In early August 2025, just before the Sendai Tanabata Festival, we spent 2 nights and 3 days touring Sendai and Shiroishi as a family of three with our 8-year-old son. The star of the trip was the “One-Eyed Dragon,” Date Masamune. Our son is such a Masamune fan that he always picks him in the history strategy game “Nobunaga’s Ambition,” and he joined the trip equipped with an eyepatch and sword he made himself. This one article covers our 2 nights and 3 days with a child — Sendai Castle (Japan’s Top 100 Castles) and Shiroishi Castle (Continued Top 100 Castles), three sites linked to the Date family, the Pokémon Center and beef tongue.
Key points
- Castles visited: Sendai Castle (Japan’s Top 100 Castles No. 8), Shiroishi Castle (Continued Top 100 Castles No. 105)
- Date family sites: a tour of Zuihoden, Osaki Hachimangu and Aoba Shrine
- Getting around: Tohoku Shinkansen to Sendai; the “Loople Sendai” sightseeing bus up the hill to Sendai Castle
- Hotel: Richmond Hotel Sendai (lots of play corners for kids)
- Food: thick-cut beef tongue, zunda shake, and harako dashi chazuke
- Note: Sendai Castle and the three-site tour mean slope after slope and stair after stair. In summer, a hat and water are a must
1. Overall route and itinerary
Day 1: Sendai Castle and the Pokémon Center
- 9:00 Arrive at Sendai Station → leave luggage at the hotel
- 9:30 Pokémon Center Tohoku (photos outside before opening)
- 10:00 “Zunda shake” at the station building
- 13:00 Sendai Castle ruins (Aoba Castle) → 14:30 Aoba Castle Museum → 16:00 Miyagi Gokoku Shrine
- 17:30 Pokémon Center Tohoku (second visit)
- 19:00 Beef tongue dinner → 20:30 check in at the hotel
Day 2: The three Date family sites
- 9:00 Breakfast at Date Cafe
- 10:30 Zuihoden
- 12:30 Osaki Hachimangu (shaved ice break)
- 14:30 Aoba Shrine → lunch at “Ramen Oppeshan”
- 19:30 Dad heads back to Tokyo early for urgent work
Day 3: Mom and son go to Shiroishi Castle
- 10:30 Shiroishi Castle (Continued Top 100 Castles)
- 15:00 Mom and son head home by shinkansen
2. Getting around
From Tokyo, take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Sendai. At Sendai Station, giant Tanabata decorations filled the atrium to greet us. The Sendai Castle ruins sit on a hill, so the “Loople Sendai” sightseeing bus is a convenient way up. By car you can drive almost to the main bailey, but the slope up is very steep.
The day 2 tour of Zuihoden, Osaki Hachimangu and Aoba Shrine is one stairway and slope after another. It’s hard on the legs even for adults, so comfortable shoes are essential. We recommend scheduling a sweet-treat break before your child runs out of energy.
3. Day 1: Transforming into the “One-Eyed Dragon” at Sendai Castle
Morning: Pokémon Center Tohoku and a zunda shake
After leaving our bags at the hotel, we first went to Pokémon Center Tohoku. It hadn’t opened yet, so we took photos with the Pokémon in front of the building. Following Sapporo, Yokohama, Okinawa and others, this was the 11th stop on our family’s “nationwide Pokémon Center tour.” At the station building we bought the famous “zunda shake” and set off savoring its unique flavor.
Sendai Castle (Japan’s Top 100 Castles No. 8)
- Time needed: about 1.5–2 hours (walking the main bailey ruins and visiting the museum)
- Stamp: Sendai Castle Kenbunkan (in the main bailey ruins)
- Access: the “Loople Sendai” sightseeing bus is convenient
- Parking: Aobayama tourist parking (paid)
We rode “Loople Sendai” up the hill and finally came face to face with the equestrian statue of Lord Date Masamune. Wearing his homemade eyepatch and sword, our son reported his arrival to the real Masamune. At Aoba Castle Honmaru Kaikan you can borrow a helmet, so we took photos in full samurai style. No buildings remain, but the view from the main bailey ruins is wonderful — this is the castle where the world he’d admired in picture books suddenly became real, and where our family’s castle touring began.
