Sendai

Sendai, known as "Mori no Miyako" (City of Trees) was founded 1600, as the base with castle of the Date clan. Since, it has become a thriving city with a population of almost one million. It is now the political, economic and cultural center of northern Japan, sometimes known as the Northern Capital. With the Hirose River winding through the city and the tree-lined Jozenji-dori (dori=street) and Aoba-dori, Sendai has a beautiful blend of nature and sophisticated urbanism. Every year from the second week to the end of December Jozenji-dori is the main stage of Sendai's Illuminations (left). International flights started recently from Sendai airport, making Sendai a truly international city and an important link to the world for Tohoku (north-eastern Japan).

Sendai Station

Sendai station (2nd from left) is not only an important link to the city but it also has a vast sellection of shops and restaraunts. The west exit leads out to the most busy side of the station where the main city center is. As you leave the station you have the Sendai Metropolitan Hotel (left) to your left and Azur Sendai (3rd from left) on your right. In front of you is Aoba-dori and to the right, running parallel to Aoba-dori is a shopping mall Chuo-dori (or Central street). A five minute walk from the station is the college I'm attending, Tohoku Computer College JC-21 (4th from left).

If you leave through the East exit you will come to the beautiful Miyagino street with it's ornamental stone fountains and pools lining the pavement (right).

Sendai City Subway

The subway runs north to south through the city. Three of the central stations have amazing pictures and displays including one of all the star constalations engraved in the ceiling. The most furthest station on the line to the north is Izumi Chuo Station, and the furthest station to the south is Tomizawa Station. (See also the map of Sendai.)

The Site of Sendai Castle

Sendai castle (also known as Aoba castle) was built by Lord Masamune Date, the founder of the Date clan in the the early 1600's. Masamune Date aided Ieyasu Tokugawa (the first Shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate) during the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. He halted Kagekatsu Uesugi of Aizu (Fukushima Prefecture) who was attacking with Mitsunari Ishida. For this he was awarded the title of Daimyo (feudal lord) of Sendai with an income of 600,000 koku of rice. A "koku" is equal to around 180 liters or around 48 US gallons. This later rose to 620,000 koku. It was with this that he built Sendai castle.

Unfortunately Sendai Castle was burned to the ground in 1945 during an air attack on Sendai. At the main site of Sendai castle one can see a bronze statue of Lord Masamune Date on horseback (upper left) and many historic buildings (or their replicas) such as the Gokoku Shrine (left). Also there is a beautiful panaramic view of Sendai (upper right) with the highest building in Sendai "SS30" towering above the other buildings. You can also see SS30 from the north in the night-scape photo above.

Toshogu Shrine

Not such a famous shrine but it is the nearest shrine to my apartment so I thought I would give it a mention. The shrine at the first bend on Miyamachi-dori has a long flight of stone steps leading up to it and is a very popular shrine for "Hatsumode", the tradition of the first visit to a shrine in the new year. Usually people start to que to pray before midnight on New Year's Eve. The photos show the ornamental name plaque of the shrine (left) and one of the lion "gargoyle" (right).

The Tanabata Festival

Sendai's Tanabata festival (also known as the festival of the Weaver star) is held every year from the 6th to the 8th of August. On the night before the festival there is a fantastic fire-work display from the Hirose River. Spectators fill the streets of sendai and Nishi Koen (park). The streets of Sendai are decorated by Japanese paper streamers hung from giant bamboo poles and many people enjoy walking under the streamers dressed in yukata (a summer kimono). There is also a parade of carnival floats through the streets of Sendai with the main viewing point being Jozenji-dori.