reservation Required)
Direct buses to Yamagata Zao Onsen depart from Bus Stop No. 2. Reservations are required by 6 PM at least 7 days before travel. Reservation & details: Sendai Bus (Zao route).

A taxi stand is located behind the bus stop, just to the right of the International Arrivals lobby. A ride from Sendai Airport to Sendai Station typically costs around 6,000–7,000 yen.

You can also browse private transfers here. A private transfer is a pre-booked car with a driver that takes you directly to your destination. It’s a good option for families, groups, or travelers with lots of luggage who want a smoother, door-to-door experience.

A car rental counter is also located on the 1st floor of the terminal, making it a convenient option for travelers planning to explore Miyagi Prefecture or the wider Tohoku region independently. Rental car companies at the airport include Toyota Rent a Car, Nissan Rent a Car, Orix Rent a Car, Nippon Rent-A-Car, Times Car, Budget Rent a Car, and Eco Car Rent.

If you book Nippon Rent-A-Car through LIVE JAPAN, you can also save 10%. For details, see here.

Sendai Airport's location makes it a convenient starting or ending point for several popular destinations. If you have time before a flight or are planning your first stop after landing, check out these locations.

Matsushima Bay is one of Japan's most celebrated scenic spots. A bay dotted with over 260 pine-covered islands, it’s a scenic must see for any lover of Japanese history and nature. From Sendai Airport, take the Access Line to Sendai Station and transfer to the JR Senseki Line for Matsushima-Kaigan Station. The bay, sightseeing boats, and historic Zuiganji Temple are all within easy walking distance of the station.

Mitsui Outlet Park Sendai Port, with approximately 120 stores, is directly accessible from Sendai Airport by highway express bus, making it one of the easiest outlet mall connections from any airport in Japan. The bus also continues to Matsushima and Hiraizumi, so the outlet can be combined with a sightseeing day along the coast. See our full guide to shopping at Sendai's outlet malls.

AEON MALL Natori is one of Tohoku's largest shopping malls, with over 200 stores including UNIQLO, MUJI, BicCamera, and a wide selection of Sendai souvenir shops. It is one stop from Sendai Airport on the Access Line (Morisekinoshita Station, 1-minute walk from the mall entrance), making it ideal for last-minute shopping before a flight, or as a first stop after arriving. Large coin lockers are available for suitcases on every floor. See our full guide to AEON Mall Natori.
Want to learn more about shopping in Sendai? Check out our dedicated guide.

About a 15-minute drive from the airport, Kawamachi Terrace Yuriage is a commercial complex with nearly 27 stores, including popular seafood restaurants and sweets shops using locally sourced fruits. International visitors are warmly welcomed, though multilingual service may be limited.

For travelers with early flights or late arrivals, several hotels are located within easy reach of Sendai Airport.

So if you’re traveling through Sendai Airport, take advantage of the convenient array of shops and services available to all travelers. We hope the information provided here enhances your travel experience, and grants you a pleasant and comfortable journey!