Hello! I'm Kim from the LIVE JAPAN editorial team.

I usually work from the office or home, but right now, I’m in Miyagi Prefecture, part of Japan’s Tohoku region.
Also—full disclosure—I’m here with my boss.

For some reason, they decided to tag along.
So here it is—a record of our 3-day, 2-night journey through Miyagi and Yamagata (yes, with my boss). Though we traveled in February, the tips and insights are useful year-round.

This article is Part 1 and focuses on Miyagi Prefecture.

Just a short trip from Sendai Station brings you to breathtaking natural scenery—coastlines, mountains, and rivers that change with the seasons.
And just look at this view! It’s like stepping into a painting.

This spot is Otakamori in Oku-Matsushima—one of the “Four Scenic Views” offering panoramic sights of over 260 islands scattered across Matsushima Bay. Matsushima itself is one of Japan’s Three Great Views (alongside Amanohashidate in Kyoto and Miyajima in Hiroshima), known for its sightseeing cruises, souvenir shops, and the National Treasure Zuiganji Temple.

While Matsushima is a well-known destination packed with domestic and international visitors, Oku-Matsushima remains under the radar—making it the perfect hidden gem for those looking to soak in the scenery at a slower pace.

Otakamori is the highlight of the Oku-Matsushima course on the Miyagi Olle Trail. With its dramatic natural landscapes and sweeping silhouettes, this area would be a dream to hike in spring or autumn.

The trailhead for the Miyagi Olle Oku-Matsushima course starts right near Aomina, a local facility located just beside the entrance to Otakamori.

We stopped here to enjoy some freshly grilled oysters! Since they take a bit of time to prepare, it’s smart to place your order before hiking up Otakamori—the round trip takes about an hour, so your oysters should be ready right as you return.

Look at these beauties! Steamed and grilled on an iron plate, the aroma alone is incredible. We ordered 20 oysters due to time constraints, but the staff told us the all-you-can-eat version is even more impressive.

Available from around November to February, the 60-minute oyster buffet costs 2,500 yen for adults and 1,500 yen for children. Some guests even finish a full bucket! Skeptical at first, we took a bite—and wow. The natural brininess from the sea makes them delicious even without seasoning. Enjoying local oysters while gazing out at the ocean... it doesn’t get better than this.

Bonus tip: if you order the all-you-can-eat oysters, you’ll get a discount on the sightseeing cruise that departs from Aomina. While most people know about the cruises in central Matsushima, Oku-Matsushima has its own as well!

Unfortunately, we couldn’t board due to rough seas, but the cruise from Aomina offers views of Sagakei Gorge—one of Japan’s three great gorges—seen from the ocean. These dramatic rock formations were carved by the relentless waves of the Pacific over countless years. It would’ve been amazing to see it up close...

The cruise lasts 60 minutes and costs 2,000 yen for adults, 1,500 yen for children elementary school age and under. Operating hours are from 8:45 AM to 4 PM (until 3 PM from October to March).

Rather than fixed departure times, the boat sets off once there are at least three passengers. On Sundays, a special route connecting Higashimatsushima and Matsushima is also available.

For taxi arrangements, please inquire at the contact below.

Higashimatsushima City, home to Oku-Matsushima, was selected as one of the “Green Destinations Top 100” in 2022 in Athens, Greece—a recognition of its commitment to sustainable tourism.

The city is also known for hosting the base of the Blue Impulse, Japan’s elite aerobatic team. They conduct training flights almost daily on weekdays. Check their website or X (formerly Twitter) for the latest schedule—you might just catch their spectacular formations soaring overhead during your visit!

For lunch, we visited Soba-dokoro Okushoan, a restaurant located inside the Oku-Matsushima Clubhouse, a sightseeing facility about 10 minutes by taxi from Aomina.

Just look at the color of these noodles! The rich green hue comes from generous amounts of high-quality local seaweed kneaded into the dough. The seaweed flavor is distinct yet refined, and the noodles go down incredibly smooth.

