H.I.S. · Sendai
A coach day from Sendai to Ginzan Onsen, the old wooden spa town on a river in Yamagata, with lunch, fruit picking and the winter shuttle fee included. Pick it for the price and the ease: the cheapest way to see Ginzan without a car, in a season when cars cannot go in anyway.
H.I.S. is one of Japan's big travel agencies, and this is its new coach day to Ginzan Onsen, running from 25 November 2026 to 31 March 2027. You meet at 9:30 am at the tourist bus stop by Sendai station's east exit. The first stop on the itinerary is the Sendai branch shrine of Kanahebisui Shrine, then the coach crosses into Yamagata for lunch and fruit picking, and the afternoon ends with about 1 hour 45 minutes in Ginzan Onsen.
Lunch, the fruit picking fee and the Ginzan shuttle bus fee are all in the price. That last one matters: in winter Ginzan restricts private cars and visitors go in by park-and-ride shuttle, so the coach drops you at the car park and the shuttle takes you in. Lunch includes shrimp tempura and umen noodle soup made with bonito flakes; tell H.I.S. about allergies before the day, as nothing can change on the spot. If the fruit is not ready, the stop becomes Cherry Land and you get 2,000 yen back.
The catches are in the small print. The tour needs 15 people 10 days before departure or it is cancelled. H.I.S. warns that shuttle queues at Ginzan can delay the return to Sendai significantly. There is no toilet on the coach. And it is new, so there are no reviews yet.
JR Sendai station east exit tourist bus stop: cross the 2F East-West passage, take the escalator down to street level and look for the blue HIS sign. Be there 10 minutes early.
The Sendai branch shrine of Kanahebisui, a shrine people visit to pray for good fortune with money.
Into Yamagata Prefecture for lunch and about 30 minutes of fruit picking.
By shuttle from the car park into the river street of wooden inns. Bring a towel if you want the footbath.
About 10 hours in all, but shuttle queues can make it later.
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The coach from Sendai, lunch, the fruit picking fee and the Ginzan shuttle bus fee. If the fruit picking is not possible, you visit Cherry Land instead and get 2,000 yen back.
About 1 hour 45 minutes, according to the itinerary. The whole day lasts about 10 hours, and shuttle queues can make the return later.
From age 7, with one adult per child.
Private cars are restricted in winter and visitors go in by a paid park-and-ride shuttle, with evening entry capped. The tour pays the shuttle and handles the timing. See the Ginzan winter 2026-27 rules.
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The easy way to Ginzan Onsen: coach from Sendai, lunch, fruit picking and the shuttle fee included.
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