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The Tohoku region refers to the northeastern portion of Japan’s main island Honshu and consists of six prefectures: Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, and Fukushima. The region has a rich history and culture and an abundance of nature, with unique sights to enjoy during every season. Here we introduce three prefectures that are within 3 hours of Tokyo by Shinkansen: Miyagi, Iwate, and Fukushima.
Miyagi Prefecture: Sendai City and beyond
When heading from Tokyo to Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture the Shinkansen should always be your first choice. It takes less than 2 hours from Tokyo Station to Sendai Station. You can get a Japan Rail Pass or JR East Pass (Tohoku area) to save some money during your trip.
Some of Sendai’s most famous sightseeing spots include the ruins of Sendai Castle and the equestrian statue of the castle’s first lord, Date Masamune. The site where the castle once stood affords views of the surrounding city below. Make sure to not miss the ornate Zuihoden Mausoleum where Date Masamune is laid to rest.
If you’re looking for somewhere to stay in the city, Hotel Metropolitan Sendai is situated a convenient 1-minute walk from Sendai Station, allowing for easy access to nearby mosques and sightseeing locations. Their Muslim-friendly Restaurant & Café Serenity, serves meals for lunch and dinner. Please be aware that bookings must be made at least a week in advance for the Muslim-friendly meal options.
Also near Sendai Station is the Sendai City Agriculture & Horticulture Center Midori no Mori, where you can see beautiful seasonal flowers, pick fruits and vegetables, and shop for souvenirs. There is also the Sendai Umino-Mori Aquarium, where you can see and learn about many species of fish from all over the world. The aquarium includes a school of over 25,000 Japanese pilchards. Afterwards, surround yourself with nature and relax at the National Michinoku Forest Lakeside Park.
Sendai Castle Ruins
Address: 1 Kawauchi, Aoba-ku, Sendai-shi, Miyagi-ken
Access: From Sendai Station, take the Loople Sendai bus (approximately 25 minutes) to Sendai Castle Ruins bus stop
Zuihoden Mausoleum
Address: 23-2 Otamayashita, Aoba-ku, Sendai-shi, Miyagi-ken
Open： 9:00 a.m. – 4:50 p.m. (Last entry 4:30 p.m.) February 1 to November 30.
9:00 a.m. – 4:20 p.m. (Last entry: 4:00 p.m.) December 1 to January 31. Closed December 31
Access: From Sendai Station, take the Loople Sendai bus (approximately 15 minutes) to Zuihoden-mae bus stop, then 5 minutes by foot
Hotel Metropolitan Sendai
Address: 1-1-1 Chuo, Aoba-ku, Sendai-shi, Miyagi-ken
TEL: +81-22-268-2525
Access: From Sendai station, approximately 1 minute by foot
Hotel Metropolitan Sendai
Restaurant & Café Serenity
Address: Hotel Metropolitan Sendai, 2F
Open: 11:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (Last order 2:30 p.m.) 5:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. (Last order 9:00 p.m.)
English/foreign language speaking staff: available
Restaurant & Café Serenity
Sendai Agricultural & Horticulture Center Midori-no-Mori
Address: 13-1 Kirishinden, Arai, Wakabayashi-ku, Sendai-shi, Miyagi-ken
TEL: +81-22-288-0811
Open: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Access: From Sendai Station, take a train to Arai Station (approximately 15 minutes), then a bus to Agriculture Engei Center Mae bus stop (approximately 10 minutes), then 5 minutes by foot
Sendai Agricultural & Horticulture Center Midori-no-Mori
Sendai Umino-Mori Aquarium
Address: 4-6 Nakano, Miyagino-ku, Sendai-shi, Miyagi-ken
TEL: +81-22-355-2222
Open: 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Access: From Sendai Station, take a train (approximately 18 minutes) to Nakanosakae Station, then take the free shuttle bus (approximately 7 minutes)
National Michinoku Forest Lakeside Park
Address: 53-9 Nihonmatsu Aza Ono, Kawasaki-machi, Shibata-gun, Miyagi-ken
TEL: +81-22-484-5991
Open: 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (July 1 to August 31) 9:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.; winter (November 1 to February 28) 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.)
