The main theme of this trip is the “One-Eyed Dragon,” Date Masamune. My 8-year-old son, who accompanies me, is such an enthusiastic fan that he unhesitatingly chooses Masamune even in the historical simulation game “Nobunaga’s Ambition.” Equipped with an “eyepatch” and a “sword” he crafted himself just for this day, he retraces the footsteps of his admired warlord. Additionally, this 3-day, 2-night historical exploration is packed with family milestones: conquering our 11th Pokémon Center nationwide as part of our family quest, visiting holy sites from the anime “Haikyu!!,” and soaking in the vibrant pre-festival atmosphere just before the Sendai Tanabata Festival.
2. Travel Log
【Day 1】Landing in Sendai! Transforming into the “One-Eyed Dragon” and Conquering the Castle
09:00｜Arrival at Sendai Station Stepping off the Shinkansen, we were greeted by massive, colorful Tanabata paper decorations hanging in the open atrium. Surrounded by the festive atmosphere, we dropped off our luggage at our accommodation, “Richmond Hotel Sendai.”
09:30｜Pokémon Center Tohoku (1st Visit) Since it was before opening hours, we started by taking commemorative photos with the Pokémon statues outside the building. With this, following Sapporo, Yokohama, and Okinawa, we have successfully visited 11 Pokémon Center locations across Japan.
10:00｜A Quick Break with the Famous “Zunda Shake” We bought the local specialty, a Zunda (sweet edamame paste) shake, at the station building. We set off while savoring its unique flavor, which my son described as “pretty tasty.”
13:00｜Conquering Sendai Castle Ruins (Aoba Castle) 【100 Fine Castles of Japan – No.08】 We rode up the mountain on the “Loople Sendai” bus and finally stood before the equestrian statue of Lord Date Masamune. Wearing his handmade eyepatch and sword, my son proudly reported his arrival to the real Lord Masamune. We also rented a samurai helmet at the Aoba Castle Honmaru Kaikan, completing his perfect samurai transformation for a commemorative photo.
14:30｜Aoba Castle Museum We took our time examining the historical exhibits. At the gift shop, we bought an exclusive “Haikyu!!” postcard. Although my son hasn’t played volleyball yet, we could feel the burning passion of the series’ real-life setting.
16:00｜Praying at Miyagiken Gokoku Shrine Enshrined within the Honmaru ruins of Sendai Castle, the family prayed for a safe journey at the vibrant vermilion shrine pavilion.
17:30｜Pokémon Center Tohoku (2nd Visit) A rematch before dinner! This time, we took our time enjoying a proper shopping spree inside the store.
19:00｜Tanya Zenjirou – Sendai Station Gyutan Dori Branch The long-awaited dinner. We relished our favorite thick-cut gyutan (grilled beef tongue). It seemed a bit too chewy for my son, but it was a great experience for him to taste the local flavor of his favorite warlord’s domain.
20:30｜Hotel Check-in My son was absolutely thrilled with the hotel’s play area, which featured complimentary traditional Japanese sweets (dagashi), board games, and a block wall to build on.
【Day 2】Visiting Three Shrines of Date and an Unexpected Journey Home
09:00｜Breakfast at Date Cafe O’s Located on the 1st floor of Sendai Station. We charged our energy with the specialty “Salmon and Ikura (Harako) Dashi Chazuke” (rice with soup stock).
10:30｜Exploring Zuihoden Mausoleum The final resting place of Lord Masamune. Our family walked up the long, quiet stone steps, marveling at the gorgeously brilliant decorations.
12:30｜Praying at Osaki Hachiman-gu Shrine & Kakigori Break We admired the National Treasure shrine pavilion. Since we had walked quite a bit and fatigue was setting in, we took a breather with some “Kakigori” (shaved ice) sold on the shrine grounds.
14:30｜Praying at Aoba Shrine & Lunch A shrine dedicated to Lord Masamune himself. After paying our respects, we headed to the nearby “Ramen Oppeshan.” Choosing a rich black garlic oil (mayu) ramen while in Sendai served as a wonderful, unexpected accent to our trip.
19:30｜Dad Departs Sendai Station Due to an urgent matter at work, I had to take an evening Shinkansen back to Tokyo ahead of the family.
10:30｜Conquering Shiroishi Castle 【Continued 100 Fine Castles of Japan – No.105】 To avenge Dad’s early departure, mother and son headed to Shiroishi Castle, the stronghold of Katakura Kojuro. They successfully explored the keep, which is a rare, historically accurate wooden reconstruction in Japan.
15:00｜Reunited at Sendai Station & Heading Home I reunited with the two after they completed their itinerary, and we boarded the Shinkansen together to head home.
3. Accommodation Info: Richmond Hotel Sendai
An ideal base for families, featuring a Royal Host restaurant on the first floor.
Family-Friendly Highlights: Packed with features kids love, including a complimentary traditional Japanese candy corner, board games, and a block-building wall.
Stay Review: Because it’s a short walk from the station, the nights are incredibly quiet. While there is no public bathhouse, the spotless rooms and excellent hospitality ensured a highly comfortable stay for our family.
For a child whose passion for history sparked from an illustrated Sengoku warlord encyclopedia, Sendai is the ultimate sacred ground. Watching him retrace the steps of his idolized samurai with his handmade eyepatch and sword created irreplaceable memories. Though I had to drop out midway for work, it was an incredibly dense three days where every member of the family successfully accomplished their mission.
Introduction to Sendai Castle Tour & Travel Log Article
"Where did I get that stamp?" "I want to remember the excitement of seeing those stone walls with my child." We developed "ShiroLog" to capture those precious moments.
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Save memories with family and friends digitally My son Keigo and I use this app to record our adventures. It’s the perfect companion for every castle lover!
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