{"id":1226,"date":"2026-06-16T13:25:56","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T13:25:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/?p=1226"},"modified":"2026-10-09T06:23:10","modified_gmt":"2026-10-09T06:23:10","slug":"sendai-shiroishi-3days-trip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/en\/sendai-shiroishi-3days-trip\/","title":{"rendered":"[Kids &#038; Date Masamune] 2-Night Sendai &#038; Shiroishi Itinerary: Sendai Castle, Zuihoden and Shiroishi Castle"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 \u201cOne-Eyed Dragon,\u201d Date Masamune. Our son is such a Masamune fan that he always picks him in the history strategy game \u201cNobunaga&#8217;s Ambition,\u201d 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 \u2014 <strong>Sendai Castle (Japan&#8217;s Top 100 Castles) and Shiroishi Castle (Continued Top 100 Castles)<\/strong>, three sites linked to the Date family, the Pok\u00e9mon Center and beef tongue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key points<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Castles visited<\/strong>: Sendai Castle (Japan&#8217;s Top 100 Castles No. 8), Shiroishi Castle (Continued Top 100 Castles No. 105)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Date family sites<\/strong>: a tour of Zuihoden, Osaki Hachimangu and Aoba Shrine<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Getting around<\/strong>: Tohoku Shinkansen to Sendai; the \u201cLoople Sendai\u201d sightseeing bus up the hill to Sendai Castle<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Hotel<\/strong>: Richmond Hotel Sendai (lots of play corners for kids)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Food<\/strong>: thick-cut beef tongue, zunda shake, and harako dashi chazuke<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Note<\/strong>: Sendai Castle and the three-site tour mean slope after slope and stair after stair. In summer, a hat and water are a must<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Overall route and itinerary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Day 1: Sendai Castle and the Pok\u00e9mon Center<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>9:00 Arrive at Sendai Station \u2192 leave luggage at the hotel<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>9:30 Pok\u00e9mon Center Tohoku (photos outside before opening)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>10:00 \u201cZunda shake\u201d at the station building<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>13:00 Sendai Castle ruins (Aoba Castle) \u2192 14:30 Aoba Castle Museum \u2192 16:00 Miyagi Gokoku Shrine<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>17:30 Pok\u00e9mon Center Tohoku (second visit)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>19:00 Beef tongue dinner \u2192 20:30 check in at the hotel<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Day 2: The three Date family sites<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>9:00 Breakfast at Date Cafe<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>10:30 Zuihoden<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>12:30 Osaki Hachimangu (shaved ice break)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>14:30 Aoba Shrine \u2192 lunch at \u201cRamen Oppeshan\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>19:30 Dad heads back to Tokyo early for urgent work<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Day 3: Mom and son go to Shiroishi Castle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>10:30 Shiroishi Castle (Continued Top 100 Castles)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>15:00 Mom and son head home by shinkansen<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Getting around<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 \u201cLoople Sendai\u201d sightseeing bus is a convenient way up. By car you can drive almost to the main bailey, but the slope up is very steep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The day 2 tour of Zuihoden, Osaki Hachimangu and Aoba Shrine is one stairway and slope after another. It&#8217;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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"769\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250801_225158784-769x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Our Garchomp plush on a Tohoku Shinkansen seat bound for Sendai\" class=\"wp-image-1198\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250801_225158784-769x1024.jpg 769w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250801_225158784-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250801_225158784-768x1023.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250801_225158784-1153x1536.jpg 1153w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250801_225158784-1538x2048.jpg 1538w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250801_225158784-scaled.jpg 1922w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 769px) 100vw, 769px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Day 1: Transforming into the \u201cOne-Eyed Dragon\u201d at Sendai Castle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Morning: Pok\u00e9mon Center Tohoku and a zunda shake<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After leaving our bags at the hotel, we first went to Pok\u00e9mon Center Tohoku. It hadn&#8217;t opened yet, so we took photos with the Pok\u00e9mon in front of the building. Following Sapporo, Yokohama, Okinawa and others, this was the 11th stop on our family&#8217;s \u201cnationwide Pok\u00e9mon Center tour.\u201d At the station building we bought the famous \u201czunda shake\u201d and set off savoring its unique flavor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"769\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_004124379-769x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Pikachu topiary in front of Pok\u00e9mon Center Tohoku\" class=\"wp-image-1200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_004124379-769x1024.jpg 769w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_004124379-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_004124379-768x1023.