Closed: Tuesdays (closed on the following Wednesday if Tuesday is a national holiday)
Access: From Sendai Station, take a bus (approximately 70 minutes)
Sendai International Airport
Another convenient way to reach Northern Japan is by air. Tohoku’s largest airport, Sendai International Airport, has a prayer space with wudu facility. On Sundays and holidays, the Yuriage Harbor Morning Market is opened nearby, where you can purchase fresh fish and vegetables or even take part in their morning auction sessions for some excellent deals. You can also reach Sendai Station via a direct route from the airport station.
Sendai International Airport
Address: Minamihara, Shimomasuda, Natori-shi, Miyagi-ken
TEL: +81-22-382-0080
Open: 6:10 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Prayer space capacity: 1 person
Access: From Sendai Station take the Sendai International Airport Access Line (approximately 25-35 minutes depending on the service)
Yuriage Harbor Morning Market
Address: 3-5-1 Yuriage higashi, Natori-shi, Miyagi-ken
TEL: +81-22-395-7211
Open: Sundays and public holidays 6:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Access: From Sendai International Airport, take a taxi (approximately 10 minutes) or from Sendai Airport Station, take a Sendai Airport Access Line train (approximately 15 minutes) to Natori Station, then a Natori City shared bus Natoringo (approximately 15 minutes)
Alternatively, from Sendai Station, take a train (approximately 15 minutes) to Natori Station, then a Natori City shared bus Natoringo (approximately 15 minutes)
Yuriage Harbor Morning Market
Sendai Masjid / Islamic Cultural Centre of Sendai (ICCS) and sightseeing spots on the city outskirts
Sendai Masjid is approximately 20 minutes away from Sendai Station by car. From Kuzuoka Station, the closest station to Sendai Masjid, you can reach Naruko Gorge, famous for its beautiful summer and fall foliage, in about an hour and a half. It’s also close to Shiroishi Castle, which is known for its winter scenery.
A little further afield is Okama Caldera lake, which is ideal for people who want to experience nature-filled journeys across the different seasons (note that the lake cannot be accessed during winter–early November through late April–due to heavy snowfall). While it is easiest to reach by car or taxi, there are limited bus services between April and November.
Sendai Masjid / Islamic Cultural Centre of Sendai (ICCS)
Address: 7-7-24 Hachiman, Aoba-ku, Sendai-shi, Miyagi-ken
TEL: +81-22-226-2625
Access: From Sendai Station, take a bus (approximately 25 minutes) to Yahata 7-chome bus stop, then 5 minutes by foot. Alternatively, from Sendai Station, take a train (approximately 18 minutes) to Kuzuoka Station, then 20 minutes by foot
Islamic Cultural Centre of Sendai (ICCS)
Naruko Gorge
Address: Naruko Onsen, Osaki-shi, Miyagi-ken
Access: From Sendai Station, take the Shinkansen to Furukawa Station (approximately 15 minutes). From there, take a train to Naruko-Onsen Station (approximately 50 minutes), then take a taxi (approximately 10 minutes)
Shiroishi Castle
Address: 1-16, Masuoka-cho, Shiroishi-shi, Miyagi-ken
Access: From Sendai Station take a train to Shiroishi Station (approximately 50 minutes), then 15 minutes by foot
Okama Caldera
Address: Kuraishidake National Forest, Zao-machi, Togatta-gun, Miyagi-ken
Access: The quickest way to access the caldera is by car (approximately 40 minutes). Alternatively, from Shiroishi Station, take a Zao High Line bus to Zao Togatta Sancho bus stop (approximately 90 minutes). The bus runs on weekends and national holidays between late April and early November. There is only one bus per day to Zao Togatta Sancho in the morning and one back in the early afternoon, so check the times when planning your trip. The lake cannot be accessed during winter (early November through late April) due to heavy snowfall.
Kesennuma, a quaint fishing town with Muslim-friendly dining
Kesennuma is known for having the highest shark catch rates in the whole of Japan. It is a port town perfect for a daytrip to enjoy fresh seafood meals. To reach Kesennuma, take a Shinkansen from Sendai Station to Ichinoseki Station (approximately 30 minutes), then take a train to Kesennuma Station (approximately 80 minutes).
