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Chicago to Tohoku: Sendai, Matsushima and Hiraizumi

Chicago → Sendai → Matsushima → Hiraizumi

Sendai
"A view of downtown Sendai from the Sendai Castle ruins.jpg" by Raspico, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence
SendaiCity Skylines from Mukaiyama2018 (Sendai)
Photo: Nryate, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Pine islands & golden temples Best season (general guide): Apr–May, Oct–Nov

Tohoku, the north-east of Japan's main island, is less visited and rich in history. This route spends six nights between Sendai, Matsushima and Hiraizumi. From Chicago you'll fly to Tokyo, then take the Shinkansen to Sendai. His mausoleum, Zuihōden, is richly decorated in a cedar forest.

How to pace it: Spend days one to three in Sendai: day one, Zuihōden; day two, food and shopping arcades; day three, day trip into the mountains. Then spend day four in Matsushima: Matsushima bay cruise and Zuigan-ji. Then spend days five and six in Hiraizumi: day five, train to Hiraizumi, then Chūson-ji; day six, Mōtsū-ji garden.

Gyutan, grilled beef tongue, is the city's speciality. Matsushima Bay is scattered with small islands covered in pines, counted among the Three Views of Japan. Zuigan-ji, a Zen temple, stands near the shore. UNESCO lists its temples and gardens. At Chūson-ji, the Konjiki-dō is a small hall covered in gold leaf. Mōtsū-ji has a garden with a large pond, designed to represent the Buddhist Pure Land.

Spring and autumn are the best seasons.

Good to know: Trains link the three places easily. Visit Chūson-ji early to avoid groups.

Sendai is a green city of broad avenues, and the local tram-like loop bus covers the main sights. Matsushima Bay is a short train ride away, and boat cruises leave from the pier near the station. Hiraizumi is a little further, reached by train and then on foot or by rental bike between the temples. Leave time at Chūson-ji for the walk up the cedar-lined path, which is part of the experience. Gyūtan, grilled beef tongue, is Sendai's best-known dish and is easy to find near the station.

Autumn leaves in Hiraizumi are especially fine. Autumn colours and spring blossom both draw visitors to the temples, so weekdays are quieter than weekends at those times of year.

Safety: Canada's advice for Japan is to take normal security precautions (updated 29 September 2026), and the US rates Japan Level 1 (15 May 2025).

Suggested outline

  1. Chicago

    Start

  2. Sendai

    By air · 3 nights suggested

    A green city and base for the coast.

  3. Matsushima

    By train · 1 night suggested

    A bay of pine-covered islands.

    Matsushima
    "Matsushima miyagi z.JPG" by Chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence

  4. Hiraizumi

    By train · 2 nights suggested

    Temples from a lost northern capital.

    Chuson-ji Hiraizumi
    "Hiraizumi Chusonji Amidado.jpg" by Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence

Day by day

  1. Day 1 · Sendai — Arrive; Zuihōden· Chicago → Sendai (by air) — long-haul; may arrive the next calendar day
  2. Day 2 · Sendai — Food and shopping arcades
  3. Day 3 · Sendai — Day trip into the mountains
  4. Day 4 · Matsushima — Matsushima bay cruise and Zuigan-ji· Sendai → Matsushima (by train)
  5. Day 5 · Hiraizumi — Train to Hiraizumi; Chūson-ji· Matsushima → Hiraizumi (by train)
  6. Day 6 · Hiraizumi — Mōtsū-ji garden
  7. Day 7 · Hiraizumi — Travel home from Hiraizumi· Hiraizumi → Sendai (by train), then Sendai → Chicago (by air)

A suggested pace only; expedition days are set by the operator.

Flights, leg by leg

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Sendai

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Matsushima

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