Miyagi Prefecture offers tourist attractions such as Oshima Island, Akiu Hot Springs, and Atago Shrine; sightseeing events such as the Donton Festival, Oni-Kojuro Festival, and Setsubun Festival; and local delicacies such as macarons, cold Chinese noodles, and harako-meshi rice.
Miyagi Prefecture is the center of the Tohoku region. It is a must-visit destination for history buffs, as the predecessor of the entire Miyagi Prefecture was the Sendai Domain. The Sendai han is sometimes called the Date han because it was delivered by the Date family. It is better known as the Date han because of the strong image of the warlord Date Masamune. When the Sendai han (domain) was abolished in the Meiji era (1868-1912), it became Sendai Prefecture, which in turn became the present-day Miyagi Prefecture.
The New Okunohosomichi, a Tohoku Nature Trail that allows visitors to enjoy the four seasons, has 29 trails in Miyagi Prefecture, including mountain trails that allow visitors to stroll while enjoying the scenery of the four seasons and a course that takes them to an island by sightseeing boat. For example, the "Asahiyama Cherry Blossom Path" takes visitors from Maeyachi Station, one of the best cherry blossom viewing spots in the prefecture, to the prefectural natural park Asahiyama, where they can enjoy viewing cherry blossoms in spring. On a clear day, it is possible to see Matsushima, and the 4.9-km path is perfect for a stroll. Each of the 29 trails has its own unique characteristics and allows visitors to enjoy nature.
The natural scenery is not the only thing to look forward to when traveling in Miyagi Prefecture. Miyagi Prefecture is a food kingdom where you can taste the bounty of the sea, the mountains, and the earth, and enjoy a wide variety of foods. Oysters can only live in clean water, and during the season from October to March, various stores offer all-you-can-eat oysters, and some stores allow you to not only eat them on the spot but also take them as souvenirs. Some of them offer courses that allow visitors to cross to remote islands by sightseeing boat and enjoy oysters there. If you are a fan of oysters, which are said to be the milk of the sea, this is a fun trip that you should try at least once.
Miyagi Prefecture is also a major rice-producing region. Miyagi Prefecture produces brands such as Sasanishiki and Hitomebore. Hitomebore, based on Koshihikari and adapted to Miyagi's climate, is a popular rice with a glossy yet refreshing flavor that always ranks high in domestic production. Why not enjoy rice along with your trip, such as new rice?
One of Japan’s Three Scenic Views Matsushima is a breathtaking coastal landscape centered around Matsushima Bay in northeastern Miyagi Prefecture. The area is made up of approximately 260 islands of various sizes and is widely known as one of the Three Scenic Views of Japan, together with Amanohash...»
Jogi Nyorai Saihoji Temple is a historic Buddhist temple located in Okura, Aoba Ward, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. Officially known as Gokurakuzan Saihoji Temple, it belongs to the Jodo school of Buddhism and is dedicated to an image of Amida Nyorai (Amitabha Buddha). The temple was founded by Kannen...»
Akiu Otaki Falls is one of the most spectacular natural attractions in the Tohoku region of Japan. Located along the upper reaches of the Natori River in Akiu Town, Taihaku Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, the waterfall is known for its powerful flow and beautiful natural surroundings. The wat...»
Zuiganji Temple is a historic Zen temple of the Myoshinji branch of the Rinzai school of Buddhism, located in Matsushima Town, Miyagi Prefecture. Its formal name is Matsushima Seiryuzan Zuigan Enpuku-ji. As one of the most important historic sites in Matsushima, one of Japan's Three Scenic Views, Zu...»
Osaki Hachimangu Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Hachiman, Aoba Ward, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. The shrine is known for its magnificent architecture, which preserves the lavish artistic style of Japan's Momoyama period (late 16th to early 17th century). The main shrine complex, consi...»
Michinoku Lakefront Park, officially known as National Michinoku Lakefront Park, is a vast national government-run park located along Lake Kamafusa in Kawasaki Town, Shibata District, Miyagi Prefecture. Known locally as Michinoku Park, it is the only national government park in the Tohoku region of ...»
