This is a private guided tour report by Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.), a network of 1,000+ government-licensed, English-speaking local guides across all 47 prefectures of Japan. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Tour Itinerary
- 11:04 Meet and greet at JR Matsushimakaigan Station as guests come out from the pickup bus of their accommodation hotel
- 11:05~ 11:30 Visit Godaido
- 12:00~12:50 Matsushima sightseeing boat
- 13:00~13:40 Fukuura Bridge and Fukuura Island
- 13:50~14:20 Matsushima Foodie (dumplings at Rikyu & freshly baked rice crackers at Matsushima Yukitakeya & grilled bamboo fish cake experience at Matsushima Kamaboko Honpo Monzen branch)
- 14:25~ 14:40 Visit Entsuin
- 14:50~15:30 Visit Oshima
- 15:51~16:05 Move to Honshiogama Station on the Senseki Line
- 16:15~16:30 Visit Shiogama Shrine
- 16:46~17:00 Move from Honshiogama Station to Matsushimakaigan Station
- 17:10 See off the guests as they meet the shuttle bus of their accommodation (Hotel Taikanso) at the same station, then disband
What Is a Private Matsushima and Shiogama Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests requested places for a light snack when they got a little hungry during the tour, rather than a full lunch, because some of the guests followed a gluten-free diet. This was my first time guiding gluten-free guests, but thanks to various training sessions I had taken on gluten-free needs, I kept in mind that not only wheat but also soy sauce ingredients should be avoided. I tried to cover as many places as possible, and since the guests asked about other recommendations, I carefully prepared the itinerary in advance together with them — for example, changing the order for weather-dependent spots to after the weather improved, and choosing places we could visit nearby without going all the way to Sendai. Thanks to this preparation, everything went smoothly. I also let them know that if they were staying in Matsushima, each hotel runs a shuttle bus to the station, which we could use as a meeting point. It was a very close-knit group, and the guests responded cheerfully to my explanations, which made the work enjoyable for me as well.
Regarding the gluten-free diet, when ordering I further checked at the counter whether wheat or soy sauce was used in the ingredients. At the popular beef tongue restaurant, all of the dango dumplings contained wheat flour, so only those who could eat wheat ordered them, and for the others we had the neighboring senbei rice cracker shop make plain grilled crackers without soy sauce, and everyone seemed satisfied. Also, the sasa-kamaboko (fish cake) grilling experience is often included in other companies' foodie tours, but it was my first time doing it in Matsushima. After confirming the ingredients, the guests enjoyed the grilling experience as an attraction as well. Since we had not set a specific lunch time, I anticipated that the timing would end up a bit awkward, so we visited places reachable with the JR passes everyone held — contrasting the temple town of Matsushima with the shrine town of Shiogama, which worked out well. The latter half was tight on time, but we safely got them onto the hotel shuttle bus, and I ended the tour by wishing them a wonderful sunrise over Matsushima the next day.
Click here for more details: Sendai & Matsushima Customized Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Matsushimakaigan Station～Honshiogama Station | 200JPY |
| Total | 200JPY | ||
Hello! I’m Riko, your local guide. During the week, I work at a local university, but on weekends, I love to guide visitors like you. This year(2024) marks my 6th year as a guide, and I’m thrilled to continue sharing the beauty of Japan with you.
I’m a certified Sake Navigator, so I have a wealth of knowledge about Japanese sake. Additionally, I’m well-versed in the gourmet scene of Sendai, Shiogama, and Matsushima, allowing me to tailor your tour to your culinary preferences!
I look forward to creating a memorable tour experience for you, full of fun and lasting memories of Japan. Thanks for choosing me as your guide!
May 10, 2026
Nate_K
Viator review: Sendai / Matsushima Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Fun Day in the bay!
Be ready to walk briskly…
May 10, 2026
Nate_K
Viator review: Sendai / Matsushima Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Fun Day in the bay!
Be ready to walk briskly to make the ferry boat! Our guide Riko-san was wonderful and her
local knowledge was very informative.
Apr 30, 2026
Tanakainmaui
Tripadvisor review: Sendai / Matsushima Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Riko-san is the best guide!
I originally booked with TripAdvisor,…
Apr 30, 2026
Tanakainmaui
Tripadvisor review: Sendai / Matsushima Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Riko-san is the best guide!
I originally booked with TripAdvisor, but cancelled it in order to get a longer tour–8 hours instead of 6. Riko-san was our guide, and she was very knowledgeable about the Sendai/Matsushima area and the attractions we visited. She was also flexible with times and at the end of a long day she even shared the location of her favorite sushi restaurant! Riko-san also helped us locate a guide for our izakaya tour. She went above and beyond the definition of service. We’d love to book with her and her izakaya friend, Mai, again!
Mar 31, 2026
NHDBuilder
Tripadvisor review: Sendai / Matsushima Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
GO WITH “RIKO” FROM JAPAN GUIDE AGENCY
This is our…
Mar 31, 2026
NHDBuilder
Tripadvisor review: Sendai / Matsushima Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
GO WITH “RIKO” FROM JAPAN GUIDE AGENCY
This is our first time to Japan, and it can be very confusing but we went with Riko from Japan Guide Agency, and this made this the easiest day possible. We came from North Carolina to Tokyo and now our adventure starts in Sendai after our visit in Tokyo. We wanted a guide to help us navigate this area and we were lucky enough to be assigned “Riko” for the half day. The moment we met her my wife and I were thrilled to be spending a day with her. She speaks wonderful English and with my horrible hearing, I could hear her clearly which makes it so enjoyable. I normally cannot hear soft Japanese voices but she made it so easy for us to hear and understand. We spent the day with her and yes we were tired at the end but it was so worth it to stick it out all day. One of the best things about Riko is; she meets you at your hotel and returns you to your hotel when you are so tired you cannot possibly take another step. Another amazing thing about Riko is she knows the trains and knows how to get the client moved around quickly and efficiently. We had no idea where to go to get the right trains but Riko make it smooth as possible. It was raining all day but we pushed through and that caused all the tourists to not be at the stops we were going to. It was like the shut down the area for us. Since it was raining, Riko would call taxi’s for us and they came almost immediately. Riko is a wealth of information and we even met some of her friends along the way. If you are going to book a tour with this firm, ASK FOR RIKO, I know you will have a great day.
Oct 3, 2025
P
Peggy_M
This was a great tour with Riko
Viator review: Sendai / Matsushima Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Riko was…
Oct 3, 2025
P
Peggy_M
This was a great tour with Riko
Viator review: Sendai / Matsushima Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Riko was our guide for the full-day tour. After we selected the sites we wanted to visit, Riko provided us with a detailed itinerary. Her communication throughout the planning process was clear and thorough, including explanations of the expected admission fees and transportation costs for the day. Our itinerary included visits to Entsu-in Temple, a scenic cruise on Matsushima Bay, and a tour of Zuigan-ji Temple. Riko accompanied us on both the train and ferry, which made it easy for us to relax and fully enjoy each sight without worrying about logistics or directions. In addition to guiding us through the main attractions, Riko went above and beyond by arranging for us to have lunch at a vegan restaurant in Sendai. This thoughtful addition was not part of the original tour, yet it greatly enhanced our overall experience.