We enjoyed them as a set with kio-ke sushi—fresh fish from the Miyagi coast marinated in a house-made soy sauce blend.

The facility also features a Blue Impulse photo gallery, a serene bonsai garden, and nearby strawberry farms where you can enjoy picking fresh strawberries from early January to late May.

Back at Sendai Station, our first stop was Zunda Saryo, located on the 3rd floor of the station.
Zunda is a sweet paste made from mashed edamame, a regional specialty of Miyagi used in a variety of desserts. One of the most beloved is zunda mochi, where the paste is served over soft rice cakes.

Here, you can try the famous Zunda Shake, a creamy drink with bits of edamame paste for added texture. It’s a local favorite—my boss insisted, “Whenever I’m in Sendai, I have to get one!”

The café was packed, so we opted for takeout instead.

Miyagi is a major rice-producing region, which naturally means excellent sake. With pure water and top-quality rice, it's no wonder the local brews are so good.

We visited Miyagino Junmaishu Center, located inside tekute dining, a new dining area directly connected to the station that opened in 2024. As the name suggests, this standing bar and izakaya specializes in junmaishu—pure sake made only from rice, koji, and water, with no added alcohol. We opted for the standing area, where you can sample and compare various local brews.

You can sample three recommended labels in a tasting set.

While other places may offer similar sets, my sake-loving boss was thrilled: “Here, you can choose from five kinds! That’s amazing... Wait—what?! There’s even a 30-minute all-you-can-drink plan?!”

The three-glass tasting set is available from 1,300 to 1,600 yen, while the 30-minute all-you-can-drink plan costs 1,800 yen. Tempted to buy a bottle of your favorite? Just note that only a limited selection is sold on-site.

For a wider variety, my boss recommended heading next door to Mutoya, a liquor shop inside tekute Sendai, which carries around 100 labels from over 20 local breweries. They also offer craft beer, Tohoku-made wine, and whisky—with paid tasting options available too.

Since this spot is focused on sake tasting, food is light. If you’re looking for a full meal, consider sitting down in the izakaya area instead. When visiting Japan, there’s no better place to enjoy sake than in a region blessed with great rice and pure water.

Sendai Station offers a wide range of local souvenirs to choose from.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when picking out gifts in a new place, but you can’t go wrong with time-tested favorites. Long-standing bestsellers have earned their popularity for a reason.
When it comes to souvenirs from Sendai…
Try sasakamaboko, a bamboo leaf-shaped fish cake that's a local classic!

Gyutan—grilled beef tongue!

Other options include sake and sweets. With so many tempting choices, you’ll want to set aside at least 30 minutes for souvenir shopping.
Here are the top souvenir picks recommended by our boss—an experienced Sendai traveler!

A beloved favorite and one of Sendai’s most iconic souvenirs! This popular sweet features a rich custard cream wrapped in a soft sponge cake. Each piece comes in an elegantly designed box, making it perfect for gifting.
Our boss also shared a tip: “The simplified-packaging version is a bit cheaper and available at the S-PAL Sendai Station store.” Great option if you're buying for yourself!

Founded in 1932, Shiramatsu Monaka Honpo’s monaka are beloved for their crisp wafer shell and perfectly balanced sweet bean filling. Available in mini, small, medium, and custom-made large sizes—pictured here is the medium. The small ones are about the size of a circle made with your thumb and index finger, and come in generous quantities, making them a delightful treat!

A brand-new local sweet born in 2023 at Sendai Castle—even our seasoned Sendai-traveling boss hadn’t heard of it! These charming wagashi are inspired by the sparrow motif from the Date clan crest and the beloved local Sendai Sparrow Dance.
Available as both manju and monaka, they come in a variety of flavors such as smooth red bean, zunda (sweet edamame paste), custard, black sesame, and Sendai miso. With their adorable design, they’re sure to delight women and children alike!

