Japan Guide Agency · Sendai
A licensed guide for six hours and three or four sights you choose: Date Masamune's mausoleum and the castle site in the morning, Matsushima's temples and islets after lunch, or any mix. Pick it when you want both Sendai and the bay in one day, or a day built around one theme.
This is the long version of the half-day tour, from the same agency and the same pool of licensed guides (guests name Riko and Yumi). You get six hours and three or four sights from a list of about twenty: Zuihoden, the Aoba Castle site, Osaki Hachiman, the city museum and the SS30 tower in Sendai; Zuiganji, Entsu-in, Godaido, Kanrantei, Oshima and Fukuurajima in Matsushima; Shiogama's shrine and fish market; even the Nikka Miyagikyo distillery.
Six hours changes what is possible. You can pair a Sendai morning with a Matsushima afternoon, or spend the whole day at the bay without watching the clock. One guest who loves the Sengoku period got a day built around Date Masamune, with Zuiganji and a museum of his life. Others wanted shops and local food and got those.
Same rules as the half day: you pay for the guide and nothing else. Trains, buses, taxis, entries and lunch are paid in yen on the day (Matsushima: 880 yen return, Zuiganji 1,000 yen; Sendai: the Loople bus day pass is 700 yen, Zuihoden 570 yen). And $143 is the rate per person for the largest group of up to 7, so two people pay more each.
The guide contacts you to agree the sights and the order. Guests mention customising before and during the day.
On foot at Sendai station or your hotel. No cruise-port pickup.
For example Zuihoden and the Aoba Castle site with the Date Masamune statue, by Loople bus or taxi.
Lunch at your own cost (gyutan is the Sendai dish), then 40 minutes on the JR Senseki line.
Zuiganji, Godaido, Oshima or the cruise, then the train back or stay on.
★★★★★My guide Riko san after knowing that I am very interested in Date Masamune related places, she planned an amazing day tour at Matsushima. I got to see the Michinoku Date Masamune History Museum [...] and Riko san also took me to the Zuiganji, for which is the Date family temple [...]
★★★★★Riko-san was a wonderful guide! Very friendly and knowledgeable. They made sure we had authentic Japanese experiences and provided context to some of the area's cultural sites and norms. [...]
★★★★★Yumi, our tour guide, met us at the Sendai station where we took a local train to visit Matsushima. Before the tour, Yumi reached out and customized the tour to our preferences. We visited Oshima Island, the Godaido, the Zuiganji Temple, the Entsuin and the Kanrantei Tea House. [...]
★★★★★The tour of Matsushima was unexpectedly and pleasantly different from all other sites we've visited in Japan. Yumi was an excellent host, knowledgeable of the history, friendly, course, and forthcoming with ideas for later in our stay in Sendai [...]
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Three or four sights from the operator's list: Zuihoden, the Aoba Castle site, Osaki Hachiman, the city museum, Zuiganji, Entsu-in, Godaido, Kanrantei, Oshima, Fukuurajima, Shiogama and more. You agree the plan with your guide.
No. You pay trains, buses, taxis, entry fees and lunch on the day in yen. Only the guide's entries are covered.
Six hours instead of four and three or four sights instead of two or three. Same agency and guides. Six hours is enough to combine Sendai and Matsushima.
Yes, for the largest group size (up to 7 people). Smaller groups pay more each; Viator shows the figure once you enter your group size.
Ready to book
Three or four sights of your choice in Sendai and Matsushima with a licensed guide.
Sendai & Matsushima Half Day with a Licensed GuideA licensed guide for four hours: two or three sights you choose in Sendai or Matsushima. Trains and entries are paid on the day.★ 4.8 · 4 hours · from $107
Matsushima Private Tour by TrainA whole private day around Matsushima Bay by train with Mai, a guide guests rebook. Guide fee only; entries and train extra.★ 5.0 · 6 to 7 hours · from $106
Matsushima Bay Day Tour with CruiseMatsushima by train with every entry and the 50-minute cruise paid: Zuiganji, Entsu-in, Godaido and Kanrantei. Lunch extra.★ 5.0 · 8 hours · from $171