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_004124379-1153x1536.jpg 1153w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_004124379-1538x2048.jpg 1538w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_004124379-scaled.jpg 1922w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 769px) 100vw, 769px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sendai Castle (Japan&#8217;s Top 100 Castles No. 8)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Time needed: about 1.5\u20132 hours (walking the main bailey ruins and visiting the museum)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stamp: Sendai Castle Kenbunkan (in the main bailey ruins)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Access: the \u201cLoople Sendai\u201d sightseeing bus is convenient<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Parking: Aobayama tourist parking (paid)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We rode \u201cLoople Sendai\u201d 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 \u2014 this is the castle where the world he&#8217;d admired in picture books suddenly became real, and where our family&#8217;s castle touring began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"769\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_024442857-1024x769.jpg\" alt=\"The statue of Lord Date Masamune at the Sendai Castle ruins\" class=\"wp-image-1205\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_024442857-1024x769.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_024442857-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_024442857-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_024442857-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_024442857-2048x1538.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the Aoba Castle Museum we took our time with the history exhibits, and at the shop we bought a limited \u201cHaikyu!!\u201d postcard. Then, at Miyagi Gokoku Shrine with its vermilion hall standing in the main bailey ruins, our family prayed for a safe trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"769\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_024306838-769x1024.jpg\" alt=\"The statue of Lord Date Masamune and our Garchomp plush at the Sendai Castle ruins\" class=\"wp-image-1204\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_024306838-769x1024.jpg 769w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_024306838-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_024306838-768x1023.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_024306838-1153x1536.jpg 1153w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_024306838-1538x2048.jpg 1538w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_024306838-scaled.jpg 1922w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 769px) 100vw, 769px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The main bailey ruins have little shade, so don&#8217;t forget a hat and water in summer. For more details, see our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/en\/008-sendai\/\">Sendai Castle article<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Evening: a second Pok\u00e9mon Center visit and beef tongue<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before dinner we went back to Pok\u00e9mon Center Tohoku for a second round, this time shopping inside at leisure. For dinner we had our favorite thick-cut beef tongue at \u201cTanya Zenjiro Sendai Station Gyutan-dori.\u201d It seemed a bit chewy for our son, but we cut it small and shared, and he got a taste of his favorite warlord&#8217;s hometown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"769\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_084501769-1024x769.jpg\" alt=\"Tanabata decorations at Pok\u00e9mon Center Tohoku\" class=\"wp-image-1201\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_084501769-1024x769.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_084501769-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_084501769-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_084501769-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_084501769-2048x1538.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"769\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_075400846-769x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Thick-cut beef tongue and beer at Tanya Zenjiro\" class=\"wp-image-1202\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_075400846-769x1024.jpg 769w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_075400846-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_075400846-768x1023.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_075400846-1153x1536.jpg 1153w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_075400846-1538x2048.jpg 1538w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_075400846-scaled.jpg 1922w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 769px) 100vw, 769px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Day 2: The three Date family sites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Morning: \u201charako dashi chazuke\u201d at Date Cafe<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At Date Cafe on the first floor of Sendai Station, we powered up with the specialty \u201csalmon and roe (harako) dashi chazuke.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"769\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_231327797-1024x769.jpg\" alt=\"Harako dashi chazuke at Date Cafe\" class=\"wp-image-1203\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_231327797-1024x769.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_231327797-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_231327797-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_231327797-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_231327797-2048x1538.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Zuihoden<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The mausoleum (otamaya) of Lord Date Masamune. Our family walked up the long, quiet stone stairs to its gorgeous, ornate decorations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"769\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250803_003208905-769x1024.jpg\" alt=\"The ornate decorations of Zuihoden\" class=\"wp-image-1207\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250803_003208905-769x1024.jpg 769w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250803_003208905-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250803_003208905-768x1023.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250803_003208905-1153x1536.jpg 1153w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250803_003208905-1538x2048.jpg 1538w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250803_003208905-scaled.jpg 1922w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 769px) 100vw, 769px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Osaki Hachimangu<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We viewed the shrine&#8217;s National Treasure main hall. Tiredness from all the walking was setting in, so we took a break with \u201cshaved ice\u201d sold on the grounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"769\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250803_021301352-1024x769.jpg\" alt=\"Shaved ice we ate at Osaki Hachimangu\" class=\"wp-image-1210\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250803_021301352-1024x769.