Shiogama Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located on Mount Ichimoriyama in Shiogama City, Miyagi Prefecture. With a long history and deep religious significance, it has been revered since ancient times as “Ichinomiya of Oshu,” the highest-ranking shrine in the traditional Oshu region of northeaste...»
Entsuin Temple is a historic Buddhist temple located in Matsushima, one of Japan's Three Most Scenic Places. Belonging to the Myoshinji branch of the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism, the temple is closely associated with the Date clan, one of the most influential samurai families in the history of the...»
Kanrantei Tea House is a historic building associated with the Date family, located along the Matsushima coastline in Miyagi Prefecture. Perched in an elevated position overlooking Matsushima Bay, it offers beautiful views of the calm sea and the many islands scattered across the bay. The combinatio...»
Shiroishi Castle is a historic Japanese castle located in Masuoka Park in central Shiroishi City, Miyagi Prefecture. Also known as Masuoka Castle or Matsuoka Castle, it stands on a hill and is preserved today as a designated historic site of Shiroishi City. The castle is particularly associated wit...»
Godaido Temple is a historic Buddhist hall standing on a small island in Matsushima Bay, Miyagi Prefecture. The striking sight of the temple reached by a distinctive red bridge is one of the most recognizable scenes in Matsushima, one of Japan's Three Scenic Views. Godaido is an outlying Buddhist h...»
Futakuchi Gorge is a spectacular natural area in the western part of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. Located along the upper reaches of the Natori River, the gorge stretches for approximately 8 kilometers and is known for its dramatic cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, and rich forests. The upper sectio...»
Akiu Onsen is a historic hot spring resort in Akiu Town, Taihaku Ward, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. Surrounded by mountains and the beautiful landscape of the Natori River valley, it has been a beloved destination for relaxation for approximately 1,500 years. One of Akiu Onsen's greatest attractions ...»
Miyagi Prefecture Matsushima Rikyu is a modern tourism and entertainment complex in Matsushima, one of Japan's Three Most Scenic Places. Located in a destination famous for its beautiful bay and pine-covered islands, Matsushima Rikyu offers a different way to enjoy the area, combining scenery, histo...»
Naruko Onsen is one of the most celebrated hot spring destinations in the Tohoku region of Japan. Located in Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, it is traditionally counted as one of the Three Famous Hot Springs of Oshu, together with Iizaka Onsen in Fukushima Prefecture and Akiu Onsen in Miyagi Prefectu...»
Kinkasan Island is a mysterious and spiritually significant island floating in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture. Located just east of the tip of the Oshika Peninsula, the island has a circumference of approximately 26 kilometers and an area of about 12 square kil...»
Mount Kurikoma is a 1,626-meter-high mountain that stretches across Miyagi, Iwate, and Akita prefectures in northeastern Japan. Part of the Ou Mountains, it is surrounded by a rich natural environment and is included within the Kurikoma Quasi-National Park and the Kurikomayama–Tochigamori Forest Eco...»
Nametsu Otaki Waterfall is a spectacular waterfall in Shichikashuku Town, Katta District, Miyagi Prefecture. Located upstream from Shichikashuku Dam at the foot of the Zao Mountains, the waterfall is approximately 10 meters high and 30 meters wide. Its powerful flow spreads across almost the entire...»
Yakurai Garden is a spacious English-style garden located in Kami Town, Miyagi Prefecture. Open from spring through autumn, the garden covers approximately 150,000 square meters—about the size of three Tokyo Domes—and is home to around 400 varieties of flowers and herbs. Because the flowers change ...»
Shiroishi River Hitome Senbonzakura is one of Miyagi Prefecture's most famous cherry blossom destinations and one of the most spectacular spring landscapes in the Tohoku region of Japan. Approximately 1,200 cherry trees line both banks of the Shiroishi River for about 8 kilometers, creating a magni...»
Koganeyama Shrine is a sacred Shinto shrine located on Kinkasan Island, off the southeastern tip of the Oshika Peninsula in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture. The entire island is regarded as a sacred area, and the shrine has long attracted worshippers seeking prosperity, good fortune, and financial ble...»
