Sendai & Matsushima Customized Half-Day Tour — Guide Koh

April, 2026

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

  • 12:30 Depart from Hotel Sendai Station West Exit　13:07 Travel from Sendai Station to Matsushimakaigan Station on the Senseki Line　14:17 Arrive at Matsushimakaigan Station　14:30 Arrive at Osakana Market　15:00 Have a meal at the market　15:30 Travel from Matsushimakaigan Station to Sendai Station on the Senseki Line　16:10 Arrive at Sendai Station　16:15 — 16:30 Pokemon Center Tohoku　16:30 Disband

Title: What Is a Private Sendai and Matsushima Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

The meeting point took a long time to finalize, and it was only decided three days before the tour, with the meeting place being the guests' hotel. The destinations also changed several times. In an email just before the tour, there was a request to visit a Kirin Beer factory in Sendai, but this was later cancelled. Right before departure, it was decided that the group wanted to visit a fish market, so we chose to go to the "Osakana Ichiba" fish market on the Matsushima coast. In the end, I think it turned out well. Along the way, the guests mentioned wanting to buy character goods as a souvenir, so I looked it up online. As a result, I found that the Pokemon Center Tohoku, located in the PARCO building near Sendai Station, had a considerable selection of items. This became the final stop of the tour, and after taking them there, the tour came to an end.

Click here for more details: Sendai & Matsushima Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Guide

Transportation cost per person

No.TransportationRouteFare
Section 1TrainSendai～Matsushimakaigan440JPY
Section 2TrainMatsushimakaigan～Sendai440JPY
Total880JPY

Tour Report by KOH

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.

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Tour curated to my family’s interests!
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