Miyagi in Half a Day: Oshima & Tour Godaido — Guide Riko
October, 2024
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
- 13:00 Meet at the lobby of Hotel Metropolitan Sendai
- 13:09 Travel from Sendai Station to Matsushimakaigan Station via the Senseki Line
- 13:50~14:20 Visit Oshima
- 14:30~14:45 Tour Zuiganji Temple
- 14:50~15:15 Tour Entsuin Temple
- 15:25~15:35 Tour Godaido
- 15:45~15:50 Take photos from the pier in front of Fukuura Bridge
- 16:12~16:51 Travel from Matsushimakaigan Station to Sendai Station
- 16:55~17:10 Japanese sake tasting experience at Kanesa Fujiwaraya inside Sendai Station
- Guide to the Shinkansen boarding gate and disband
Title: What Is a Half-Day Private Matsushima Tour by Bullet Train Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests came to Japan by cruise ship and traveled from Shinjuku Station to Sendai Station by bullet train, then went sightseeing for a half day before heading to Yokohama Station. It was quite a demanding schedule, but the guests seemed used to traveling and made excellent use of their time. They had designated a hotel as the meeting point, but said they were not staying there and had only used the lobby. Since our email planning beforehand had not included a Matsushima sightseeing boat, I believe we were able to see the highlights of Matsushima efficiently. At Oshima Island, I used a visual aid for the first time, and one of the guests was interested in taking photos of the five-ring stone pagodas often seen there. At Entsuin Temple, although the autumn foliage was still early, the guests marveled at the slightly colored leaves and the beauty of the garden. At Zuiganji Temple, which they had most wanted to see, they listened with interest to the meaning of the fusuma paintings depicted in each room. Since the roads in Matsushima were congested, I switched the order of visiting Godaido and Entsuin to avoid the crowds as much as possible, so the flow of the route was not ideal, but at Fukuura Bridge, since the ticket booth was crowded, we went right up to the pier just to take photos. To catch the evening bullet train, we had to move a bit quickly in the latter half after Fukuura Bridge. When one of the guests heard that I am a sake navigator, they said, "If we had time, we would have loved to do a tasting." So at Sendai Station I asked, "Do you still have some time? There's a place near the bullet train boarding area where you can do a tasting for a small coin." I guided them to a sake shop inside the station. The guests happened to have plenty of loose change and were delighted, and just then the oldest sake brewery in the prefecture, Hoyo, was offering free tastings. After receiving an explanation from a brewery staff member who spoke excellent English, one of the guests said, "This one is the best," and bought some sake to take home. Even though the time was short, the guests seemed satisfied, and I was glad of that.
Click here for more details: Sendai & Matsushima Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Sendai Station～Matsushimakaigan Station | 420JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Matsushimakaigan Station～Sendai Station | 420JPY |
| Total | 840JPY | ||
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.