One of the true pleasures of traveling through Tohoku in winter? Hot springs—especially with a snowy view!

Our boss says, “Akiu Onsen has so much to offer—Akiu Great Falls, Rairai Gorge, the Akiu Winery, and even a famous sweets shop. Plus, there's the legendary Sakan ryokan, which was used during the G7 summit and even offers complimentary shuttle service from Sendai Station. Matsushima Onsen, with its bay views, is also great, and Ryokan Ohnuma in Naruko Onsen—famous for kokeshi dolls—was absolutely incredible. Maybe we should’ve stayed in Miyagi one more night?”

But this time, we’re headed toward Yamagata, so we’ve booked a place at Sakunami Onsen, which is conveniently on the way.

Here’s how to get from Sendai Station to Sakunami Onsen. While the best option may vary depending on your hotel location and departure time, we recommend option (1) below.

Rental cars are a great way to explore more freely from spring through fall. However, if you’re not confident driving on snowy roads or have little experience dealing with sudden snowstorms, it’s much safer to use public transportation in winter.

(1) Yamako Bus 48 Liner (Approx. 35 min)
Board the bus bound for Shinjo from Bus Stop 23 in front of Sendai Station. No reservation is needed—just line up and wait.
Depending on your accommodation, get off at either “Sakunami Onsen” or “Sakunami Onsen Iriguchi.”

To match typical check-in times, we recommend the 2:05 PM, 4:05 PM, or 5:05 PM departures.
As of February 2025. Please check the latest timetable below.

(2) Sendai City Bus (Approx. 70 min)
Board the bus bound for Sakunami Onsen from Bus Stop 14 in front of Sendai Station.

(3) JR Senzan Line (Approx. 45 min)
Take the JR Senzan Line from JR Sendai Station and get off at JR Sakunami Station.

(4) Rental Car / Taxi (Approx. 45 min)
Traveling by rental car or taxi takes about 45 minutes from Sendai Station.

This time’s accommodation is part of the Miyagi-based Ichinobo Resort group, known for its commitment to sustainability: Sendai Sakunami Onsen Yuzukushi Salon Ichinobo.

It’s an all-inclusive hotel, meaning drinks (including alcohol), in-house events, and activities are all free during your stay! Both dinner and breakfast are buffet-style—and let us tell you, it’s impressive.

When you order from the chefs behind the counters, they prepare each dish fresh on the spot—and the number of live cooking stations is impressive. Most places might have one or two, but here there were six or seven! Watching your food come together right in front of you, then picking the perfect drink to match—it’s pure joy.

The teppanyaki Sendai beef was melt-in-your-mouth delicious, and the thick-cut gyutan (beef tongue) was so good, we went back for seconds (and thirds). With plenty of local Miyagi ingredients featured, every dish was flavorful and satisfying. A truly memorable dining experience!

The Kutsurogi Salon lives up to its name—it’s a cozy space filled with drinks, books, and a beautiful view. When traveling with others, it can be hard to find a moment for yourself, but here, we were able to unwind and enjoy some peaceful, personal time.

The onsen facilities include one large indoor bath and two open-air baths, for a total of three bathing areas. Since the men’s and women’s baths switch daily, you can enjoy a variety of bathing experiences.

And in winter, the highlight is the snow-viewing bath—we soaked it all in! A small stream runs beside the open-air bath, and with the snowy landscape surrounding you, it’s a deeply soothing moment of connection with nature. A true retreat for both body and soul.

And then there’s the morning buffet. Freshly steamed rice formed into onigiri right after you order, fluffy French toast grilled before your eyes, and rich, juicy layers of rolled omelet (dashimaki tamago)—every bite was delicious!

The tomato juice wasn’t your typical store-bought variety—it was freshly blended with ice using carefully selected tomatoes, chosen by the chefs themselves. It’s details like this that show their dedication.