While you’re here, visit Umi no Ichi, a seaside mall with small shops, restaurants, and even a shark museum. There’s also the Rias Ark Museum of Art where you can see local contemporary artwork and learn about the catastrophic events such as large-scale earthquakes and tsunamis that Kesennuma has endured.
Finally, there’s Mt. Anba, which you can climb in around 20 minutes and be rewarded with amazing sights, including a panorama of Kesennuma below. The town is also home to Warung Mahal, an Indonesian restaurant with friendly staff, delicious Muslim-friendly food, and an in-house prayer room.
Umi no Ichi
Address: 7-13 Uoichiba-mae, Kesennuma-shi, Miyagi-ken
TEL: +81-226-24-5755
Open: October to April 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; May to September 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Closed: check the website for details
Access: From Sendai Station take the Shinkansen to Ichinoseki Station (approximately 30 minutes), then take a train to Kesennuma Station (approximately 80 minutes). From there, take a bus to Umi no Ichi Bus Station (approximately 10 minutes)
From Warung Mahal, approximately 2 minutes by foot
Umi no Ichi
Kesennuma Shark Museum
Open: October to April 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
May to September 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Closed: check the website for details
Kesennuma Shark Museum
Rias Ark Museum of Art
Address: 138-5 Akaiwa Makisawa, Kesennuma-shi, Miyagi-ken
TEL: +81-226-24-1611
Open: 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Closed: Mondays and Tuesdays (when a national holiday falls on a Monday or Tuesday, the museum will be open)
Access: From Sendai Station, take the Shinkansen to Ichinoseki Station (approximately 35 minutes), then take a train to Kesennuma Station (approximately 80 minutes). From there take a taxi (approximately 20 minutes)
From Warung Mahal, take a taxi (approximately 10 minutes)
Rias Ark Museum of Art
Mt. Anba
Address: Machiura, Kesennuma-shi, Miyagi-ken
Access: From Sendai Station, take the Shinkansen to Ichinoseki Station (approximately 35 minutes), then take a train to Kesennuma Station (approximately 80 minutes). From there, take a bus to Ota-Iriguchi bus stop, then approximately 30 minutes by foot
From Warung Mahal, approximately 5 minutes by foot to Kawarada Bus Station, then take the bus to Minami-machi bus stop (approximately 3 minutes). From there, 35 minutes by foot
Warung Mahal
Address: 4-5 Uoichiba-mae, Kesennuma-shi, Miyagi-ken
TEL: +81 50-3573-4248
Open: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (Last order: 1:30 p.m.), 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. (Last order: 8:30 p.m.)
Closed: Tuesdays
Prayer space capacity: 6–10 people
Facilities: separate spaces for men and women, mat, qibla compass, Quran
Access: From Sendai Station, take the Shinkansen to Ichinoseki Station (approximately 30 minutes), then take a train to Kesennuma Station (approximately 80 minutes). From there, take a train to Minami-Kesennuma Station (approximately 10 minutes), then 15 minutes by foot
Warung Mahal
Iwate Prefecture: Visit the historical town of Hiraizumi
Iwate Prefecture, to the north of Miyagi Prefecture, is easy to access by Shinkansen from Tokyo or Sendai. Visit the historic town of Hiraizumi, which was the base of the once powerful Fujiwara clan around 800 years ago. From Sendai Station, take the Shinkansen to Ichinoseki Station (approximately 35 minutes), then take a train to Hiraizumi Station (approximately 8 minutes). From Tokyo Station, take a Shinkansen to Ichinoseki Station (approximately 2 hours).
Said to have once even rivaled Kyoto in beauty and elegance, within Hiraizumi you’ll find World Cultural Heritage Sites, including the Konjiki-do of Chusonji Temple. This temple hall covered in gold is a must-see if you’re in the area. Other heritage sites can be found within the Motsuji Temple Jodo Garden. The area also has a Muslim-friendly restaurant at Hiraizumi Rest House. Restaurant customers can access a prayer room at this facility (the space is available for groups of 4-5 people or more with advance reservations).