Sendai Toshogu Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Higashi-Toshogu, Aoba Ward, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. Dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, the shrine was established in 1654 by Date Tadamune, the second lord of the Sendai Domain. Although commonly calle...»
Lake Choro is a beautiful natural lake in Shichikashuku, Miyagi Prefecture, located at an elevation of approximately 500 meters at the foot of Mount Fubo, one of the prominent peaks of the Zao Mountains. The lake was originally a small pond but was later expanded as a water source for hydroelectric...»
Kanahebisui Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine in Iwanuma, Miyagi Prefecture. Long associated with business prosperity, financial good fortune, and protection from misfortune, the shrine attracts worshippers from across Miyagi and the wider Tohoku region. The shrine is also known as a "shrine of fl...»
Ishinomori Manga Museum is a museum in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, dedicated to the life and creative achievements of renowned Japanese manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori. Opened in 2001, the museum introduces visitors to his remarkable body of work, his life as an artist, and the history and develo...»
Sendai Umino-Mori Aquarium is one of the largest aquariums in the Tohoku region, located in Takasago Central Park in Miyagino Ward, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. Opened on July 1, 2015, it was created as the successor to the much-loved Marinepia Matsushima Aquarium, which had served visitors in Matsush...»
Naruko Gorge is a dramatic and beautiful gorge located in the Naruko Onsen area of Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, in northeastern Japan. Part of the Kurikoma Quasi-National Park, the gorge is designated as a Place of Scenic Beauty by Miyagi Prefecture and is widely known as one of the region’s most ...»
Yagiyama Zoological Park FUJISAKI no MORI is a large municipal zoo located in Taihaku Ward, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. Opened in 1965, it has been loved by local residents and visitors for many years as one of the leading zoos in the Tohoku region. The zoo is situated on elevated ground in Yagiyama...»
Sendai-style grilled beef tongue, known in Japanese as gyūtan-yaki, is one of the most famous local specialties of Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture. Thickly sliced yet surprisingly tender, it has a juicy texture and rich savory flavor that has made it popular with both local residents and visitors fro...»
Yagiyama BennyLand is a popular amusement park located in Yagiyama, Taihaku Ward, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. Since opening in 1968, the park has welcomed generations of families, friends, and couples and has become one of the best-known amusement parks in the Tohoku region of northeastern Japan. On...»
Daikan Mitsuji Temple is a Buddhist temple of the Chisan School of Shingon Buddhism located in Izumi Ward, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. The temple is best known for the enormous Sendai Daikannon statue standing 100 meters above the ground. The official name of the statue is Sendai Tendo Byakue Daikan...»
Mutsu Kokubun-ji Temple is a historic Buddhist temple located in Kinoshita, Wakabayashi Ward, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. It belongs to the Chisan School of Shingon Buddhism, one of the major traditions of Japanese Esoteric Buddhism. Its formal mountain name is Gokokuzan, and its formal sub-temple na...»
Ogama and Hanzo are spectacular coastal landscapes on the eastern side of the Karakuwa Peninsula in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture. Here, layers of limestone formed more than 200 million years ago have been gradually carved by waves, wind, and other natural forces, creating dramatic cliffs, rock pilla...»
Sairi Yashiki, also known as the Sairi Yashiki Folk Museum, is a fascinating historic museum in Marumori, Miyagi Prefecture. The museum occupies the former residence and storehouses of the Saito Risuke family, a wealthy merchant family that prospered from the late Edo period through the early Showa ...»
Sendai Castle Ruins are the remains of the historic castle associated with Date Masamune, the founder and first lord of the Sendai Domain. Located on Mount Aoba in Aoba Ward, Sendai, the castle is also affectionately known as Aoba Castle. Today, the former castle grounds are preserved as part of Aob...»
Minamisanriku Earthquake Memorial Park, Nakabashi Bridge, and the former Disaster Prevention Government Building form an important memorial area in Minamisanriku, Miyagi Prefecture. Together, these sites preserve the memory of the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011, while conveying the le...»