When you're on the road, breakfast becomes an especially important part of the journey. A hearty morning meal sets you up to enjoy the day with full energy, and in that regard, this place is perfect.
By the way, both dinner and breakfast menus change monthly, so there’s always something new to look forward to.

One of the highlights of our trip to Miyagi was a visit to the Miyagikyo Distillery, one of Nikka Whisky’s two distilleries—the other located in Yoichi, Hokkaido. This beautifully preserved site features rows of red-brick buildings and no overhead power lines, as the founder insisted all cables be buried underground to preserve the area’s natural beauty.

While some areas of the distillery are open to the public without a reservation, we highly recommend the guided tour, which includes a 50-minute walk-through of the distillery and 20 minutes of complimentary whisky tasting.

Please note that same-day registration is not available—be sure to reserve in advance through the official website. For groups of 10 or more, you’ll need to inquire directly by email for scheduling.

And with that—here’s a look at the guided tour!

Photography is allowed in most areas. As we walked through the whisky production site, we couldn’t help but reflect on the craft behind Miyagikyo’s whiskies. And finally—it was time for the tasting!

On this day, we were served two types of whisky made at the distillery and one apple wine. You can enjoy them straight, on the rocks, or mixed with soda—your choice! Soft drinks are available for those who don’t drink or are driving.

That concluded the guided tour. Just past the tasting corner, we discovered a paid tasting bar and gift shop waiting for us.

The paid tasting bar features rare selections only available here, including whiskies from the Yoichi Distillery. We even got to try “The Nikka Nine Decades,” released in limited quantities in 2024.

The gift shop offers several whiskies that can only be purchased here—perfect for a thoughtful gift. The set of five mini bottles, featuring various Nikka whiskies, is also a great souvenir.

Note: Photography is not allowed inside the shop. We received special permission to take photos for this article.

Here’s how to access the Miyagikyo Distillery. From JR Sendai Station, take the JR Senzan Line to JR Sakunami Station—about a 40-minute ride. On Fridays, weekends, and national holidays, a free shuttle bus operates from Sakunami Station, though service is limited, so be sure to check the website in advance.

If walking from the station, it takes about 40 minutes. Since taxis are not stationed at Sakunami, we recommend booking one ahead of time if you plan to travel by cab.

If using the Sendai City Bus, it takes about 60 minutes from JR Sendai Station to the nearest stop, Nikka-bashi. From there, it's about a 15-minute walk to the distillery. If you're coming from a hotel or ryokan in Sakunami Onsen, it's roughly a 10-minute ride.

By rental car, it’s about 40 minutes from Sendai Station or around 1 hour 20 minutes from Sendai Airport. On-site parking is available.

We spent two days exploring Miyagi Prefecture with Sendai Station as our base. While this route eventually took us toward Yamagata, there are still many incredible places we didn’t get to cover.

Famous spots include Sendai Castle Ruins, Zuihoden Mausoleum, Naruko Onsen Gorge, Sendai Daikannon, Osaki Hachimangu Shrine, Kinkasan Island, and Tashirojima (Cat Island). Architecture lovers should check out Sendai Mediatheque, Shirasagibashi Bridge, or the Mizuno Dokutsu water tunnel facility in Ishinomaki.

If you're into museums, try the Sense of Wonder Museum or the Underground Forest Museum. Manga fans will love the Ishinomori Manga Museum and Manga Road in Ishinomaki. For seafood lovers, Kesennuma and Shiogama fish markets are great, along with Sendai Morning Market and Yuriage Port Morning Market in Natori.

One particularly moving site is the preserved Sendai City Arahama Elementary School, which stands as a reminder of the 2011 tsunami.

Even with all this, there’s still so much more to discover in Miyagi. It’s a place worth returning to. Be sure to explore the official tourism website and related articles for more travel inspiration.

Our journey (yes, still with my boss) isn’t over yet.
Be sure to check out the second part—our 2-day, 1-night adventure through Yamagata Prefecture!