Events around Roopt Sendai Yakushido

This is an illumination of the autumn foliage garden at night in Tenshukaku Nature Park in Akiu Onsen. The autumn leaves reflected in the pond are a highlight.

Rairaikyo Gorge in Akiu also has illuminations, so you can visit both on a night stay in Akiu Onsen.

This is an illumination of autumn leaves along a walking path of approximately 220m, following the unique rock formations of Rairaikyo Gorge in Akiu Onsen. The rock faces of the gorge and the colored trees are reflected on the water's surface, and there is a footbath at the end of the path.

A night destination for those extending their trip to Akiu Onsen, the inner parlor of Sendai. The period changes each year (late October to mid-November in 2026), so please check the official website.

This is a night illumination at Entsuin Temple in Matsushima, famous for the reflection of autumn leaves in the Shinji Pond. The entire garden is lit up, and the sight of the water and autumn leaves overlapping is a classic autumn scene in Matsushima.

The beauty requires no words, so it is highly recommended for international visitors. It's also a great evening destination for those staying in Matsushima, or extending their trip from Shiogama or Higashi-Matsushima. Please check the official website for lighting times before visiting.

This is an autumn chrysanthemum exhibition where pots of carefully cultivated chrysanthemums fill the grounds of Shiogama Shrine. You can take your time to look around while visiting the shrine.

There is also a venue at Marine Gate Shiogama in the port (the period is shorter).

This is a special autumn night visit to Zuiganji Temple, a National Treasure associated with Date Masamune, with light art by the creative team NAKED. You can walk through the temple grounds, which show a completely different expression at night.

The nearby Entsuin Temple also illuminates its autumn leaves during the same period, so you can visit both in one evening. This experience requires no language, making it easy to recommend to international guests.

This is an autumn festival at Jomon Village, located near the National Historic Site, Satohama Shell Mound. There are Jomon experiences such as fire-starting, and events related to Okumatsushima's oysters.

For families with children. Please check the city's announcements for dates.

This is Sendai's Christmas market, with wooden stalls imported from Germany. You can enjoy a relaxed winter evening with hot wine and sausages.

The "SENDAI Pageant of Starlight" on Jozenji-dori is also held during the same period, so you can enjoy the winter nights in the city center together. The venue is Nishikicho Park (it has moved from the former Kotodai Park).

This is a winter tradition in Sendai. Hundreds of thousands of light bulbs illuminate the zelkova trees on Jozenji-dori, turning the entire street into a tunnel of light throughout December.

No admission fee or reservation is required, just walk through. It's cold, so wear a thick coat.

The period and lighting times vary each year. Please check the official website before heading out.

This event involves burning New Year's decorations to pray for good health throughout the year. It is the largest of its kind in Miyagi Prefecture, attracting around 100,000 visitors.

Highlights includeHadaka Mairi (Naked Pilgrimage). Pilgrims wrapped in loincloths walk towards the fire, exhaling white breaths. Nights in Sendai in January can drop below freezing.

Since it is a shrine with a National Treasure main hall, it is worth visiting even during the day.

A winter tradition in Matsushima, this festival is all about oysters. There are taste tests of steamed, grilled, and fried oysters, free samples, and even a warming foot bath.

You can savor the bounty of the Sanriku sea right there, so if you're staying in Matsushima in winter, this is a prime target. The date is usually the first Sunday in February, but please check the Matsushima Tourism Association's announcement for the confirmed date as it approaches.

This festival involves carrying a 1-ton portable shrine down the202 steps of the main approachof Shiogama Shrine. There are 16 bearers.

The sight of the portable shrine descending the stairs is a highlight, whether viewed from above or below. It is said to have begun in the Edo period as a prayer for fire prevention and is counted as one of the three major festivals of the Shiogama Shrine parishioners (Hote Festival, Hana Matsuri, Minato Matsuri).

It's within walking distance from the accommodation on Shiogama Kaigan-dori.

During cherry blossom season, the portable shrine of Shiogama Shrine parades through the city. It's called "Hana Matsuri" (Flower Festival) because it coincides with the cherry blossoms.

The cherry blossoms within the grounds of Shiogama Shrine themselves are a famous spot, and the late-blooming Shiogama cherry blossoms are a national natural monument. Even if you don't make it for the festival, the shrine grounds are worth a walk during this season.

This is Sendai's early summer festival. The eve festival on Saturday featuresSuzume Odori (Sparrow Dance), and the main festival on Sunday features a historical procession of Date Masamune and a parade of floats.

The Suzume Odori involves dancing with fans, bouncing around. There are also times when you can join in the dancing. Even just watching is lively enough.

This is one of Japan's three great boat festivals. Two portable shrines from Shiwa Hiko Shrine and Shiogama Shrine board ceremonial boats and tour Matsushima Bay, accompanied by about 100 escort boats.

Fireworks for the eve festivalare launched from Shiogama Port. Since the fireworks open over the sea, they are reflected on the water's surface.

The 2026 event concluded in July. The next one will be around Marine Day in 2027. We will update theNearby Eventspage once the dates are announced.

As the eve festival for the Sendai Tanabata Festival, approximately 16,000 fireworks are launched from the Hirose Riverbed.

The launch site is right next to the city center, so you might unexpectedly see them even while walking in town. It's a high-density fireworks display, with everything launched in about an hour.

If you stay for both this and the Tanabata Festival starting the next day, you can see two different sides of Sendai on consecutive days.

This is one of Japan's three great Tanabata festivals and is counted among the three great festivals of Tohoku. It is held annually from August 6th to 8th, with fixed dates.

The highlight is thefukinagashi (streamers)that fill the shopping streets. Several-meter-long decorations made of Japanese paper and kusudama (ornamental balls) hang throughout the arcades. It's a festival where you walk with the flow of people, looking up; it's not a festival where you watch a stage.

It's enjoyable even if you don't understand the language, but it gets incredibly crowded. It's hard to move around after evening, so morning is the best time to visit.

This is an Obon event where lanterns are floated on Matsushima Bay to send off ancestors. Lights and fireworks overlap on the sea of one of Japan's three most scenic spots.

The 15th is the eve festival, with fair stalls, Bon Odori dancing, and taiko drums. The 16th is the main event of the Daiseigakie (Great Segaki Ceremony), where lanterns are floated after sutra chanting. Both nights feature memorial fireworks for about 15 minutes.

These are not fireworks for tourism, but rather farewell fires. It is customary to watch them quietly.

This is a music festival where the entire city becomes a stage. Performances begin simultaneously at dozens of locations throughout the city, from under the zelkova trees of Jozenji-dori to parks and building eaves.

Not only professionals perform. Student bands and adult bands stand on the same street corners. No tickets are required. Just walk around and stop where you like the sound.

Although it's called jazz, in reality, rock, gospel, and wind instrument music are all mixed in.

This is an autumn night festival where the 202 steps of the main approach and the grounds of Shiogama Shrine are illuminated with bamboo lights and LED candles. You can relax surrounded by the moon, light, and sound while gagaku music plays.

Even if you don't understand the language, you can enjoy the lights and sounds, so it's recommended for international visitors. Before sunset, there are stalls and workshops in the monzenmachi (town in front of the shrine gate) (from 3 PM). Please consider it as a night destination from your accommodation in Shiogama.