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
- 9:00 Meet @ ANA Holiday Inn Sendai (Meet at 8:45 to depart to catch the train) ~ 8:56 Board the Senseki Line from Sendai Station
- 9:29 Arrive at Higashi-Shiogama Station ~ 9:45 @ Shiogama Seafood Wholesale Market (Travel on foot) ~ 10:30 @ Shiogama Fish Market (Travel on foot)
- 11:01 Board the Senseki Line from Higashi-Shiogama Station ~ 11:09 Arrive at Matsushimakaigan Station
- 11:20 @ Oshima Island ~ 11:50 @ Godaido
- 12:10 Lunch @ Chuka Soba Uchimi
- 12:50 @ Fukuura Bridge & Fukuura Island ~ 13:40 @ Zuiganji Temple Approach & Entsuin Temple Approach
- 14:11 Board the Senseki Line from Matsushimakaigan Station (Arrive at Sendai Station: 14:49)
- 14:30 Disband inside the train at the guest's suggestion
Title: What's a Private Day Tour of Shiogama Fish Market and Matsushima Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guest was visiting this area for the first time. Beforehand, the guest requested to skip temples and shrines as much as possible, preferring an outdoor-focused experience, and expressed a wish to see the Shiogama Fish Market. Since the market closes by midday for those who want to visit, we decided to go there first thing. The guest mentioned enjoying visiting local markets on other trips as well. The guest also owns a boat and catches fish such as bluefin tuna personally, so they are quite serious about it. The guest watched the tuna being filleted at the market with great interest, taking photos along the way. I explained that much of the tuna at the Shiogama market is shipped to the metropolitan area. The guest also sampled freshly landed bigeye tuna, and listened attentively to explanations about unusual marine products and the tsunami damage. Since we had plenty of time before heading to Matsushima, I also guided the guest to the auction market, a five-minute walk away. The auction is held there every morning at 8:00, so it had already finished by the time we arrived, but we climbed the observation deck and viewed the auction floor through the glass.
In Matsushima, it was mainly a walking tour. The guest walked so fast that I got tired keeping up. I explained the main sights such as Oshima, Godaido, and Fukuurajima, taking a natural walking-trail approach. The guest already knew the basics about oyster farming from an oyster cruise tour, so I was able to point out oyster larvae occasionally visible from the sea. For lunch, the guest left the choice to me. Since the guest did not seem to prefer expensive options, I asked, "How about a ramen shop popular with locals?" It is tucked away in a spot not many tourists visit, but it is a place recommended by a taxi driver. It seemed to be the guest's first time having ramen, but they ordered a stir-fried vegetable set and seemed to enjoy it as an inexpensive and delicious meal. After lunch at Fukuurajima, we walked along a small rocky area and a beach path leading from beside a rest pavilion, which was a bit of an adventure. On the way back, we headed to the station while talking about the earthquake damage along the approach to Zuiganji Temple. For the return, at the guest's suggestion that it would be troublesome to go all the way to Sendai and come back, we parted ways there.
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 | Sendai Station～Higashi-Shiogama Station | 330JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Higashi-Shiogama Station～Matsushimakaigan Station | 189JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Matsushimakaigan Station～Tagajo Station | 242JPY |
| Total | 761JPY | ||
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.