Miyagi in Half a Day: @ Godaido & @ Zuiganji Temple — Guide Riko
September, 2025
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
- 11:10 (Guest arriving late) Meet @ Sendai Station
- 11:28~12:09 5-minute walk to Aoba-dori Station, then move to Matsushima-Kaigan Station
- 12:20~12:45 @ Godaido
- 13:00~13:50 Matsushima Sightseeing Cruise (Masamune Course)
- 14:00~14:30 @ Zuiganji Temple
- 14:30~15:00 @ Matsushima Stroll ~ (Near Matsushima Fish Market)
- 15:00 Disband (Matsushima)
Title: What Can You Do on a Private Matsushima Tour from Sendai? A Licensed Guide's Report
This private tour was assigned only two to three days beforehand, and I had difficulty reaching the guests to make arrangements. I had assumed they would arrive by bullet train, but it turned out they were guests residing in Sendai who had come to Japan a month earlier. When I asked again where they wanted to go, they said, "Since we live in Sendai, we would like to see Matsushima." They had come to Japan to play basketball. The guests were very tall, and it turned out they were players for a professional basketball team based in Sendai. I quickly called a boat company to make a reservation. Since we were running a little late, we decided to take the 1:00 boat, and I discussed with the guests that we would see Godaido first, then visit Zuiganji Temple and stroll around Matsushima after getting off the boat. Perhaps those in the know recognized them, as a staff member at the pier asked to take a photo together. They kindly agreed to a two-shot and were very good-natured guests. I think the reason they took an interest in the temple and listened to the explanations, even at their stage of life, was that Sendai was their first experience of Japan. They relaxed and enjoyed the Matsushima cruise, and since they asked me many things about delicious food in Miyagi, I recommended several restaurants. They mentioned they liked seafood, so after Zuiganji Temple I took them to the Matsushima Fish Market during our stroll, and one of the guests said, "We'd like to look around at various places from here, so we can part ways here." I gave them a map of Matsushima and Sendai, and thinking it would be helpful for them to know the transportation situation now that they would be living in Sendai, I advised them, "On the way back, Sendai Station gets very crowded like the train you saw on the way here, so I recommend Aoba-dori Station. The downtown area is nearby, and Sendai Station is right in front." I had never been interested in basketball before, but I hope they settle into life in Japan and play an active role with the Sendai team.
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 | Aoba-dori～Matsushima-Kaigan | 420JPY |
| Total | 420JPY | ||
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.