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
- Sendai Station 11:00
- Sendai City Museum 11:30
- Tenshudai (including lunch) 13:30
- Osaki Hachiman Shrine 15:0
- Stroll through the downtown arcade street 16:00
- Sendai Station 17:00
Title: What Is a Private Day Tour of Sendai Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were a group who had relocated to Oceania. It was their first visit to Sendai. At the museum, part of the building was under renovation, so we could not see the entire collection. However, they showed strong interest in the section about Hasekura Tsunenaga's voyage to Europe, and they watched the video presentation when it was shown. At the castle tower base, they did not seem particularly interested. They did not buy any souvenirs. We had lunch at the cafeteria, and since one of the guests enjoyed sake, they had a beer. At Osaki Shrine, they were generally not interested in Shinto rituals. However, when I mentioned that there is an event called the Donto Festival, which is close to a semi-naked pilgrimage, they became interested. Finally, we walked along the arcade shopping street from the Fujisaki department store to Sendai Station. They were not very interested in shopping. However, they stopped at Mitakisan Nakayama Fudoson, which enshrines Sendai Shiro, and looked inside.
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 | Other | Sendai～Sendai Station (Loople bus) | 630JPY |
| Total | 630JPY | ||
Hello. My name is Kohmin Iwabuchi, but please call me KOH for short. I have been working as a tour guide for more than 10 years. So far, I have visited hundreds of scenic spots, but there is one place I will not go. Guess what is it? That’s the top of Mt. Fuji, the highest mountain in Japan. I can climb the mountain, but it’s hard for me to guide people while climbing.
I am interested in traditional sports in Japan, particularly sumo wrestling. Sumo is time honored sports. We can trace its origin back to some thousand years ago. First it was played as an entertainment in a Shinto shrine. The rule of sumo is simple. The match is played by two participants in a ring. If any parts of the body of one of the participants except the sole touches the ground or he was pushed out of the ring, he will be defeated.
The appearance of sumo wrestlers is very traditional, because their samurai like hairstyle “chonmage” originates from feudal ages.
Unlike boxing and wrestling, there are no weight restrictions or classes, meaning that your opponent can be many times your own size. As a result, weight gain is an essential part of sumo training. Personally my weight is about 200 pounds which enables me to be a sumo wrestler.
Sumo wrestlers live in a sumo stable. It’s the place where they eat, drink, train and sleep together. In greater Tokyo area, there are about 40 sumo stables, many of which are located in Ryogoku area. A small number of stables welcome people to come and see the morning practice. I hope some day I can visit there with you.
Jul 18, 2024
OnAir13534982348
Tour curated to my family’s interests!
Tripadvisor review: Takachiho Gorge Half-Day Private Trip with Government-Licensed Guide
Koh contacted me ahead of…
Jul 18, 2024
OnAir13534982348
Tour curated to my family’s interests!
Tripadvisor review: Takachiho Gorge Half-Day Private Trip with Government-Licensed Guide
Koh contacted me ahead of time and curated the tour according to my family’s interests – culture, temples and food. We wanted to taste Sendai’s specialties, and would have missed out on beef tongue and grilled squid had it not been for Koh! He also hired a car for us when I expressed that funds weren’t an issue for us. We had a wonderful time and highly recommend 10/10.