Kesennuma Oshima Island is a beautiful inhabited island in Kesennuma Bay in northeastern Miyagi Prefecture. It is one of the largest inhabited islands in the Tohoku region and is part of Sanriku Fukkō National Park and a designated marine park area. Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the island is ch...»
A La Date-na Roadside Station is a popular roadside station located along National Route 47 in Iwadeyama-Iketsuki, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture. Welcoming more than 3 million visitors a year, it is one of the leading tourism hubs in the Tohoku region. The facility offers much more than a place to ...»
A Rich Natural Environment in Miyagi Prefecture Lake Izunuma is a beautiful freshwater lake stretching across Tome City and Kurihara City in Miyagi Prefecture. Covering approximately 369 hectares, including about 289 hectares of water surface, the lake has a volume of roughly 2.79 million cubic met...»
Kongohoszan Rinnoji Temple is a historic temple of the Soto school of Zen Buddhism located in Kitayama, Aoba Ward, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. Closely associated with the Date clan, the ruling family of the former Sendai Domain, the temple has a long history and is known for its beautiful Japanese ga...»
Homei 48 Waterfalls is a beautiful series of waterfalls located in Aoba Ward, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. The waterfalls are found along the upper reaches of the Hirose River, near National Route 48, in the scenic valley between Sakunami and Nikkawa. The waterfalls stretch across an area approximate...»
A Spectacular Drive Through Snow Walls and Autumn Colors Zao Echo Line is a scenic mountain road stretching approximately 26 km across the Zao Mountains, connecting Miyagi and Yamagata prefectures in the Tohoku region of northern Japan. Opened in 1962, the road has become one of Tohoku’s most popul...»
Rairaikyo Gorge is a scenic valley in Taihaku Ward, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, located at the entrance to the famous Akiu Onsen hot spring resort. The gorge stretches for approximately 1 km upstream and downstream from Nozokibashi Bridge, where visitors can enjoy impressive views of the rugged lands...»
A Spectacular Coastal Landscape of Rugged Cliffs and Strange Rock Formations Sagakei Gorge is a scenic coastal area at the southeastern tip of Miyato Island in Oku-Matsushima, Miyagi Prefecture. Unlike the calm, gentle scenery of Matsushima Bay, Sagakei is characterized by dramatic cliffs, rugged r...»
A Lavish Mausoleum Preserving the Legacy of Sendai’s Great Founder Zuihoden is the mausoleum of Date Masamune, the founder of the Sendai Domain during the early Edo period. Located in Otamayashita, Aoba Ward, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, it stands quietly on Mount Kyogamine, across the Hirose River f...»
A Museum Exploring the History, Art, and Culture of Sendai Sendai City Museum is a comprehensive humanities museum located in Kawauchi, Aoba Ward, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. The museum introduces the history and culture of the Tohoku region through a wide-ranging collection of historical documents,...»
A Glimpse into Samurai Education in the Edo Period Yubikan is a historic building and garden in Iwadeyama, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, where visitors can experience the atmosphere of Japan’s Edo period (1603–1868). Once a place where members of the Iwadeyama Date family and samurai studied, Yubi...»
One of Japan’s Top 100 Cherry Blossom Viewing Spots Funaoka Castle Ruins Park is one of the most famous cherry blossom destinations in Miyagi Prefecture. Located in Shibata Town, the park was selected as one of Japan’s Top 100 Cherry Blossom Viewing Spots. Approximately 1,000 cherry trees grow thr...»
A Scenic Suspension Bridge Surrounded by Nature Yamabiko Suspension Bridge is a spectacular scenic attraction in Shichikashuku Town, Miyagi Prefecture. Stretching across the beautiful Yokokawa Gorge, the bridge is one of the largest suspension bridges in the Tohoku region. The bridge measures appr...»
Sasa kamaboko is one of Miyagi Prefecture's best-known local specialties. Made from seasoned fish paste shaped like a bamboo leaf and grilled until lightly browned, this traditional Japanese fish cake is loved by people of all ages. Its convenient size makes it easy to enjoy as a snack, a light mea...»