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250803_021301352-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250803_021301352-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250803_021301352-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250803_021301352-2048x1538.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Aoba Shrine and lunch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After visiting Aoba Shrine, which enshrines Lord Masamune, we went to nearby \u201cRamen Oppeshan.\u201d Rich black garlic-oil ramen in Sendai was an unexpected choice, but it hit the spot for our sweaty, tired bodies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"769\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250803_024919302-1024x769.jpg\" alt=\"The grounds of Aoba Shrine and our Garchomp plush\" class=\"wp-image-1209\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250803_024919302-1024x769.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250803_024919302-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250803_024919302-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250803_024919302-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250803_024919302-2048x1538.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That night, Dad had to head back to Tokyo early by shinkansen for urgent work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Day 3: Mom and son conquer Shiroishi Castle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Shiroishi Castle (Continued Top 100 Castles No. 105)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Lord: residence of Katakura Kojuro (Kagetsuna), Date Masamune&#8217;s right-hand man<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep: a three-story turret rebuilt in wood in 1995<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stamp: inside the keep (three-story turret); admission required<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To make up for Dad&#8217;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&#8217;s three-story turret (serving as the keep) was rebuilt in wood in 1995 \u2014 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Having conquered Shiroishi Castle, the two returned to Tokyo by shinkansen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Hotel: Richmond Hotel Sendai<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With a Royal Host restaurant on the first floor, this hotel is easy for families. There&#8217;s a free snack corner, board games and a wall of building blocks \u2014 lots for kids to enjoy \u2014 and our son loved it. Being a short walk from the station, it&#8217;s very quiet at night. There&#8217;s no large public bath, but the clean rooms and good service made it comfortable for our family.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"p-blogParts post_content\" data-partsID=\"1223\"><div class=\"hotel-button-container\" style=\"display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 12px; justify-content: center; margin: 25px 0;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.agoda.com\/partners\/partnersearch.aspx?pcs=1&#038;cid=1962585&#038;hid=186793\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" style=\"flex: 1 1 200px; max-width: 280px; min-width: 150px; padding: 15px 12px; background-color: #20274d; color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; border-radius: 8px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.3; box-shadow: 0 3px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.12); transition: transform 0.2s, opacity 0.2s;\" onmouseover=\"this.style.opacity='0.88'; this.style.transform='translateY(-2px)';\" onmouseout=\"this.style.opacity='1'; this.style.transform='translateY(0)';\">Book on Agoda<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Q. How long does Sendai Castle take?<\/strong><br>A. About 1.5\u20132 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Q. Where are the Top 100 Castles stamps?<\/strong><br>A. At Sendai Castle it&#8217;s in the \u201cSendai Castle Kenbunkan\u201d in the main bailey ruins; at Shiroishi Castle it&#8217;s inside the keep (three-story turret), which requires admission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Q. Is Shiroishi Castle an original keep?<\/strong><br>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Q. Is the three-site tour hard with kids?<\/strong><br>A. It&#8217;s stairs and slopes all the way, which is hard on the legs even for adults. Wear comfortable shoes and schedule breaks \u2014 like shaved ice \u2014 in advance to get through more easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our 2 nights and 3 days in Sendai and Shiroishi became the ultimate pilgrimage for our Date Masamune\u2013loving 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 \u2014 three days in which each of us completed our mission. Sendai is a great destination for kids who love samurai warlords.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A 2-night, 3-day castle trip through Sendai and Shiroishi with our 8-year-old son, a big Date Masamune fan. Time needed and stamp locations for Sendai Castle (Top 100) and Shiroishi Castle (Continued Top 100), the Zuihoden, Osaki Hachimangu and Aoba Shrine tour, getting around by Loople Sendai, beef tongue, the Pok\u00e9mon Center and kid-friendly Richmond Hotel Sendai.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1205,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"swell_btn_cv_data":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_locale":"en_US","_original_post":"https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/?p=1004","_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[5],"tags":[16],"class_list":["post-1226","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel","tag-2025sendai","en-US"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/phc6Nz-jM","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PXL_20250802_024442857-scaled.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1226","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1226"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1226\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2037,"href":"https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1226\/revisions\/2037"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1205"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1226"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1226"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shirolog.info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1226"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}