Hiraizumi Rest House
Address: 10-7, Sakashita, Hiraizumi, Hiraizumi-cho, Nishi-Iwai-gun, Iwate-ken
Open: 8:40 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (April to November)
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (December to March)
Open year-round (Closed on certain days December–March)
Access: From Sendai Station, take the Shinkansen to Ichinoseki Station (approximately 35 minutes), then take a bus to Chuson-ji Temple (approximately 25 minutes). From there, 1 minute by foot
Hiraizumi Rest House
Motsuji Temple Jodo Garden
Address: 58 Aza Osawa, Hiraizumi, Hiraizumi-cho, Nishi-iwai-gun, Iwate-ken
TEL: +81-191-46-2331
Open: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (November 5 to March 4)
Access: From Sendai Station, take the Shinkansen to Ichinoseki Station (approximately 35 minutes), then take a train to Hiraizumi Station approximately 10 minutes. From there, approximately 7 minutes by foot
Motsuji Temple Jodo Garden
Konjikido of Chusonji Temple
Address: 202 Aza Koromonoseki, Hiraizumi, Hiraizumi-cho, Nishiiwai-gun, Iwate-ken
TEL: +81-191-46-2211
Open: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Closes at 4:30 p.m. during winter; November 4 – February 28)
Access: From Sendai Station, take the Shinkansen to Ichinoseki Station (approximately 35 minutes), then take a train to Hiraizumi Station approximately 10 minutes. From there, take a taxi (approximately 5 minutes). Alternatively, take a Hiraizumi Runrun Loop Bus (approximately 10 minutes), (the bus operates on weekends and national holidays from mid-April to late November)
Fukushima Prefecture: A day of sightseeing in Fukushima’s largest city, Iwaki
Fukushima Prefecture is easy to access from Tokyo, Sendai, and Ichinoseki by Shinkansen to Koriyama Station. From Koriyama, you can reach Iwaki City in around 90 minutes by train or bus. In Iwaki, Fukushima, you’ll find the sea, mountains, rivers, natural hot springs, and historic spots.
Check out the Aquamarine Fukushima, an aquarium that has beautifully recreated Fukushima’s rivers, coasts, and ocean environments, including the creatures that make their home there. There’s also the Iwaki City Coal & Fossil Museum, where you can learn about the area’s mining history and prehistoric lineage. Another tourist spot is the Shioyasaki Lighthouse. If you climb the staircase all the way to the top, you can look out onto the shoreline and the expansive ocean beyond.
Aquamarine Fukushima
Address: 50 Tatsumi-cho, Onahama, Iwaki-shi, Fukushima-ken
TEL: +81-246-73-2525
Open: March 21 to November 30 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.; December 1 to March 20 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Access: From Koriyama Station, take a train to Iwaki Station (approximately 90 minutes). From there, take a train to Izumi Station (approximately 14 minutes), then take a bus to Aeon Mall Iwaki Onahama bus stop (approximately 15 minutes). From the bus stop, it is 5 minutes by foot
Aquamarine Fukushima
Iwaki City Coal & Fossil Museum
Address: 3-1 Mukaida, Jobanyumoto-machi, Iwaki-shi, Fukushima-ken
TEL: +81-246-42-3155
Open: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Closed: Every third Tuesday of the month (the following Wednesday if the day is a public holiday) and January 1
Access:
From Koriyama Station, take a train to Iwaki Station (approximately 90 minutes). From there, take a train to Yumoto Station (approximately 8 minutes), then 10 minutes by foot
Shioyasaki Lighthouse
Address: 34 Yadozaki Tairausuiso, Iwaki-shi, Fukushima-ken
TEL: +81-246-39-3924
Open: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. on weekdays, and on weekends and public holidays from October to February (last entry 3:00 p.m.)
9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. from April 29th to May 5th, August 10th to August 19th, and on weekends and public holidays from March to September (last entry 4:00 p.m.)
Closed during strong winds and bad weather
Access: From Koriyama Station, take a train to Iwaki Station (approximately 90 minutes). From there, take a bus (weekdays only) to Todai-Iriguchi bus stop (approximately 30 minutes), then 12 minutes by foot
Shioyasaki Lighthouse
In this article, we have introduced Miyagi, Fukushima, and Iwate Prefectures, but there are many more interesting locations to visit within the Tohoku region.
More to Explore
