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
- 9:10 Meet up @ Shiogama Shrine parking lot
- 9:10 @ Shiogama Shrine
- 9:50 @ Stroll around Shiogama City (Shiogama Kaido ~ Tanrokuen)
- 10:27 Board at Hon-Shiogama Station
- 10:37 @ Matsushima-Kaigan Station
- 10:50 @ Stroll along Matsushima Kaigan Street (Godaido ~ Zuiganji Kaido ~ Matsushima Pudding ~ Kanrantei)
- 12:33 Board at Matsushima-Kaigan Station
- 12:49 @ Arrive at Tagajo Station
- 13:00 Arrange taxis at the taxi stand in front of Tagajo Station & disband
What Is a Private Cruise Excursion from Sendai Port to Shiogama and Matsushima Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
I had been in regular email contact with this guest about the tour ever since being assigned in September, so when we finally met in person, we exchanged words like "We finally meet!" and "We've been in touch for over a year, haven't we?" (it was actually about eight months), and it felt as though we were longtime friends.
Since heading into central Sendai from the pier at Sendai Port is quite far, I had suggested seeing the Shiogama cherry blossoms at Shiwahiko Shrine, which can only be seen at this time of year. The guest was delighted, saying, "The cherry blossoms are almost over, yet we can see them here. How gorgeous." Looking around, there were a few foreign tourists holding maps of Shiogama here and there. "They're on the same ship as us." It seemed everyone had come here having been recommended the cherry blossoms. The guest was quick to shift perspective, and rather than talking about long history, when I spoke about the background of the cherry blossoms in front of us, the guest showed great interest. As we walked down the shrine slope and strolled around the town, the guest took interest in the building of Tanrokuen, one of Shiogama's long-established shops dealing in tea utensils, founded in 1720. When we peeked inside, the guest's eye was caught by the beautiful ceramics. Since there was still time before the train to Matsushima, I tried to show the guest around the station area, but the guest said, "I don't have much cash on hand, so I'd like to stop at a bank or ATM." I took the guest to a bank in front of the station, but the teller said yen could not be withdrawn with a debit card. When I asked the guest further, they said that at the previous port of call they had gone to a convenience store to withdraw yen, so I took the guest to a convenience store and we were able to withdraw yen without any trouble. In situations like this, a convenience store is better than a bank.
In Matsushima, we strolled around Godaido and the approach to Zuiganji Temple, stopped by a recently opened Matsushima pudding shop that caught our eye, and the guest enjoyed a Sendai strawberry pudding. At Kanrantei, the guest had matcha, but perhaps finding it bitter, left a little and said, "Well, the tea ceremony is a good experience."
On the way back, we were able to catch an earlier train. At the station, some passengers from the same cruise ship happened to be there, and my guest invited the other cruise passengers, saying, "The Riviera? Let's take a taxi together," and we boarded from Tagajo Station before parting ways. The guest found everything we saw enjoyable and was very pleased.
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 | Hon-Shiogama Station～Matsushima-Kaigan Station | 199JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Matsushima-Kaigan Station～Tagajo Station | 240JPY |
| Total | 439JPY | ||
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.