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 in front of Sendai Station (Loople Sendai Bus)
- 10:00 Sendai Castle Ruins (Gokoku Shrine) (Sendai City Bus ~ Sendai City Subway Tozai Line)
- 11:30 Sendai 3.11 Memorial Community Center (Arai Station) (Sendai City Bus)
- 12:00 Earthquake Ruins Sendai Municipal Arahama Elementary School (Sendai City Bus ~ Sendai City Subway Tozai Line)
- 13:10 Disband at Sendai Station
Title: What Is a Private Sendai Tour Visiting Great East Japan Earthquake Memorial Sites Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guest initially asked to change the date to a day that did not work for me, but since a substitute guide could not be found, we discussed it and changed the tour to the morning of the same day. As it turned out, this allowed us to avoid the peak heat of the day, which was fortunate. Even so, it was hot throughout and seemed challenging. Sendai exceeded 32 degrees Celsius that day. The guest, who was from North America, found the heat difficult, so we walked while choosing shaded areas as much as possible. The guest had a Welcome Suica, but the balance was quite low, so I helped install a mobile Suica before we set off. The guest's top priority was the coastal earthquake memorial ruins. On the initial plan, the bus connections were poor and I explained that we would only be able to visit that one site, but the guest also wanted to visit the Sendai Castle ruins. So we took the Loople Sendai on the way there, and to reach the earthquake memorial ruins by subway, we went from Sendai Castle Site South to Aobayama Station and transferred. This way, the waiting times were not too long, and although we ran slightly over, we were able to reach the desired destinations. At the Memorial Community Center inside Arai Station, a large map of the tsunami-inundated area was displayed, and the guest viewed it with great interest. Arahama Elementary School has air conditioning in some areas. It is a good exhibit for disaster education and is free of charge. The lives of residents before the earthquake were displayed through videos and photos, including images of the area bustling with beachgoers and photos of the area after the tsunami receded, which the guest studied intently. About a 2-3 minute walk outside there are also post-earthquake housing foundations and Fukanuma Beach, but due to the extreme heat the guest did not want to walk, and since the bus was coming in 30 minutes, we returned in cool comfort. The guest wanted to use up the remaining balance on the IC card, so after leaving the station I helped at a convenience store before we parted ways. The guest said that next time they would avoid August. Having heard that the guest had also spent the previous day cooling off at the hotel without sightseeing, I felt a little sorry for them.
Click here for more details: Sendai & Matsushima Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Bus | In front of Sendai Station～Sendai Castle Ruins | 260JPY |
| Section 2 | Bus | Sendai Castle Ruins South～In front of Aobayama Station | 200JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Aobayama～Arai | 340JPY |
| Section 4 | Bus | In front of Arai Station～In front of Earthquake Ruins Sendai Municipal Arahama Elementary School | 240JPY |
| Section 5 | Bus | In front of Earthquake Ruins Sendai Municipal Arahama Elementary School～In front of Arai Station | 240JPY |
| Section 6 | Subway | Arai～Sendai | 310JPY |
| Total | 1,590JPY | ||
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.