At the Aoba Castle Museum we took our time with the history exhibits, and at the shop we bought a limited “Haikyu!!” postcard. Then, at Miyagi Gokoku Shrine with its vermilion hall standing in the main bailey ruins, our family prayed for a safe trip.
The main bailey ruins have little shade, so don’t forget a hat and water in summer. For more details, see our Sendai Castle article.
Evening: a second Pokémon Center visit and beef tongue
Before dinner we went back to Pokémon Center Tohoku for a second round, this time shopping inside at leisure. For dinner we had our favorite thick-cut beef tongue at “Tanya Zenjiro Sendai Station Gyutan-dori.” It seemed a bit chewy for our son, but we cut it small and shared, and he got a taste of his favorite warlord’s hometown.
4. Day 2: The three Date family sites
Morning: “harako dashi chazuke” at Date Cafe
At Date Cafe on the first floor of Sendai Station, we powered up with the specialty “salmon and roe (harako) dashi chazuke.”
Zuihoden
The mausoleum (otamaya) of Lord Date Masamune. Our family walked up the long, quiet stone stairs to its gorgeous, ornate decorations.
Osaki Hachimangu
We viewed the shrine’s National Treasure main hall. Tiredness from all the walking was setting in, so we took a break with “shaved ice” sold on the grounds.
Aoba Shrine and lunch
After visiting Aoba Shrine, which enshrines Lord Masamune, we went to nearby “Ramen Oppeshan.” Rich black garlic-oil ramen in Sendai was an unexpected choice, but it hit the spot for our sweaty, tired bodies.
That night, Dad had to head back to Tokyo early by shinkansen for urgent work.
5. Day 3: Mom and son conquer Shiroishi Castle
Shiroishi Castle (Continued Top 100 Castles No. 105)
- Lord: residence of Katakura Kojuro (Kagetsuna), Date Masamune’s right-hand man
- Keep: a three-story turret rebuilt in wood in 1995
- Stamp: inside the keep (three-story turret); admission required
To make up for Dad’s absence, on day 3 my wife and son went to Shiroishi Castle on their own. It was the residence of Katakura Kojuro, who supported Date Masamune. Today’s three-story turret (serving as the keep) was rebuilt in wood in 1995 — a rare, authentic wooden reconstruction in Japan. They said the stairs inside were very steep, so you can experience the traditional construction just like an original keep.
Having conquered Shiroishi Castle, the two returned to Tokyo by shinkansen.
6. Hotel: Richmond Hotel Sendai
With a Royal Host restaurant on the first floor, this hotel is easy for families. There’s a free snack corner, board games and a wall of building blocks — lots for kids to enjoy — and our son loved it. Being a short walk from the station, it’s very quiet at night. There’s no large public bath, but the clean rooms and good service made it comfortable for our family.
7. FAQ
Q. How long does Sendai Castle take?
A. About 1.5–2 hours to walk the main bailey ruins and visit the museum. Add the three Date family sites (Zuihoden, Osaki Hachimangu and Aoba Shrine) and it becomes a full day.
Q. Where are the Top 100 Castles stamps?
A. At Sendai Castle it’s in the “Sendai Castle Kenbunkan” in the main bailey ruins; at Shiroishi Castle it’s inside the keep (three-story turret), which requires admission.
Q. Is Shiroishi Castle an original keep?
A. No. The current three-story turret was rebuilt in wood in 1995. Still, the stairs inside are very steep, so you can experience the traditional construction.
Q. Is the three-site tour hard with kids?
A. It’s stairs and slopes all the way, which is hard on the legs even for adults. Wear comfortable shoes and schedule breaks — like shaved ice — in advance to get through more easily.
8. Summary
Our 2 nights and 3 days in Sendai and Shiroishi became the ultimate pilgrimage for our Date Masamune–loving son. Visiting the statue of Lord Masamune with his homemade eyepatch and sword, posing in a samurai helmet, and touring the Date family sites. Dad had to leave early, but on the last day mom and son conquered Shiroishi Castle — three days in which each of us completed our mission. Sendai is a great destination for kids who love samurai warlords.
